Posted by
Tom Schwab on Fri, May 18, 2012 @ 04:33 PM
Hobbling around on crutches isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Okay, so it is hard in every way, but there are things you can learn from your ordeal. If you break your ankle, have another unexpected injury, or even have to deal with a surgery of some kind, there is not much you can do about your situation other than wait. Your body takes time to heal, but during your recovery, you may as well learn a few things. In fact, you might even learn some of the following life lessons.
Lesson#1: There are people that deal with pain all the time
Before you had to move across the room on crutches, you might not have given much thought to pain. Sure, you had the occasional headaches and aches here and there, but you did not have to worry about pain on a chronic level. When you have to keep your weight off one leg because of a surgery or injury, you will have time to consider those around you who are in that kind of pain much more often. Not only will you have more sympathy for people in various forms of pain, but you will better understand how you can best help them.
Lesson#2: People around you are more capable than you think
If you are the type of mom who feels as if you have to do everything for your family, getting around on crutches will soon teach you that you have to lean on the people around you as well as your crutches. When you ask your children to pack their own school lunches and find that they can actually do it, you will quickly figure out that you were doing way too much around the house. Your husband can throw clothes into the washing machine, dishes into the dishwasher, and maybe even cook a few things as well.
Lesson#3: It is okay to take a break
It is hard for a mom to understand sometimes that her whole family will not stop spinning through their routines if she is taken out of the equation. Sure, piles of mail might stack up on the table and dust will likely gather, but life goes on. This is a great lesson for you to carry away with you after you have recovered. It is okay for you to take a break from your duties as a mom and let the family carry on the daily routine without you from time to time.
Lesson#4: You have very special people in your life
When you are on crutches, unable to do so much for yourself, you will see certain people in your life step up to help. Some of these people may be ones that you did not expect to come to your aid. They might be neighbors, acquaintances, moms of your friend’s children or any number of other people. You will soon learn how valued you are to the people around you.
Lesson#5: Using crutches will take your mind off the pain in your leg
Crutches can be very painful on the armpits and hands. If you feel pain in those areas, you will not feel pain in your leg as much. However, you can always look into much less painful alternatives in modern options to crutches. Solutions like the iWALKFree, a hands free crutch as well as the Knee Walker and Seated Scooter, all are available for rent or purchase depending on how long you will be non weight bearing. Not only will these devices cut down on your overall pain, but they will also help you get around your house and everywhere else with more ease and stability than crutches.
To find out the best optoin to crutches for your individual needs and abilities
Take this online quiz.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Fri, May 18, 2012 @ 02:05 PM
If you are recovering after an injury or surgery and have been instructed by your doctor to stay non weight bearing (NWB), you maybe considering the Hands Free Crutch option to crutches. Also known by the brand name iWALKFree, this prosthetic like device that resembles a peg leg, straps securely to your leg allowing you to bear weight through your knee all while freeing up your hands.
Do you need a prescription from your doctor to get a Hands Free Crutch?
No prescription should be needed to rent or purchase a crutch alternative. These devices are classified as Durable Medical Equipment with a HCPCs Code of E0118: Crutch alternative with or with out wheels. While crutch alternatives must be registered with the FDA they are not regulated as tightly as drugs that require a physician's prescription to dispense.
Don't forget to get a prescription for your i WALK FREE?
While you don't NEED a prescription from your doctor to get the device, a prescription may be required by your insurance company in order to be considered for reimbursement. Additionally if decide to declare the cost on taxes as a deduction as a medical expense, a prescription would be helpful in substantiating the expense.
A Letter of Medical Necessity for a Hands Free Crutch signed by your physician can also be helpful in submitting an insurance claim. This form states that due to your condition such a device is a medical necessity for you.
Find out everything you need to know about the Hands Free Crutch including tips to get your insurance to cover the rental,
in the Free Hands Free Crutch Buyer's Guide.
Got Golf? Got Injury?
Do you love to golf but aren't able to get on the green due to a broken foot or injury? Golfers who suffer from a fractured or broken foot are often unable to get on the course for weeks, allowing for the injury to heal properly before playing. Don't despair, pull out your putter and check out our tips for working on your game while recovering.
It is possible to work on your putting, improve your upper body form, correct mistakes, and get out on the course before your cast is removed! Always consult your health care professional before attempting to play any sports while injured.
Golfing Tips to Lower your Handicapped while Handicapped:
Hands Free Crutch vs. Crutches: The I Walk Free, Hands Free Crutches is the perfect product to get you off the couch and back on the green! This product frees your hands from the grip of crutches and allows you full ability to hold a golf club. It seems to good to be true! This product is available for everybody but if you love to golf, have great balance, and want to have the freedom crutches do not give you, try the Hands Free Crutch today.
Golf Cart Vs. Walking: Although playing from a golf cart may seem a little bizarre, it's a definite possibility. Amputees and people with other disability that prevent them from walking the golf course are able to continue golfing by sitting on the back of the cart, allowing your legs to hang down off the back of the cart or rest gently on the ground depending on your comfort level. It is possible for you to engage in this activity to keep fresh and work on your putting and driving.
Putting Technique: Putting with a broken foot is possible but you may need to be seated (unless you have the Hands Free Crutch) If your golfing with a group, have a friend bring along a small stool for you to sit on while putting. You will have full motion of your arms and limited lower body movement. Although you can do this on any golf course, you can also do this on a practice putting green, or set up a small hole in your office or backyard.
Driving Technique: This is potentially the most difficult move while golfing during injury recovery. Unlike putting, driving a ball in golf requires extensive lower body rotation in order to generate power and speed behind the ball. As a result, driving the ball while seated will reduce your distance and potentially alter your regular stroke while you get back to golfing after injury. Try correcting your mistakes by analyzing golf tapes to improve your game for when you do get back on the course. If you have rented a Hands Free Crutch, it is definitely be possible to gain your full stroke while balancing on the crutch. Try practicing at a driving range before doing a full 9 or 18 round.
Still don't believe it's possible.
Watch the video proof.
They won't be laughing when you beat them on one foot.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Thu, May 17, 2012 @ 02:02 PM
The Invacare Swivel Knee Walker is one of the only styles of knee scooters with small swivel wheels similar to those on a shopping cart. There are many types of Roll-abouts on the market. As an independent distributor we purchase and test each one to see if it's worth while to offer it to patients recovering on one foot after surgery or injury.
While we have reviewed The Good, The Bad and the Ugly about the Invacare Swivel Knee Scooter, you might also benefit by reading what other users have posted online. Below are 5 actual reviews we found online. While some have been edited for brevity, the full text can be read by clicking the reviewers name at the end which will take you directly to the source we have found.
Invacare Knee Walker is almost impossible to make go in the direction that you want it to go, which makes it pretty impossible to use.
Sahsa
The product is great…Only complaint is there is not a lot of control of the front wheels on unlevel sidewalks. You just need to be careful of bumps. I took it to Florida and the Bahamas on vacation and it worked really well, even on the cruise ship. I had a little trouble on the sidewalks at Universal Studios in Orlando, since they are slanted toward the street.
Patricia A. Buchanan
Invacare knee walker was very unbalanced and front wheels twist right or left with every push forward, making a fall predictable!
Noel G. Christoff
It's best on carpet but with caution I do take it out shopping or on pavement. Pavement slanted perpendicular to your route of travel can be a challenge. The front wheels do veer when you shift your weight from your good leg to the kneeling leg. Invacare tech support says the front wheels "will always veer" and buying additional stationary rear wheel assemblies to replace the front wheels isn't an option. "They aren't available". I agree that this knee walker might not be best for someone who is elderly or not very steady.
Annette, Minneapolis, MN
Since the front wheels swivel, it is hard to go in a straight line. I called the manufacturer and was told that it does pull naturally to one side. I might have ended up doing a split if I wasn't careful…I almost would prefer wheels that don't turn. The knee pad does not stick out far enough if you want to sit down for a minute to take a break.
Gracebay
If you are considering renting or purchasing, get the information you need to get a safe, stable and comfortable option to crutches.
Get the Free Knee Walker's Buyer's Guide by clicking on below.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Thu, May 17, 2012 @ 08:41 AM
Even if your insurance provider does not cover the full cost of renting or purchasing an alternative to crutches like a Knee Walker, sometimes called by the brand name Roll-a-bout, it maybe possible to pay for it through a Flexible Spending account. Recent IRS rules have changed requiring a signed Letter of Medical Necessity from your doctor or health care provider. Here are the official rules posted on the government website:
"Under internal Revenue Services (IRS) rules, some health care services and products are only eligible for reimbursement from you Health Care Flexible Spending account (HCFSA) or Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account (LEX HCFSA) when your doctor or other licensed health care provider certifies in writing that they are a medically necessary.
Your provider must indicate the patient's:
- Specific diagnosis
- Specific treatment needed
- Length of treatment
- How this treatment will alleviate the medical condition
By submitting a LMN (Letter of Medical Necessity) you certify that the expense you are claiming are a direct result of the medical condition described and that you would not incur the expense you are claiming if you were not being treated for this medical condition.
For example if you were claiming membership to a health club, it must be for the medical condition being treated and that you were not already a member." Or that you are renting a knee scooter because you are non weight bearing and unable to affectively use crutches.
Source: Federal FSA Program
Click here for a blank Letter of Medical Necessity for a Knee Scooter that your doctor can review and sign.
To find out more about Renting or Purchasing a Knee Walker get the free
Knee Walker's Buyer's Guide.
Full of information about the various models, critical safety features and important comfort features.
Plus helpful information for finding if your insurance covers crutch alternatives.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 03:46 PM
As reimbursement continue to decline many medical offices have look for other areas in which they can both serve their patients. For non weight bearing patients, some office have considered renting or selling Knee Scooter for an additional revenue stream
But don’t forget the real costs of renting roll-a-bouts.
Liability of roll-a-bout knee walkers
The five-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon again after the Roll-A-Bout he was using malfunctioned. Peters was maneuvering in his kitchen when the device broke, and he fell on his face and re-injured the Achilles.
The fall resulted in a second surgery, and his recovery was set back three weeks. Any hope that Eagles left tackle Jason Peters would return this season has almost certainly disappeared. He plans to sue the manufacturer of the device.
What would your liability be if you had dispersed the unit?
Does your current policy cover you renting knee scooters?
What procedures and controls would need to be in place to prove that every rental device was fit for use?
Maintenance costs of roll-about knee walkers
Some patients will never take them outside, while others will use them everywhere including down the gravel drive way. Wheels will wear, brakes will need adjustment, and with normal wear the units from your office will start to look worn.
How will you repair units?
How will you tune up units between rentals?
How will you train technicians and document all maintenance?
Cleanliness of rental roll-a-bout knee walkers
Some patients will never take them off their white carpet. Other patients will use their knee scooter daily on the factory floor. Knee pads will always need to be replaced. Regardless when the rental units come back they will need to be thoroughly decontaminated and meticulously cleaned for you most demanding patient.
What space will be dedicated for this dirty job?
Who will be dedicated to this mechanical job?
How much capital will go to roll-a-bout knee walkers
Cash is king in any business. Tying up capital in knee scooters means it can’t be used in other areas. The more you purchase the bigger the volume discount, but the more expensive office space is required.
How many to buy?
How do you handle busy time to keep from running out?
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 11:59 AM
Where you get your Knee Walker can be just as important to your ultimate satisfaction as what model you get. Think of it like a car. Quality dealerships know the product, answer your questions, and ensure you complete satisfaction. Others just make money selling lemons.
This is letter from someone who did not buy from us, but who we were able to help. The distributor gave her frustration with a knee scooter that was set up incorrectly.
“When I learned that I would have to be off my foot for several months due to a Talar Dome Lesion I immediately went out and purchased crutches. I quickly realized the crutches weren’t working for me. My hands, wrists, and arms ached continuously and the easiest of tasks around the house, and otherwise, were impossible to accomplish on my own without placing my ankle in danger.
My mother hopped on ebay and bought a knee walker for me. It is an older model and it shows. It’s about two-feet wide at the front wheels, over three-feet long all together, and the knee pad is covered in hard vinyl and two-feet long itself. After spending a couple days making 18-point turns in the house attempting to get around, I decided I needed a newer model.
Because of my insurance coverage my options were limited. Once I started to call around, I realized my options were even more limited. I found only one supply store in my area of Houston, Texas that had a knee scooter. (It happens to be the same model offered by Goodbye Crutches)
When I went to pick it up I was told it was adjusted for me and the associate told me repeatedly that it would not fold to fit in my car. I got it home and found the handlebar alignment was loose. I also managed to dig the nut on the back wheel into my good ankle while scooting around. I was frustrated and bruised. (Back wheels can injure the good ankle if knee platform is set up for the for incorrect leg)
I took the scooter back to the store so they could “fix” it, but they really weren’t sure what to do. I had been through the ringer with anything and everything related to my injury. This issue was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I started to search the internet for answers, since the people I was dealing with didn’t have any. That’s when I found Goodbye Crutches. I learned how to fold my knee scooter with one of their videos! I also learned that the seat (Knee Platform) can be offset for the right or left leg. Sure enough, when the guys at the store “adjusted” the scooter for me, they set it for the wrong leg. (Stability of the unit is reduced by 50% if set up incorrectly making it more prone to tipping while in use)
Even though I didn’t purchase the unit form them, I decided to write an email to Goodbye Crutches customer service regarding my alignment issue. They went above and beyond what anyone else would do. They responded immediately and even sent me a video of how to fix my alignment problem. They are so kind, well educated on their products, and willing to help. They turned my horrible circumstances/experiences around! I give a million thanks to Goodbye Crutches!”
Lauren Fullbright - Houston, Texas
If you rent or buy, know the questions to ask for a
safe, stable and enjoyable Knee Scooter
Get the Knee Scooter Buyer's Guide
What you need to know to make your best decision.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Wed, May 16, 2012 @ 08:44 AM
There is never a good time to be on crutches.
If you are spending your summer on crutches after an injury or surgery, you can still enjoy lots of fun and memorable activities. Here are 5 ideas for you:
Go to the Beach
While the beach will take more planning don’t rule it out. Once again the temporary parking permit may get you closer than ever. A non latex cast protector will keep the sand out of your cast and keep it dry even in the water. Easier than crutches, a Knee Walker lets you carry things in the basket, while a Hands Free Crutch can even go in the water.
Learn to Play the Guitar
Haven’t you always wanted to learn guitar? It’s never been easier. You have the free time, you can get free online guitar instructions at You Tube, you can even rent a guitar and have it sent to you.
Go To A Theme Park
Sure you may not be able to do all the rides, but you have the coveted Temporary Handicap Parking Permit. That means the best parking you, your friends and family may ever have. Use one of the parks complimentary wheelchairs or bring your own rented Knee Walker to experience the park in a different but memorable way.
Spring Cleaning
Sure you can’t get on a ladder to clean the windows, but when was the last time you did a spring cleaning of all you financial records? One of the best ways to fight identity theft is to shred old financial documents. Go through your files and shred all the old bills, checks, statements, and other old documents.
Christmas Cards
By the Fall you’ll be catching up for lost time recovering. Your friends and family will be pleasantly surprised when they receive your Christmas Card just after Thanksgiving. If you have a sense of humor, send them in the Summer – 6 months late or 6 months early. You can even shop, personalize, and purchase greeting cards online and have them scheduled to arrive later by mail.
Let's be honest: Crutches can be limiting.
Luckily for you there are modern options that may give you the mobility, stability and freedom you need.
Take the quick interactive quiz to find the best way to stay off you healing foot while enjoying summer.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Tue, May 15, 2012 @ 04:09 PM
The Drive Knee Walker is one of the cheapest alternatives to crutches you'll find locally or online. There are many types of Roll-abouts on the market. As an independent distributor we purchase and test each one to see if it's worth while to offer it to patients recovering on one foot after surgery or injury.
While we have reviewed The Good, The Bad and the Ugly about the Drive Knee Scooter, you might also benefit by reading what other users have posted online. Below are 5 actual reviews we found online. While some have been edited for brevity, the full text can be read by clicking the reviewers name at the end which will take you directly to the source we have found.
Though sturdy and safe-feeling, this knee scooter seems to have been engineered for people 5'7"" or taller in mind. I am 5'4 1/2," not particularly short for a woman. I had to stand on tippy-toes with the pushing leg in order not to tilt my left hip up (left foot was in cast) 2-3", resulting in sharp hip and back pain. After about nine days of the knee walker, I had to use the less preferable crutches. I do not recommend this scooter for people under about 5'7" DGE
It was a Godsend. Crutches made life miserable. The knee walker gave her mobility. The only down side was it doesn't steer. She had to lift to turn. This may not have been all bad -- this help build upper body strength. Unfortunately...the brakes failed. That is, the lever that pivots the pull cable broke. The metal handle broke into two pieces. The brake is CRITICAL going down steep ramps. This makes this unit somewhat dangerous under steep ramp condition due to a roll-away condition. Harry
After four weeks of very light household use the main frame tube split in half at the weld where the knee pad post is installed. From what I can tell, this is a serious manufacturing and/or design flaw. Patient weight is 75lbs below the rated limit and this product was never taken apart or even folded once assembled. The product was exclusively used on a single floor of our residence. J. Mitchell
Okay, will admit that this is better than crutches, but just. If you are like me and have a home or workplace where you might want to consider turning around or even around a corner, this is probably not for you. To turn you have to pick up the front end of the walker and pivot it. I have already fallen twice trying to turn around, the wheel base is not big enough not to tip as you turn. Good thing I am only in a cast due to a torn tendon not for actual foot surgery and falling on my bad foot. I realize this was a cheaper model and I guess I should have realized why." H. Zaumseil
"The brake is not very good at all. Stay on level ground at all cost. The wheel adjustment buttons break off and get stuck and get almost impossible to push in to move the wheels up or down. For [$] it could be a little better constructed." Scooter B, Athens, Ohio
If you are considering renting or purchasing, get the information you need to get a safe, stable and comfortable option to crutches.
Get the Free Knee Walker's Buyer's Guide by clicking on below.
Posted by
Tom Schwab on Tue, May 15, 2012 @ 02:36 PM
There are 2 codes your insurance company will request when you submit for reimbursement of your purchased or rented knee scooter (also known as a Knee Walker or by many brand names)
The first code is for the device.
HCPCS E0118: Crutch substitute, lower leg platform, with or with out wheels, each.
This generic code is applicable for all Knee Scooter regardless of brand (Roller-aid, Free Spirit, Kneal Knee Cruiser, Roll-about, Turning Leg Caddy, Roller Foot, Drive Nee Bop, Weil, etc.)
So What is a HCPCS Code?
HCPCS Codes, often pronounce “Hics Pics” is the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. It is a system of numbers and codes used by Medicare and monitored by CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Most all private insurance companies use this same coding system
Your doctor uses Level I HCPCS Codes for procedures or services. For example 99214 may be used for a physical. Check any recent bill and you will see everything billed has an associated HCPCs Code
Regardless if you purchase or rent a Knee Walker it is a Level II HCPCS codes that are used by medical suppliers other than physicians, such as ambulance services or durable medical equipment. These are typically not costs that get passed through a physician's office so they must be dealt with by Medicare or Medicaid differently from the way a health insurance company would deal with them.
The second code is for the procedure code?
In addition to the HCPC code your insurance company will most likely ask for your CPT Code. The Current Procedural Technology codes developed by the American Medical Association tells them what procedure was performed. For example 77.56 is the surgical repair of a hammer toe.
You need BOTH a CPT and a HCPCS Code
To determine benefits your insurance provider will look at both what the device is (A Knee Scooter) and what procedure made it a necessity (A Bunionectomy). If either of the codes is incorrect it could cause an automatic denial. For example, if Knee Scooters are covered benefit they wouldn’t be for a Rhinoplasty (nose job).
You MUST get CPT code from the doctor’s office
Sure you could go onto Google right now and search for the CPT code for what you think was done, yet it's probably quicker to call your doctor’s office directly. It is a common question, and a request that the nurse or billing department should easily be able to obtain form your chart or bill. Often the doctor can use qualifiers they may use. If you submit a CPT code different from your doctor both your claim for your knee scooter along with the physician’s claim and the hospital / surgery center claim could be delayed.
Learn more about Knee Walkers including tips for getting your insurance provider to cover it,
Get the Free Knee Walker's Buyer's Guide