Okay, so this is kind of part of that "Karma got me" thread. I've been on crutches for two days, and my arms are nothing but rubber and pain.

Does ANYONE know of any easier way to make using crutches hurt less?

I've got a few more days on these things, and I need to be able to lift my arms up above the height of my shoulders.

Oh gosh, I had to use crutches when I fell off a horse a few months ago because I damaged a lot of the muscles in one of my thighs (horse landed on me :x).

I can't say there's much you can do. Temporary crutches aren't exactly the most comfortable things in the world. You need to pad the hand rests, when I had crutches I found that was what hurt the most. x_x I just wrapped some gloves around it. And like orangeyxlove said, try adjusting the height. Unless of course the hospital adjusted the height for you when you got them - that's what they did for me. My arms didn't hurt though - it could be you're not using them properly. You have to lock your arms, have them straight (I think). Best to google it though, I'm sure there are plenty of articles on the correct way to use them. x)

Are they the armpit crutches or upper-arm crutches? Either way, pad whatever you lean on. I used a lot of gauze and tape before having the idea to use those strap-on handle pads that they have for suitcases.

You have to put the weight on your hand (metacaraples) and hold yourself with your wrist. Is the rest perpedicular to your long bones? I find it works a bit better to skew the back a few degrees twords the heal of your hand. If you looked down on the crutches they would look something like / . Also make sure its the length, else it doesn't work so well. And make sure you are walking with them correctly...

Hope you start feeling better!

I use them correctly, keeping my arms straight, using my hands, not leaning on them or using them under the armpits, etc. I had to make them taller and it made them easier to use, but it just kills if I try to lift my arms.

I hope the pain goes away soon because I still have a while to go. I was hoping to be done with them by Sunday, but that doesn't seem like it's gonna happen.