Invaluable is the raised toilet seat with arms. I had panic attacks at the thought of using the commode without this chair. The chair allows me to totally stay off my foot. I am an overweight 60 year old and this chair is a lifesaver. Skip a walker. I injured my good knee practicing at the medical supply store where I was trying to use a walker. Also helpful is wearing a dress or skirt vs pants. Lastly for showering buy a shower chair (with an extra knee pad) and don't sit on it, but kneel the injured foot on the chair while showering.

This is an important video, even for us guys out there. Hadn't given this much thought before my procedure, prp for a partial plantar plate tear. Didn't realize how difficult #2 was about to become. I'm on a knee scooter and use it and the aid of a 4 legged cane to sit and raise from the throne. Always a struggle, but fortunately as a guy, its only once a day. Had I to do it over, I might have invested in the fold down arm supports, but I'm supposedly getting better...?

One you didn't mention, which may be unorthodox but it's worked REALLY well for me. A shower chair. Well, shower stool in my case. No, not to sit on outside the shower. When my shower chair (stool) wasn't being used inside the shower, I'd put it directly in front of my toilet. It would be about a foot in front of my toilet due to limited space in the bathroom. I'd use it to place one hand flat on the top and use the bathtub rim (the tub/shower combo is directly to the left of the toilet in our bathroom) with my other hand and push up from there. Once I was up, I'd pivot to put my knee on top of the shower stool. This would allow me to "stand" to pull up my pants. I'd also use it to pull down my pants when I was non-weight bearing. Also, I'd use the shower chair to put my knee on when I needed to stand in front of the sink/vanity in the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth, or do any other self-care things that wouldn't be possible without it. It made it much more comfortable for me to do these things, which would have gone neglected had I not had the shower chair. It's been one of most versatile tools in my bathroom since I had my surgery (about 7 weeks before I wrote this comment).

I am so sorry you are going through this! And bless your heart for thinking of us and still making videos, while you are facing your own physical challenges❤ The one thing I would add, is the over-the-toilet commode. My surgical team recommended the commode for after my hip replacement. I borrowed one from our local free medical loan closet and it has been amazing! I received a bariatric one and it is so sturdy, it feels so much more stable than a toilet riser. And it has built-in arms that were awesome for pushing off of and for holding and stabilizing, while pulling up my pants. It has been so much more stable than holding onto my tiny vanity counter, like I did before the commode. My only regret is that I didn't know about this option, when I broke my leg, while waiting for my hip surgery date. It would have made my life so much easier! Thanks again for the video and please take it easy and take care of yourself❤

I will be having a bunions to my in 5 days, glad I found this video….So helpful, thanks.

Thank you for this video. I am new to your channel. On Jan 26 I was hit by a car while crossing the street and new to the whole being "disabled". If I am understanding the situation correctly you are a PT/OT professional who was making helpful videos about being disabled as a professional who has learned what it is like to be disabled from classes and observing other but with no personal experince as you were completely abled bodied. And that you now have your own temporary disablity, and are now making videos with not just the professional training, but the first hand perspective. Forgive me if this is TMI:Thank While I would never wish foot sugery on anyone. And I am sure you were already an empathic and outstanding therapist before this happened. I am confident that your personal pain will/has made you a vastly superior therapist because of this. You can only learn so much second hand. The most responsive CNA at the rehab facility I am at is a guy who spent 3 weeks in a hospital bed and has first hand experience with the frustation of hitting the call button and nobody coming or someone telling him they will be with him to help in "5 minutes" and then disappearing for an hour. While I don't wish pain on anyone, there is a part of me that recognizes that pain you are feeling now, will result in hundreds or thousands of others having less pain because your first hand experiences. There is a part of me that is glad this happened to you and makes me wish every CNA, nurse and therapist went through what you are going through. I doubt the people who told me that *I* needed to be more patient because they were busy when I called the front desk to complain that after waiting a half hour hitting the call button because I needed help getting to the toilet and then another half hour hitting the button because I needed to cleaned up and nobody has responded has ever spent a half hour lying in their own poop. On a more practical note: The one aspect of toileting where being female is an advantage is wiping while remaining seated. I never even considered wiping while seated before this video, dispite the fact that every female who has peed in the toliet in my presence does wipe while seated, by putting there hand down the front. (small sample size) I immeadetely realized that such a method would not work for me as my anatomy is in the way. However, by standing up and sitting back down so that I am forward of my normal seated postion I can reach around from the back and wipe while seated. This great because wiping while standing on one leg is one of the times i feel the most unsafe. I can't use the toilet in the more forward postion because although poop would still fall into the toilet in such a position if I was to pee in that postion all of it would wind up on the floor. I hope this insight is useful to you for helping other males who are looking to toilet more safely. Thank you for the video. I wish you a speedy recovery. My sincere hope is that you are able to combine your profesional knowlege as profesional with your personal experince as a pacient to advance the care for all your pacients and youtube watchers and I as best I can tell you already are doing that. While in meetings with other professionals please use your experience as a pacient to make sure the voice of pacients are also in the discussion. Thank you.

Thank you for giving different options! I tried the walker option and that worked great for me. Thank you so much.

Hey! 1. This is great! I wish I’d been told ANY of this when I broke my ankle! 2. A funny story…. So I had an unstable distal fibular fracture and my mum decided to leave my home one week after I broke it! My ankle wasn’t healing well (which is mostly due to EDS) but the doctors would say, “stop walking on your ankle!” I knew why but I was like, “what do you want me to do? I have a commode, I only empty it 1-2 day max and when I do that I grab food and fluid for that next entire time! I don’t have anyone to help!” They truly didn’t understand and I didn’t have options. 3. I have a new OT here (in Australia) and she asked who I’d have for OT’s I told her my main two and then I said, “But I follow EquipMe OT on KZread, she’s amazing, do you know her?” And yes, yes she did and yep she agrees you’re fantastic!!! 😊

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

Aw, I’m so sorry you had a rough recovery for your ankle fracture! And thanks for following and being amazing 😍

I'm so happy that I found this. How would I use a knee scooter?

Always thoroughly explained and shown how to operate much appreciated how well you explain the process

Your a fantastic OT and you've also helped after some of my surgeries even things to have prepared before going into hospital for a procedure. Thankyou again and i hope your injury is better again 🙏❤

Thank you finally I know how to use bathroom properly. Just fractured my foot. Not fun thank you so much for this video

I’m having Achilles surgery in 8 weeks. Thank you for the ideas.

@nenaddabic7994

3 ай бұрын

Its about time, how are you doing

great tip regarding the walker!

So much appreciation for all Your vids and suggestions ❤❤🙏🙏

I just had Plasma Rich Platelet Therapy for two tears in my Achilles tendon. I literally had panic attacks when I thought of using the toilet without using my injured foot. The raised toilet seat with handles is invaluable. I can use the toilet and not bear any weight on my injured foot. I am an overweight 58 year old female and this chair is amazing. Also wearing a skirt or dress vs pants is great. Skip the walker. I injured my good leg while practicing using a walker. Lastly buy a shower bench with an extra knee pad and shower kneeling on the chair with the injured foot on the chair.

All your videos are helpful Lindsey. I have never had a leg or foot injury but I have endured a fractured L1 vertebrae. Toilet time like most other otherwise normal activities was an adventure in agony.

Thank you for this just had foot surgery yesterday getting up from toilet position is very hard

Thank you for an excellent video. So sorry for your injury; I hope you feel better soon.

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! All is healing well 🙌🏻🫶🏻

Excellent video with very helpful content. The tips on raised toilet seat and the bars led us to retrofit our bathrooms with 2 Hyten seats and one set of the folding bars. You do a great job explaining your topic...and I feel great empathy being 4 weeks in to a fractured distal Fibula! Thanks!

@EquipMeOT

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

🙏🏻 Thank you! Very helpful tips!!👍🏻 Going in on Monday for foot and leg surgery. I’m not scared of the surgery or the pain- but I am TERRIFIED of putting weight on that foot after…. Got my crutches- customized my knee scooter ( Deadpool fan just trying to make it a little fun 😂) but still concerned. Did I mention I live on the 3 rd floor???☹️

Im sure its not advised, but ive been using one crutch leant against the wall nearby to help support my weight while going to the bathroom. Makes sitting down with crutches a lot easier to just worry about one at a time!

This is an excellent video. I am having surgery soon, and was really worried how I was going to do this . Thank You !

@shawna6541

Ай бұрын

I'm trying to figure this out right now sense I broke foot a few days ago.

Great video. Im schedule for anklr surgery in a month. Question I looked at your recommendationsfor the toilet and arms, did you use the hard for the toilet seat for the arms? Seeing mixed reviews about the arm rest installation.

Bravo video! From one OT to another, from Milwaukee WI! I had nothing but time during my 6 weeks non wt bearing R foot surgery, (1/18/2024,and came across your video n curiously watched! I know this well myself, but kudos to you for being well spoken with demonstrations, that the average non therapist would really benefit from! Wishing ya well in your recoveries and maintaining abilities during this healing period! I hope to be back to work at St. Luke’s hospital in Milwaukee, possibly mid March, pending clearance from podiatry surgeon!

@EquipMeOT

4 ай бұрын

Hello to a fellow midwestern OT! I'm across the lake in west Michigan! Best wishes for your healing!

Thank you. Feel better soon. 👏👍😊

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

You’re welcome! And, thank you!!! ❤️❤️

I have problems with using the toilet because I broke my arm and ankle . I had to put a bedside toilet and with my good foot just pivot. It’s not easy but doable. Wiping isn’t as easy but I’m getting it done 😂 I have to laugh to keep from crying.

I used my non weight bearing broken fibula & ankle - foot to keep me from falling again ! Instinct made me do it ! What have I done? Second full month I have not used it 😮no pain but have I smooshed up the fresh healing broken fibula/ankle bits?

Hi, Do you have any ideas for shoulders x 2 reverse replacement? I am a week out of the hospital and having a difficult time plus being so tired, with no stamina. To be honest, I've been living in a house robe and have difficulty with toilet. Thank you.

Thank you for the video. I am having bunion surgery in a few weeks and have been working on getting ready and your video answered a lot of questions. Very concise as well.

@EquipMeOT

3 ай бұрын

Best luck on surgery recovery!

@janicerobertson6239

3 ай бұрын

@@EquipMeOT Thank you. As I am in my early seventies and getting up at night to use the toilet is a must, I took your advise and bought bladder control pads. Why not be safe than sorry.

You area a life safer, Thank you so much!

I can imagine how painful this is I just got into a car accident and I search up how to do stuff then I saw your videos and Woww ur amazing thank you so much for the help !! I’ve been struggling and it’s been very hard on me but to use the toilet I use a wheel chair I’m not able to be on walker yet or crunches 😫

@EquipMeOT

4 ай бұрын

I’m so sorry you had an accident! Wheelchair toilet transfers are tricky! I’ve demo’d the slide board transfer from wheelchair to toilet but not a traditional stand pivot.

Can you please show use how to use the crutches

For all the ladies out there with any kind of knee or ankle injury or surgery..please go for short knee length dress only during the 6 weeks of non-weight bearing phase ..

I am on holiday in the Dominican Republic and fell and broke my ankle in two places. They just did surgery and sent me back to resort. The resort has given me a handicapped room with a toilet riser but I am having trouble lifting myself as I am overweight. Any tips? I am in a nightmare and very scared. We have 3 days left before going home and the thought of using the toilet is my biggest worry and fear. I am most worried about putting weight on the broken ankle.

I tried resting my foot everytime, but sometimes I feel like I'm putting some pressure on it. Is it bad or should I relax more?

I wish I knew this before I had such a hard time trying to figure out how to go without applying weight on my broken ankle If this happens again I will know what to do

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

It’s definitely harder than it looks!

Thank you ! Do you mind me asking how you broke your ankle ?

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

Rolled it while walking my dog on a leaf-covered trail. Totally missed the hole/root 😑

@nwkruss1917

6 ай бұрын

Thank you. Sorry for your break. Hope that you heal quickly. I am just getting over breaking my foot. I have appreciated your videos. Keep it up !

Walker and non weight baring for 6-8 weeks

The first time I tried to get to the toilet at home i didn't make it and peed threw my pants while sitting on the toilet. The second time I tried i slammed down on the toilet so hard i heard it rattle. My good leg now looks like Arnold swartenager and the bad leg like olive oil from pop eye

I am non-weight-bearing on both legs

@EquipMeOT

6 ай бұрын

That would require a slide board or lift system. I did a slide board toileting video here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/oYOKsdaBdt2eorw.htmlsi=phmAzpTBjNKaDZWb

You still have to wash your hands after every use