17 replies to this topic

[Lucydog]

Today we went to Synagogue as usual, (yes we are jewish) and my 2 year old was being a real menace to say the least. So I volunteered to my harrassed husband that Id take him into the foyer to play. Fine no problems, we are having great fun when somehow, I really dont know how, he managed to tip me over and back and I hit my head on the tiled floor with the most almighty THWACK! So he's crying and Im lying there with bluebirds flying round my head and bum in the air! And the first thing I think is' Did anyone see or hear me' as you can imagine the air was a bit blue. So I do a really good gymnastic manouvre which I could have never done before and manage to get myself sitting on the floor, and then tip my chair back up. Im sitting there with my son is seems genuinely shocked when my husband came out to see we were ok.
'Oh fine' I said, 'I decided to sit on the floor and play'!!

Did someone say something about Pride coming before a fall!!?

Anyway to finish, could I have done anything to stop myself tipping in the first place or are you a gonna too quickly to take any action? And secondly how can I get up if Im on the floor? Any techniques or is it down to practice?

Edited by Lucydog, 18 February 2006 - 10:36 PM.

[Jilly]

Oooooh how embarrassing.....you poor thing!

Arent our little darlings wonderful! - the things we do for them!

[kanga2433]

I think sometimes the chair just does this. You were very lucky by the sound of it.

My old chair, a Quickie RXS, was very liable to tip and did a few times. BNo matter how I adjusted it this still happened. The best time was, however, at a neurology clinic wen the neurologist lifted my leg to check reflexes when the chair decided to check his as I went over backwards!!!! he looked shocked and called the nurses in, but I was used to this chair so I had cauight it with one arm and 'jumped' back in! Yes a bit of pride in not having a lift from anyone there!

I did like you style of sitting on the floor too!

[Bob Clark]

Hi Lucy,

You could always put anti-tip bars on the back of your wheelchair. They are options on most wheelchairs. I got them on my first 2 wheelchairs but haven't on my last 2. I could always use the ones from my older chairs that are in my garage in pieces if I desire. But I don't like them for the simple reason that you can fall forward if you forget they are in the down position when you "pop a wheelie" to go down a curb or whatever.

Ask you dealer (or look on the Internet) for your make and model of wheelchair to see if you have the option for anti-tip bars. If you look on the back bottom tubing on your chair and there's a hole or 2 drilled into it then more than likely you can easily add anti-tip bars to your chair. Or some "handy" person could probably rig something up for you.

I once got a muscle spasm while sitting here at my computer around 2AM and fell over backwards. I woke up sometime later in a haze with a bump on my head, birds singing and a headache. I don't know how long I was out for.... my guess is 15 mimutes but I don't know for sure. Then I had the task of getting back into the chair.... well I dragged the chair into the bedroom and after many exhausting tries finally got into bed. I was drunk at the time so it was more difficult to get into bed. Good thing I was drunk or I coulda really got hurt!

Wheelie is good at "Floor to Chair" transfers but it takes some upper body strength and lots of practice. And faith in your ability to do it. Maybe he'll see this thread and reply. Or PM him.

[Lucky]

I was having a few pints of Guinness on friday night down the local, then I grabbed my crutches and headed for the toilets but little did I know one of my rubbers had come off the bottom of one of the crutches......So as soon as I got to the tiled floor of the toilets...... before I knew it, I was one my ass and feeling helpless like an upside down toitoise. Luckily some saw me rolling around and pulled me up before anyone had seen me..... embarrasing. Good job I didn't wet myself as I was busting too.

Oh well, we live and learn !

BOB CLARK....Do you own a whippet / Grey hound ???

[russ1]

This is how you get back in.

Floor to Chair Transfer Video

or this

Righting the chair while still in it

or this

Alternative floor to chair transfer

First is easiest and is mainly about technique rather than strength, second is tricky - need strength and technique and is difficult at higher levels - third is IME all about strength.

I can do first - haven't tried second since rehab where I did actually do it once and became the highest level they'd seen do it and the third I can do just but worry about scraping off the skin of my back on the chair cushion support. First and third I cheat and do without the cushion on the chair.

Russ

[wheelie182]

Hi,

If im quick enough i do as the link, one hand on wheel, one hand on floor, and then bounce to get back up,

then to get actually off the floor ( as if you fell out), i use to put the brakes on, but then one time i tried without the brakes, and i couldn't believe how much better it is, because as you swing you butt round, you can pull the chair forwards,

[Joed]

Lucky, on Feb 19 2006, 04:34 PM, said:

I grabbed my crutches and headed for the toilets but little did I know one of my rubbers had come off the bottom of one of the crutches......So as soon as I got to the tiled floor of the toilets...... before I knew it, I was one my ass and feeling helpless like an upside down toitoise.

Lucky...

I've had similar surprises with my cane and tips too. But luckily, I was made aware of the errant tip before real disaster struck. Those smooth tiles are our worst enemy...and if your tips are wet/damp...or the floor is wet...it becomes as slick as snot, and the tips are basically useless for traction. The raw end would probably do a better job in those instances.

I really wish establishments would incorporate sand into their tile finishes to provide a little extra traction.

Lucydog...

I'm glad you weren't badly hurt from your unplanned 'ride'....and was able to think fast enough to recoup some dignity. But really, there's no shame in how it really happened...but I do understand.

Now, practice those transfers that russ provided!

[Bob Clark]

Lucky, on Feb 19 2006, 04:34 PM, said:

BOB CLARK....Do you own a whippet / Grey hound ???

Hi Lucky,

She's a retired racing greyhound that I adopted from The National Greyhound Foundation here in the US. She's my third one in about 16 years. The first two I adopted at an older age.... about 6 years old.

This one (white and tan) was 4 years old when I got her a year ago. She's pretty heavy (fat) for a greyhound... if she were a whippet it would probably be considered animal abuse! There's "track weight" and "pet weight" for greyhounds. Let's just say that she's on the upper scale of "pet weight"!

http://bcee1.home.co...oyal_summer.JPG

This black one I adopted from an animal shelter at 6 years old and she had a nerve damaged arthritic rear left leg. And barely a tooth in her mouth. I believe she was neglected and abused when I got her. Every vertebra was prominently showing. I spent more at the vets getting her teeth done than I spent at the dentist's getting my own worked on! You can see her sunken jowl from tooth loss and her greying hair. I think she's about 14 here... a few months before she died.

http://bcee1.home.co....net/summer.jpg

I won't insert the images here because I don't want to hijack the thread. Just click on the links if you want to see the pictures.

Do they have greyhound racing in the UK? And retired track greyhounds and/or whippets for pet adoption?

[Apparelyzed]

Coach,

You don't need to re-register to login to the forum just because you are using a different browser. Your Username and Password will work on any web browser.

When you open your browser, just login-in using your Username and Password.

If you need to be reminded of your password, you can request a reminder from the Log-in page.

Sometimes Firefox will clear cookies when you shut it down, this means you will need to log-in again when you next open Firefox, but this can be changed in the preferences of Firefox so you are always logged in.

I hope this makes sense, and answers your question.

Regards

Simon.

[Lucky]

Quote

Do they have greyhound racing in the UK? And retired track greyhounds and/or whippets for pet adoption?

Grey hound racing's pretty big over here. I've been thinking of getting a Whippet for some time now. I think they're both ideal pets and I could manage one quite easily with help from my girl-friend and family and I'm sure I could find a rescue one somewhere.

Joed;

Know what you mean about sand! I have just bought some titanium crutches from here...

http://www.mustgetit.com/

[Joed]

Lucky...

Thanks for that link. Those 'Tornado' tips sound good. I've bookmarked the page and will order some the next time I'm due for more.

Do you use underarm crutches or forearm? LOL...I still have the 'old school' wooden underarm crutches. I think I've had them since the sixties. I'm such a romantic.

[Lucky]

I have the forearm crutches, and those tips stick like s@@t to a blanket !!

[Bob Clark]

Lucky, on Feb 20 2006, 11:43 AM, said:

Grey hound racing's pretty big over here. I've been thinking of getting a Whippet for some time now. I think they're both ideal pets and I could manage one quite easily with help from my girl-friend and family and I'm sure I could find a rescue one somewhere.

Hi Lucky,

Greyhound rescue/adoption in the UK.

Quote

Whippet Rescue in the UK:

J.R. Whippet Rescue
Mrs. Linda Jones
2 Chapel Cottages
Copley Road
Cardington, Beds, MK44 3SJ
Phone: 01234 838927
Note: Linda does not have a web page yet - please call or write her for assistance.
Northern Ireland Whippet Rescue
Contact: Viv Coulter
Oakwood Avenue
Bangor , Co. Down, Northern Ireland
Phone: 02891 457149
Or contact Viv by email through her web page at http://www.collooneykennels.co.uk

They make great pets since they've been so socialized. Very low maintenance.... very friendly and are couch potatoes at heart. Get one!

In the US you MUST have a fenced in yard in order to adopt one. My backyard is only 50 x 70 feet or thereabouts and is plenty large. It only makes sense.. and makes it easy, especially for us in wheelchairs.

And make sure you check out The National Greyhound Foundation website. They have videos and lots of pictures etc.

http://www.4greyhounds.org/

[Lucky]

Nice one Bob.....much appriciated !

[laura]

not sure i should admit to this one but here goes!

trying to open my bedroom door for myself one morning i had an ouch!!!!!

i ended up steering-i use that word loosely-my powered wheelchair with my elbow, as i was backing away from the door opening out towards me. a kind of nudge nudge approach with both chair and door to get out...

well that was the idea!

i over balanced,the w.chair ended up covering me,i was strapped in,now almost fully upside down!

i had also with wonderful precision closed and positioned myself and chair up close and personal to the door.

this meant no-one could open the door to get to me.

at the time, i had a couple of half- top-opening windows, which firefighters climbed through and came in.

they had to tip the wheelchair,with me slipping out,up-right slowly so i wouldn't faint! lol- as if i hadn't already by this point!

i was checked over-had broken my arm and dislocated my knee- oh and had a lovely black eye and bruise on my head from the door handle etc!

what a fantastic morning we had! lol

i will now ask or wait for the door to be opened for me!

<by the way the windows have been changed to doors! my fire escape! or whatever you may want to call it!>