If you’re on crutches for a few weeks after a hip or knee operation or an accident then we know how quickly the novelty wears off and boredom sets in.  Here’s our tips on how to stay sane:

1. Solve the carrying problem to regain independence

Not being able to carry anything is a big frustration on crutches. Making a cup of tea and then having to drink it next to the kettle. Your book or magazine or ipad is always in the wrong room. The phone is usually out of reach….
The Hopper is the simple way to keep useful items with you and to transport drinks whilst you’re on crutches. It was designed for crutch users and is available here.

It’s not rocket science, but The Hopper is so effective

2. Reading

Now’s the time to get some classics under your belt or investigate some great new literature. Or maybe a new genre – poetry is perfect for the short attention span that your painkillers are bestowing on you.
A Kindle is a good friend right now as you can download what you want straight away. Amazon will deliver super fast, or give your local bookshop a call – those guys are all about great customer service and will deliver or even drop stuff round if you ask nicely!

Here are some of our slightly off beat recommendations:

Classics
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller. A savagely funny satire on the folly of war.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood. Amazing sci-fi feminist classic.
The Selfish Gene – Richard Dawkins. Non fiction – a genius’s interpretation of Natural Selection.
The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams. It’ll make you laugh, we promise.

Something Newer
Weathering – Lucy Wood. Beautiful ghost story.
The Murdstone Trilogy – Mal Peet. Not a trilogy. A hilarious swipe at fantasy genre writing.
Under the Skin – Michel Faber. Super imaginative creepy alien thriller. Will stay with you for a while.
Playing to the Gallery – Grayson Perry. Absorbing explanation of how the art world works and why you should care.

Poetry
The Wood is Sweet – John Clare. Heartstoppingly beautiful poems about the countryside from the Nineteenth Century.

3. TV

This is a great time to devour a slew of box sets. The Thick of It kept me going through some painful nights – apparently the language is a little strong, but the painkillers seemed to take the edge off that! Also The Prisoner (the 1960’s series starring Patrick McGoohan) seemed to make sense in my addled state.

I would avoid daytime TV like Jeremy Kyle and Deal or No Deal which will sink you into the trough of despondency and make you feel like a skiver. Instead search out some of the awesome old films that are shown on some of the freeview channels during the day or in the middle of the night. I remember the Rocky Horror Picture Show cheering me up – dammit Janet!

4. Craft and Cooking

Cooking’s not too bad on crutches – stand on your good leg, stuff the ingredients into The Hopper and off you go. I discovered how to make fresh pasta during my time on crutches. Get the supermarket to deliver it all ….

Also I did some paint by numbers that were a gift from a friend. These are of no aesthetic value whatsoever but I really enjoyed it!

5. Admin (yes, really)

This is a great time to have a look at your pension, switch your power and telecoms suppliers, sort out your direct debits, do your tax return. All the stuff you NEVER want to do at weekends. You can do it now …. maybe!