Can I walk with broken leg and shoulder?

[Lizardflix]

2 weeks ago I was hit by a car and had my leg broken, the knee socket crushed and my shoulder broken.  They performed surgery on the knee about 12 days ago and are about to do surgery on the shoulder.  Both are on the left side.

Is there any set up I can use that will allow me to walk in any way?  As I understand it I will not be able to use a crutch on my left side.

Thanks!

[geminigirl1963]

You're welcome and I hope your surgery and recovery go well.

My question on the wheelchair, however, is with your shoulder surgery, how are you going to be able to maneuver a manual wheelchair?  Or do they plan on getting you a motorized one?  My guess is that you will be in some sort of immobilizer after the shoulder surgery, so therefore, would not have the use of that arm (hence also not being able to use a crutch on that side) - and if you're trying to maneuver a manual wheelchair with only your non-surgical arm, you're going to end up just going around in circles!  So I would definitely suggest asking the doc about that to make sure he's thought about that "situation" also.

I know they do have something called a "knee walker", where you basically kneel on a scooter type thing with your injured leg - however, since your leg injury is TO the knee, I'm sure that wouldn't be an option for you either.  Apparently they work relatively well for things like lower leg fractures, etc.  I'm sure it would be difficult to maneuver one of those with only one arm too, though.

do you have help at home or do you live by yourself?  If you live by yourself, you may also want to ask your surgeon about possibly sending you to a nursing home/rehab center for a short time following your next surgery to help you for a while.  You're ability to do much of anythin gis going to compromised with the use of only one side and it may take a while for you to get used to it all.  The nursing home/rehab center can help you with physical therapy, teaching you how to transfer from the wheelchair to the bed, tub, toilet, etc. - as well as with dressing, etc.  If nothing else, definitely check into have a home health care worker come into your home a few times a week to help you with some of these things.  I had shoulder replacement surgery a few years ago, and I was amazed at how many things I needed help with after surgery that I hadn't thought of beforehand.  I live alone, so it took quite a bit of "creative thinking" as you say to come up with different ways of doing things wtih only my non-surgical arm.  And that was JUST my shoulder - I can't imagine how it would be with both my shouler ANd my let on the same side out of commission!

I wish you the best of luck and let me know how your surgery goes and what you can find out about the wheelchair and possibility of post surgical help.  Take care!

[Lizardflix]

Thanks Gemini girl. Yes my surgeon said I will have to use wheelchair but I was jut looking for some creative solutions. Hopefully the leg will heal enough that I can put some weight on it
As you mention.

[geminigirl1963]

This really is a question that you need to ask your surgeon.  If you are completely NON weight bearing on your leg after surgery, then more than likely, you will need to use a wheelchair at least for a while.  If, however, you are permitted to bear weight on your injured leg, then there shouldn't be an issue.  Even using a crutch or cane on your right side would give you a bit more support as opposed to not using anything at all.  But you definitley need to ask your surgeon what your post-op restrictions are going to be for both your shoulder and leg.

Best of luck.