How to Survive Rain on Crutches

After three days of gorgeous weather, we were hit with a bout of freezing rain this morning. I had prepared myself ahead of time for the incoming weather, but it was still an unpleasant experience. I am very grateful that it was not snow, though! I already did a post about dealing with snow while on crutches, but rain is a bit different. I much prefer rain to snow/ice, but there are definitely still some precautions that need to be taken while using crutches! Presenting…

Rachel’s List of Rain-Crutching Survival Tips

• Don’t go too fast. Of course, especially with CRPS, the tendency is to escape the rain as soon as possible. The sensation of raindrops, which feel like knives aiming at your body, is uncomfortable to say the least, but a massive fall would be even worse. Take it slow and breathe!
• Wipe off your crutch tips when inside. It only takes a few seconds to do a quick swipe of the tips onto an absorbent surface and make sure your crutches are dry. This small bit of time can save you a lot of hassle later on.
• Opt for carpet rather than tile. In many cases tile is unavoidable, but on particularly rainy days, carpet is the safest route. Even if you are diligent in wiping off your crutch tips, the water from other peoples’ shoes can leave nasty puddles. If you have to walk on tile (as I do), watch your step and go around any suspiciously wet surfaces.
• Watch where you’re going. This should be an obvious. Don’t just blindly walk around-you should always be aware of what surfaces you’re treading on.
• BUY RAIN GUARDS! Seriously, people. I mentioned these in the snow post, but they’re even more helpful in the rain. These bad boys have saved my bacon on more than one occasion, preventing some nasty falls. They’re not too expensive (only a bit more than your typical, not-so-great crutch tips), and they are worth every penny. And again, I’m not being paid to promote these…they’re just the best and I think everyone needs to know about them!
• Have an umbrella carrying buddy. Actually, I don’t use umbrellas. They’re too much of a hassle for me to deal with on my own, but when people offer to carry one for me, I can’t help but say yes. They don’t really help much crutch-wise but hey, a little protection from the elements isn’t bad! If only they could create an umbrella holder for crutches…hmmm…
• Use a wheelchair if you need to. Sometimes it’s just not safe to be crutching around in crazy weather. In times like that, opt for a wheelchair if possible. I keep mine in my dorm for extreme situations when I don’t feel comfortable using my crutches. As an added bonus, sitting in a wheelchair can allow you to protect your injured limb from the raindrops!
• Drink some warm tea or coffee when you get inside. Well, this isn’t as practical as some of the other tips, but I still think it’s a good one. I came back from class today drenched in rain and went straight for my hot tea. It warms the soul and takes out the stress of a crazy day of crutching through the rain 🙂

That’s it for now-the bottom line is just take it slow and be aware. Rain poses a great threat for people on crutches, but if you’re careful enough, you can outsmart it and get through it unscathed.

Be safe, be happy, and stay dry, everyone 🙂

Thundersnow and other Craziness

Over the past 48 hours I’m pretty sure we’ve had almost every type of weather. Yesterday it was gorgeous and sunny, and warm enough that I didn’t even need a coat! This morning was mild, but by 10am the weather just couldn’t make up its mind! I left my anatomy class and headed to Spanish, but on the way there I was pelted by a mixture of snow, ice pellets, and rain. It was crazy! On my exposed RSD leg it felt like dozens flaming darts were shooting into my body. Not the best sensation.

The rest of the day has been a rollercoaster. More rain, snow, ice, and even thunder and lightning! The lights in my dorm have flickered a few times but I think the chances of us losing power are pretty slim (although it has happened before!)

I do love rainy days when I can sit and enjoy a good book while sipping a hot cup of tea, but my body doesn’t. Weather changes are particularly because of my RSD/CRPS so I have to do some damage control on days like today. It’s so wild to me how the body can react so strangely to changes in conditions. To minimize the pain I try to stay inside as much as possible (which seems like a given…I mean, why subject yourself to more contact with the precipitation when you already have oversensitive extremities?), relax, and keep the stress levels low. Obviously these are hard to do when you’re a busy college student, but I try.

Rain also brings back the nightmarish memories of falling the first time my RSD went full-body. Thankfully my rain guards on my crutches have been helping reduce the slip risk, but the possibility of falling is still pretty high so I have to be extra careful.

I’m very thankful that this week has been better than the past few, even with the nasty weather. I’ve been in better spirits and I’m starting to understand what we’re learning in my classes a bit more. I’m going home tomorrow to spend the weekend with my family so I am very excited about that. I need this break so badly to realign myself and take a moment to breathe.

I hope everyone is staying dry and cozy! I’m going to go finish my tea and get some work done before bed.

Peace 🙂