On crutches

I am recovering from foot surgery which requires that I not put weight on my right foot so I’m using crutches. The crutches were given to me right after the surgery and, after three weeks, I’m getting quite agile with them. And that’s the problem–three weeks.

You see I wish I was this agile on them the day after my surgery, when the downside from  improper use was greatest (the slightest accident could have caused me to go back into surgery). But, the way the process was implemented, that’s also when I had the the greatest risk of an accident (that was my very first time using crutches). This misalignment of the risk and consequence of failure means the more one needs the crutches the less one knows how to use them, and vice versa.  

Wouldn’t it make more sense for hospitals to give patients like me the crutches a couple of weeks before surgery? That way I will be fairly comfortable with them by them time I need them the most. In fact, the learning will be faster because before the surgery, with the downside of improper use practically negligent, I will be more inclined to experiment and therefore know what I can and can’t do. (OK, maybe they wouldn’t encourage patients to do that)

Anyway, just a thought. Somebody, please educate me.