Most people with Charcot Foot have experienced at least one period of time when they have been non weight-bearing. Unfortunately, the most common Charcot Foot treatment includes being non weight-bearing so it is likely those with the condition will have numerous times when they are non weight-bearing.
Being non weight-bearing can greatly impact your quality of life. It’s often boring, lonely and isolating. Prior to Charcot Foot, it is likely you wished for a day to sit around the house and do nothing. Now that you are stuck at home and off your feet you may be bored out of your mind. We reached out to a number of individuals with Charcot Foot to find out their tips for handling the non weight-bearing periods. Here are a few suggestions from people who have been there on what to do when bored at home.
Crossword puzzles and games
One suggestion we heard over and over from people with Charcot Foot is how they managed to keep their minds active by doing crossword puzzles and playing other mind stimulating games. Several people suggested online crossword puzzles they could complete on their phone or computer. One individual said each day they set a goal to complete a daily crossword puzzle without searching the internet for the answers. There are a wide assortment of crossword puzzle books, fill-it ins and suduko books out there to help you stay busy.
Beth tells us she found sticker mosaics to be very helpful when she was non weight-bearing. She isn’t a fan of puzzles but said the mosaics helped her to feel creative and stimulated her mind.
Catch up on your favorite shows
While we know binge watching television shows may not be the best use of our time we also know how boring it can be when stuck at home. When you are non weight-bearing it is a perfect time to catch up on your favorite shows and movies. We asked readers for suggestions on their favorite shows to watch. Maybe you can find a new favorite from one of the shows on the list.
- Last Man Standing
- Mindhunter
- Game of Thrones
- Pretty Little Liars
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Lost
- Parks and Rec
- The Office
- Seinfeld
- This is Us
Join Postcrossing
We had never heard of Postcrossing.com until Jessie told us about it. Postcrossing is a project that allows you to send postcards and receive postcards back from random people around the world. That’s real postcards, not electronic! Here’s how it works.
- Register for a free postcrossing account at postcrossing.com
- Request an address and a postcard ID
- Mail a postcard to that address
- Receive a postcard from another postcrosser
- Register the Postcard ID you have received
- Go to number 1 to receive more postcards!
For each postcard you send you will get one in return. You can receive postcards from around the world and build quite a collection. We thought this was a fun way to stay connected to the outside world and enjoy a special delivery in your mailbox each day.
“During my period of being non weight-bearing I started postcrossing,” Jessie said. “I absolutely love it! I have received postcards from 17 different countries and 38 states. It was nice to get happy mail when I was stuck at home. Now it’s fun to continue doing it and learning more about different countries.”
Learn a new skill
Now is the perfect time to learn a new skill. Have you wanted to learn to crochet, memorize the names of all the countries in the world or learn to speak Spanish. Now is the time! You can learn all kinds of things on YouTube.
“I learned how to communicate using American Sign Language when I was non weight-bearing for six months,” Beth said. “I also taught myself how to crochet. I learned both by watching videos on YouTube.”
Charlie made it a goal to learn how to make his own fishing lures when he was recovering from his below the knee amputation. He loves to fish and says it helped him stay focused on the future.
“It was a depressing time for me,” Charlie said. “By making the fishing lures it reminded me I would get back out there and fish again. My life wasn’t over. Each time I finished a lure I knew I was planning for a future.”
Make a gratitude list
Several readers tell us making a gratitude list each day or even once a week helped them. When we are non weight-bearing and stuck at home it is very easy to become depressed and feel sorry for ourselves. With Charcot Foot it often feels like we are losing so much of our lives and independence. Making a list of the things we are grateful for can remind us we still have many positive aspects of our lives.
Set yourself a goal to write down five things you are grateful for each day!
Connect with others living with Charcot Foot
You may not be able to get out of the house but you can log onto the internet. There are several online groups for people living with Charcot Foot. Almost everyone we spoke with is a member of an online group and finds it helpful.
Here are three of our favorite online groups.
Charcot Foot Worldwide Support
Charcot Foot Research and Support Group
“The groups have helped me learn about Charcot Foot and help me feel connected to others who really get it,” Jessie said.
Being non weight-bearing and stuck at home can be boring. But there are so many ways to keep your mind active and relieve some of the boredom. What helps you when you are non weight-bearing?