Slippery ferrules: Another crutch related problem ! One... - NRAS

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Slippery ferrules

weathervane profile image
60 Replies

Another crutch related problem ! One of the ferrules at the end of one of my crutches is a bit slippery and has slid on the floor . I have been able to control it but l was wondering if i was to sandpaper it would it help ?? Also my hands are getting a bit rubbed and sore , im not walking that much or practicing for a marathon 😀 Has any one else had these problems at all ? 🌺

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weathervane profile image
weathervane
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60 Replies
Nettac profile image
Nettac

Yup. The bits on the end of sticks and crutches often slide about. Nearly fallen several times. I await suggestions!

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to Nettac

See what we can come up with here , if no ideas i will phone Physio on Monday and ask him 😀

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to weathervane

Replacements at most accessibility shops but the one in White Rose wouldn't sell me a replacement at £1.99 as he couldn't be bothered! Bad mark to them. Too small a purchase I think and he half writhed the old one and left it half in and half off! Couldn't be bothered. Your Physio/OT should have a supply but you need to be seeing them anyway as you probably won't get an appointment to do that. Hope you can soon replace the worn one as they skid like crazy. I have gone skidding along many times.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to NeonkittyUK

Thanks neon xx

ldwilliams profile image
ldwilliams

you can buy replacement ferrules on amazon and ebay

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to ldwilliams

True , though ihavent had the crutches that long i think its bit of a dude one on this crutch .

ldwilliams profile image
ldwilliams in reply to weathervane

i can easily wear out a ferrule in a few months

just depends on how hard you use them, they are only rubber after all

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to ldwilliams

I have mainly been just round the house as I haven’t been out that much as can walk any distance at moment.

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to weathervane

There are several types and sizes so it is best to take your stick to the shop (obviously not the shop I went to!!)

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to NeonkittyUK

They are standard nhs ones so should be easy to get one to fit hopefully 😀

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

My FIL used to put a Blakey on his....which worked but was much to the disgust of MIL as it marked the wooden floor! Super glue some sandpaper? Or dip ferrule in gue & then sand?

Or look on internet for ice slip ferrules, or non slip ferrules...there's quite a range. Circles are apparently better than pimples...

And wear fingerless gloves, alternate with elbow crutches or get OH to carry you about.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to helixhelix

I think i will try a light sanding and see if helps . I dont have fingerless gloves but i do have a hubby who would probably get a hernia if he carried me !!!

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply to weathervane

Fingerless gloves for cyclists have padded palms to help with gripping handlebars.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to helixhelix

👍thanks helix , you are always there with info , much appreciated xx

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to helixhelix

I have used my old weight training gloves which are ideal just as cyclist ones are. Both quite padded.

sylvi profile image
sylvi

You can change the rubber bits on the bottom of the crutch,also here are some bottoms that have webbed feet and are in a triangle shape for more stabilibity.xxxxx

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to sylvi

Thanks sylvi , will look for these if sanding doesn’t work xx

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to sylvi

I trip up when using the triangular ones!!

sylvi profile image
sylvi in reply to NeonkittyUK

SOmeone has to darling. LOL. xxxx

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to sylvi

😀🌸🌸

Scottishlad profile image
Scottishlad

My wife uses these on her walking sticks. flexyfoot.com

Take away the shock when you put it down, gray ones should not mark floors.

I think they are well worth trying.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to Scottishlad

Ive never seen these before 🤔 will takea note of site , thanks

Nettac profile image
Nettac in reply to Scottishlad

Ooh they're good Scottishlad!

Pam-51 profile image
Pam-51

Have you tried elbow crutches? I always use these when necessary after surgeries as my hands are very deformed. The elbow crutches cause less pressure on your hands. Maybe you could ask the physio to try them.

Best wishes Pam

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to Pam-51

Thanks pam , i may be off the crutches in a couple of weeks if the injection works , if not may have to think about elbow crutches as right hand in particular is sore 🌺🌺

Jora profile image
Jora

I swear by my Flexyfoot. flexyfoot.com/products/

I have the stick with the oval handle, as well as the little snow boot thingie for when it’s icy. I regularly check that the ferrule hasn’t worn down, as someone warned me that one needs to replace it at some stage. I’ve used mine a lot over the 15 months that I’ve had it.

If you are just buying the ferrule, make sure you buy the right size, I bought one separately for a more conventional walking stick . J

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Thanks jora , the ferrule hasn’t had enough use yet to wear down as not able to walk too far. I looked at that website and they have quite a range xxx

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK

Yes has happened to me too. Worn smooth rubber under it. Argh.

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Hi neon , it gives you a bit of scare when it slips 🤪

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to weathervane

It does indeed. I've just been walking in the snow this morning and mine was skiddy. I'll get a new ferrule when I go see my Physio in a couple of weeks.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to NeonkittyUK

Those one for ice look good

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

Husband had two pairs of crutches. One pair I bought him was a pair of ‘open’ crutches from Amazon . They are blue and the ferrule on them was larger than the ones on the NHS crutches he got from the hospital. In the end he had upstairs crutches - the NHS ones and downstairs ones - the flash Amazon ones. He found they only slipped if the floor in the house was wet, they didn’t slip at all outside.

He found the handgrips rubbed a blister. He put a plaster in the blister and once it had hardened the skin seemed to toughen up. His physiotherapist said some people wrap towelling round the handgrip but we never got round to doing that. I did wonder about those support gloves you get for arthritis or even ‘driving gloves’ again we didn’t do anything about that either. He sends you his sympathy!

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK

Try some light weight self adhesive chiropodist foam. Cut to the shape of the hand part of the stick and attach. My Physio did it for me. I had callouses on my left hand from pressing the stick. Or a more wipe clean type foam. Superdrug and Boots have both. You can wipe it then and also change it when it gets grubby. Or those little leather type weight training fingerless gloves. I used those to grip the stick many years ago.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to NeonkittyUK

Thanks neon , my hands have got very dry as can’t use hand cream when holding a walking aid. I will try the gloves 👍

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to weathervane

Also a soft plaster over the blister area of your finger/hand. Mine is the bottom of the left index hunger that rubs raw.

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Thanks fruit , I hope if i get nerve root injection that i can put crutches away through consultant wasn’t 100% confident, but 🤞🏻. Gloves do sound a great idea ! Xx

sylvi profile image
sylvi

My walking stick has a fischer handle and it fits to the palm of my hand.xx

NeonkittyUK profile image
NeonkittyUK in reply to sylvi

Mine is shaped but is too hard. xx

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Had to check those on google, look very comfortable and easier to grip 👍

Nettac profile image
Nettac

What a useful site! I thought I was the only one who managed to slide stick all over the place. I've done it on the ground and in shops!

Thanks for ideas.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to Nettac

It would be great if you can find something that helps as could prevent an accident . Best wishes xx

lornaisobel profile image
lornaisobel

buy a new ferrul for your walking stick - it will be ribbed at the end and so shouldnt slip x

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to lornaisobel

Thanks Lorna , I’ll try a sand and see if helps if not then a new ferrule 😀 xx

Strangely enough, I’ve been having issues lately with slipping. I checked my ferrules and they’re in great condition. I change them regularly but I think rubber plus wet floor is always going to be tricky, especially on certain types of flooring.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to

Yes crashdoll , ive found water causes problems and some wooden floors 🤔

Kai-- profile image
Kai--

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What kind of site is this?! 🤔 Discussing ones ‘slippery ferrules’ out from behind closed doors? 😳 (Never mind ‘mixed company’.) Sandpapering the end of one’s crutch?! 🧐 Rubbed & sore hands . . . callouses from pressing the stick . . . fingerless, padded-palm gloves! 😯 (What kind of talk is this for a ‘family-friendly’ site?!) Wearing out one’s ferrules depending upon how hard one uses them?! 😳 Bringing one’s stick to the shop . . . dipping one’s ferrules in glue . . . 😱 Webbed feet & triangle shaped . . . oval handles & snow boot thingies . . . 😯 Slipping, sliding, skidding . . . & gawd only knows what else!! 😮 Circled, pimpled, ribbed?! 🤭 Where does it all end?! 🙈🙉🙊 . . . (🤣 🙃)

.

weathervane profile image
weathervane

You are very naughty!!

Kai-- profile image
Kai-- in reply to weathervane

.

As long as it brings you a chortle 😆 with a wink & a smile 😌 that’s all that matters, weathervane. We’ve all been there one time or other 😔. If we didn’t have a good nature, kind-hearted laugh, we’d weep. 😭

.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to Kai--

I do enjoy a laugh but here there is probably a line you should not cross as it can offend others , even if that was not what was intended. Xx💐🌺🌺

Kai-- profile image
Kai-- in reply to weathervane

.

Yes, I do agree, weathervane. 👍👍

Unfortunately, I am also aware there are those who appear to intentionally(?) ‘misconstrue’ the most innocent/ light-hearted jest for whatever ‘reasons’ or strange false ‘projections’/ distortions . . . 😳

Should one be cowed 🐄 into conversation geared toward ‘the lowest common denominator’ & live in continual concern/ fear of ‘offending’ . . . by sharing an *obvious* jest? 😳

Good gawd, if everyone lives in ‘fear of offending’, then ‘walking on egg shells’ will become the norm, & the variety of humour will be stripped down to a narrow band only approved by the Mary Whitehouse brigade. 😳

Good gawd!! 🤯 Surely people deserve more credit than that? 🤔😳

.

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

I don't think it's about poking fun at people using sticks though Sylvi, it's the alternate meaning to the words.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to nomoreheels

Its a joke that has been taken a bit tooo far i think , but as you say nomorrheels its not aimed at people with walking aids .

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels in reply to weathervane

I agree, but even if anyone had a titter when reading the help being offered they didn't go so far as to say even ooo er missus!

Kai-- profile image
Kai--

.

Of course not, Sylvi! Why would you ever think such a thing? 😳 🤯

If it has to be ‘explained’ then obviously it does’t click with your sense of humour.

Why would you ever ‘jump to the conclusion’ it’s ‘making fun of’ people who use sticks?! 😳

.

If you have to state ‘up front’ that "a joke/ humour is coming" then it takes away from the humour, the laugh . . .

If you look at the *end*, this appears: (🤣 🙃) That indicates, laughter/ humour — *joking*.

.

Is anyone *seriously* missing the humour in this?! 🤔 😳

Or, are people seeking to ‘find offence’ where *none* exists? 🤔

.

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Ha ha you sound like my husband, he thinks people ‘ choose to be offended ‘ . Political correctness can take things too far , for example calling a stranger ‘love ‘ or ‘. Pet ‘ . I don’t find that offensive but some people find it demeaning . I listened to a lady rant to a manager about a lovely lad in a restaurant who called her love . I thought he was a very helpful fellow , I couldn’t believe it !!

Kai-- profile image
Kai-- in reply to weathervane

.

Yes, some people *choose* to "seek out" offense where none exists. All intention, context, spirit of heart is lost. (Gawd help us. 🛐 )

[Terry Wogan ( en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ter... ) is rolling over in his grave. 🔄 ⚰️ ]

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nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

I'm so sorry weathervane, gone off topic, I think your question is a valid one & had been following it with interest.

weathervane profile image
weathervane in reply to nomoreheels

Oh nomoreheels , im so sorry that this has happened. This has gone a bit too far and is getting personal. Im always a mediator at home , i hope that things are settled , I feel like a piggy in the middle ☹️

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels in reply to weathervane

You shouldn't be made to feel that way, you didn't instigate the fuss. It's not the first time & if not addressed it won't be the last... hey ho, we just have to rub along & play nicely.

weathervane profile image
weathervane

Ok , best wishes 🌺

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