Handy equipment/Gadgets (Post in here) Indoor or Outdoor

[Purplesheep]

Don't know if anyone is still interested in this, but I thought I'd mention that we had a look at the various braces in Lidl yesterday. They didn't actually have the knee brace, but had elbow braces instead. I tried out the back brace but didn't go for it in the end, because I'm not sure what situations I'd actually use it in, but mostly because it was too large. They only had the smallest size S and the box said for waste circumference 70-90cm. I'm about 66cm and there was quite a bit of room between the brace and my back.

We did go for a wrist brace, mostly for my OH who is a fencer and has had wrist injuries before, but it seems my wrist couldn't wait to try out the splint itself and has developed tendonitis since last night. Hooray for overenthusiastic joints The splint seems alright, though the thumbhole is a bit small and digs into my skin, which is a bit annoying.

[kayle_d]

I could get the knee support either, but i did get the elbow supports but I thin my elbows are too small for them

I did get a back brace, I didn't realise it said measurements on it with the back brace its easy to adjust as the whole thing is velcro so its easy to make it smaller.

I can never get on with those types of wrist braces, they pull my thumbs out.

[Chloe♥]

I bought one of the wrist braces - it involves a bit of trial and error to get it in the best place, and it's probably not the best thing, but it's been really useful as my wrists keep giving up with little warning!

[mindsquatter]

I would love to claim this idea as my own, but I saw it on the telly!

Some of the new no touch soap pumps which are refillable (rather than putting an actual bottle into them) can be filled with shampoo/conditioner instead. No more fiddling with bottles and lids with wet hands!

It does not work with all the soap pumps - the dettol one needs a bottle inverted into it - but any that have a reservoir that is refillable should work.

[paw]

I have the lysol healthy touch hand soap dispenser which seems to be the same as the dettol one you mentioned. They think they have a captive group who will keep buying the expensive refill bottles of soap. I got it in June and have refilled the bottle several times. I pry the lid off which is a bit of a pain. I saw someone post on a USA forum that they drilled a hole in the soap bottle so they could refill it from the top.

It works very well but I don't think I would use it in the shower, I don't think that would be good for the batteries. I appreciate not having to mess with pump bottles to wash my hands on bad hand days though.

If you can find a soap pump that has an easier refill system that would be better.

[lil_miffy]

On the 11th of Nov Liddle are going to be selling a electric back warmer which you can strap to your back. It looks like a giant hhot water bottle shape wize.
Has 3 heat settings with a safety cut out. £14.99
I have an electric heat therapy blanket which is like a mini electric blanket which has 3 heat settings with a safety cut out. it gets nice and hot which is the intensity needed for the deep bone/joint pain i get but the safety cut out is annoying aas it cools it down for too longbefore it will switch on again so not sure if this backwarmer will do the same.
Thought id post now so people can get down before they sell out becuase they do look great for us lot.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-9BF95DAD-474013FA/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_15303.htm
Check if they are available in your local store online

[Lindsly]

I've tried a variety of pens--a Pen Again (which many seem to have success with but I couldn't control without way too much pressure), assorted gel pens, at least one (weighted gel?) pen recommend by the Arthritis Foundation. By far the best pen, pain-wise, has been the Classic Gels Inc. fat gel pen. It's the third item over on the second photo here. It doesn't make neat writing easy, but at least I can write! Sometimes when I hurt a lot from typing, it actually feels like a bit of a relief to draw big loops with this. It was cheap enough at Walmart (1.44 USD for 2), it's ok that the thick ink runs out quickly. It's better for average to big writing than really small, which is harder to make legible when writing quickly.

My last trip to Walmart I had to really search to find a few packages. I *think* that website is out of date and the brand is now called "@the Office." I'll have to let you know how the Office ones work out that match in look and price.

[Fiona-Jane]

hiya,

i've just remembered that i haven't yet posted my info on my ice spikes here yet

i have spikes that attach to the bottoms of my crutches without any need to change the ferrule. they grip really well in the ice and snow as the spikes are about a centimeter long, which appears longer than others on the market. theres these little buttons you push in and the spike unit flips up the back of the crutch so you can walk on your normal ferrule.


i got mine from HERE . they weren't cheap (at £12.50 each, with another fiver postage) but appear really robust, the spikes dont move at all when i put all my weight through the crutches so i expect they'll last for years and years. switch sticks are selling them cheaper at the moment, with free delivery.... shame they weren't when i bought mine!

i've attached a photo of a crutch with attached spike.

last time it snowed i was like bambi on ice but now i can walk with ease (well, the same walking ability as i usually have... ) ! the other week i was able to walk on areas of pavement that everyone else was having real trouble with, they were slipping and sliding everywhere and i was the only one able to successfully walk without falling! woo go me!

fi

[Dannie]

Hi All

I have come up with a solution to not being able to order ice bottoms for my crutches... I made my own!!

Its really simple surprisingly!!

All you need is:

An old pair of flip flops/ or some foam
16 Screws or tacks
Some super glue

Instructions:

Draw around the bottom of your crutch on the foam making sure you label which is left and right.

Cut the foam out.

On one side of the foam screw or push the tack or screws through in opposites directions until you have 6 in each.

When you have done this screw the remaining 4 screws in the other direction making sure that it just about shows through the foam.

Push the foam onto the bottom of your crutch and screw in the two screws you have just put in the oposite direction.

Take some superglue and glue arund the screws that will be used as pick.. it just gives them a bit more stability in the foam.

Ta daaa...

You now have ice picks for your crutches.

And the best bit is.. once the snow goes you can just remove them and because your bottoms are rubber it just bounces back to cover the wholes of the screws

Hope this helps somebody Dannie xx

[paw]

Dannie won't those ice picks damage the floors when you come inside? Most of the people using crutches on this site need them indoors as well as outdoors.

[Jess]

a pair of socks over shoes/footwear in icy/snowy situations due help!! they grip onto the snow. I would think a cheap set of baby socks over crutches/walking sticks would help as well if you dont have ice picks on them.

My boss swears by putting old socks over her boots when it snows or is icy.

But she does say if she could figure out how i walk she would do that as well. She calles it the canadian stomp

[cat117]

Not sure if this will be of use to anyone, it's designed for arthritis but I find it helps my hands.

It's a knitting device which takes the pressure off of hands (obviously only useful if you knit or want to learn...)

http://knittingaid.com/

[Millie123]

I would definately recommend the PenAgain, I've spent many years trying to find an ergonomic pen that actually stopped my hands aching. Then access to work suggested the PenAgain, so my work bought me one I found it so much better to use that I've bought myself one for home as well. Not much pressure is needed to hold the pen or to write with it. The last packet of refils I purchased came with a stylus pen as well, which is alot easier to use than the stylus pens you get with phones etc. You can also buy pencils.

[DeeNJai]

Hi
The PenAgain looks very interesting as I struggle with normal pens and cant write for long with a lot of pain. Once a upon a time I did write left handed but I was forced to write with my write hand when I was young so my left hand writing isnt as good as my right. I will most likely buy some for college in September if I get on the course I want. I have already put my application in for the course as last September there were 250 people goign for 40places.
dee

[Dannie]

They are so easy to just unscrew.. 1 screw in each.. I know what you mean about having to use them inside.