Comments for "Johnny Hopalong" http://achillesblog.com/hopalong Hopping from injury to rehab. One day at a time. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:26:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by John Bristowe http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-35 John Bristowe Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:13:45 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-35 I used a tea towel on the platform (that you rest your lower leg on) to reduce the amount of direct rubbing on the plastic/rubber pad. This helps a lot because it reduces the gap between the pad and your skin. It also reduces the chance of developing a blister. Mind you, after a few weeks of (nearly) constant use, the skin on my knee was pretty tough! Let me know if you have any additional questions! I used a tea towel on the platform (that you rest your lower leg on) to reduce the amount of direct rubbing on the plastic/rubber pad. This helps a lot because it reduces the gap between the pad and your skin. It also reduces the chance of developing a blister. Mind you, after a few weeks of (nearly) constant use, the skin on my knee was pretty tough!

Let me know if you have any additional questions!

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by Vic http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-34 Vic Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:51:14 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-34 I'm a recent joiner of the ATR club (surgery 4 days ago) and just received my iwalkfree crutch yesterday. I really like it but am having some trouble with pain where the top of the cast meets my shin (I guess I'm just soft). Did you do anything to help alleviate the discomfort there or did you just grow used to it? Thanks! Vic I’m a recent joiner of the ATR club (surgery 4 days ago) and just received my iwalkfree crutch yesterday. I really like it but am having some trouble with pain where the top of the cast meets my shin (I guess I’m just soft). Did you do anything to help alleviate the discomfort there or did you just grow used to it?
Thanks!
Vic

]]> Comment on About by Reid McCord http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/about/#comment-33 Reid McCord Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:28:44 +0000 #comment-33 Hi John, I'm Reid. Just ruptured my achilles tendon and found you while surfing. I'm also living in Calgary and I am very interested in the iWalkFree. If you still have it and are interested in selling it please let me know. Thanks Hi John,
I’m Reid. Just ruptured my achilles tendon and found you while surfing. I’m also living in Calgary and I am very interested in the iWalkFree. If you still have it and are interested in selling it please let me know.
Thanks

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by bob sgroi http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-32 bob sgroi Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:08:16 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-32 I am desperate to try the iwalkfree. Any help would be appreciated since I am financially almost devasted right now. I am a bka and cannot wear prosthetic leg I am desperate to try the iwalkfree. Any help would be appreciated since I am financially almost devasted right now. I am a bka and cannot wear prosthetic leg

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by molin http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-31 molin Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:18:07 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-31 OK, I finally got the iWalkFree -- bought it new on Ebay for $290, but it took a week to show up. I've used it around the house a few times, and must admit it does help to free up your hands and get things done. The crutch does take some time to get used to -- getting balance right, adjustments, etc. -- but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I think this is a great piece of equipment for freeing up your hands and getting things done around the house. I don't think I'll be taking it to work or going to the store, but who knows. It is a bit heavier than I thought, but, again, you get used to the movement pretty quickly. It's also more comfortable on your knee if I wear pants, rather than my skin right on the knee pad (starts to sweat and get itchy, I thought). Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on the iWalkFree! OK, I finally got the iWalkFree — bought it new on Ebay for $290, but it took a week to show up. I’ve used it around the house a few times, and must admit it does help to free up your hands and get things done. The crutch does take some time to get used to — getting balance right, adjustments, etc. — but I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

I think this is a great piece of equipment for freeing up your hands and getting things done around the house. I don’t think I’ll be taking it to work or going to the store, but who knows.

It is a bit heavier than I thought, but, again, you get used to the movement pretty quickly. It’s also more comfortable on your knee if I wear pants, rather than my skin right on the knee pad (starts to sweat and get itchy, I thought).

Anyway, those are my initial thoughts on the iWalkFree!

]]> Comment on The Four Hundred Dollar Man (*) by damacar http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/21/the-four-hundred-dollar-man/#comment-30 damacar Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:24:40 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=26#comment-30 I had a few people tell my my boot looked "Bionic" because I had the angle dial on mine. So, on my good days, I had Bionic Woman as my IM avatar. I know the exact noise you are talking about. I was a big fan of these shows when I was little and would re-enact them with boy-friends. In fact, my mom still has my metal Bionic Woman lunch pail. Can wait to hear that sound in my head during my first good run! I had a few people tell my my boot looked “Bionic” because I had the angle dial on mine. So, on my good days, I had Bionic Woman as my IM avatar. I know the exact noise you are talking about. I was a big fan of these shows when I was little and would re-enact them with boy-friends. In fact, my mom still has my metal Bionic Woman lunch pail. Can wait to hear that sound in my head during my first good run!

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by John Bristowe http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-29 John Bristowe Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:24:47 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-29 Awesome stuff. Make sure to let me/us know what you think! Also, take care your time and make sure that all the straps and levels are adjusted perfectly. It will take you some time to get used to. Once everything is set correctly, you'll never want to go back to crutches. Awesome stuff. Make sure to let me/us know what you think!

Also, take care your time and make sure that all the straps and levels are adjusted perfectly. It will take you some time to get used to. Once everything is set correctly, you’ll never want to go back to crutches.

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by molin http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-28 molin Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:03:27 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-28 Thanks for the additional info, John and Dennis. I decided to splurge and am going to give it a whirl. I'm at the beginning of at least 8 weeks NWB, so it can't hurt! Thanks, again. Thanks for the additional info, John and Dennis. I decided to splurge and am going to give it a whirl. I’m at the beginning of at least 8 weeks NWB, so it can’t hurt!
Thanks, again.

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by dennis http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-27 dennis Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:14:33 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-27 I was seriously considering iWalkFree after my surgery, and I tried pretty hard to get my insurance company to pay for it. Unfortunately, the insurance company made me run around in circles, and eventually I got tired of it and just gave up. In fact, that was one of the earliest topics of discussion on the site. You can search for it through <strong>the google search</strong> on the main page, and you'll find some comments and posts about it. (My blog as well as johnskier's) Actually, <a href='http://achillesblog.com/dennis/2008/02/25/day-17-itching-and-swelling/' rel="nofollow">here's the post and comments regarding iwalkfree</a>. That was back in Feb.. Wow, it seems so long ago! It brings back bitter/sweet memories. <a href="http://achillesblog.com/johnskier" rel="nofollow">johnskier</a> actually got one, but he's had a mixed experience with it. You may want to visit his blog and also ask him about it. I think he might be willing to sell it to someone on the site as he no longer uses it, so you might want to contact him. I actually got as far as calling the inventor and speaking to him about the product. I think it's a great idea, and I would have loved to have tried it. I was also thinking of getting one for the site, and allowing people to rent it free of charge during NWB stage. (Just have to pay for the shipping, and leave a deposit so that it gets returned to the next person who needs it.) It's still a possibility if there is enough interest. I was seriously considering iWalkFree after my surgery, and I tried pretty hard to get my insurance company to pay for it. Unfortunately, the insurance company made me run around in circles, and eventually I got tired of it and just gave up.

In fact, that was one of the earliest topics of discussion on the site. You can search for it through the google search on the main page, and you’ll find some comments and posts about it. (My blog as well as johnskier’s)

Actually, here’s the post and comments regarding iwalkfree. That was back in Feb.. Wow, it seems so long ago! It brings back bitter/sweet memories.

johnskier actually got one, but he’s had a mixed experience with it. You may want to visit his blog and also ask him about it.

I think he might be willing to sell it to someone on the site as he no longer uses it, so you might want to contact him.

I actually got as far as calling the inventor and speaking to him about the product. I think it’s a great idea, and I would have loved to have tried it.

I was also thinking of getting one for the site, and allowing people to rent it free of charge during NWB stage. (Just have to pay for the shipping, and leave a deposit so that it gets returned to the next person who needs it.) It’s still a possibility if there is enough interest.

]]> Comment on The iWALKFree and Me by John Bristowe http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/2008/08/13/the-iwalkfree-and-me/#comment-26 John Bristowe Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:24:01 +0000 http://achillesblog.com/hopalong/?p=25#comment-26 Yes and no. If I'm sitting down for a period of 5-10 minutes, I'll keep the iWALKFree attached to my leg and may loosen the straps if they become uncomfortable. However, by the time you have used the iWALKFree for a while, you don't mind taking it on/off. Once you've got it tweaked to your dimensions, it takes about 15 seconds to put on and about 5 seconds to take off. The key is making sure that the iWALKFree is continuously adjusted until it feels perfect. Once it's set, you never have to touch the settings again; you simply strap it to your leg and go. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks! -- John Yes and no. If I’m sitting down for a period of 5-10 minutes, I’ll keep the iWALKFree attached to my leg and may loosen the straps if they become uncomfortable. However, by the time you have used the iWALKFree for a while, you don’t mind taking it on/off. Once you’ve got it tweaked to your dimensions, it takes about 15 seconds to put on and about 5 seconds to take off.

The key is making sure that the iWALKFree is continuously adjusted until it feels perfect. Once it’s set, you never have to touch the settings again; you simply strap it to your leg and go.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks! — John

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