[scatty14]

Hi people

I dont know if I am the only one that has this but I often look at other disabled people and wonder how they manage to do x y or z. Its like I am not a complete quadraplegic but an incomplete quad. I have weakness and spasticity in all limbs plus other issues. I have very limited walking ability just around the home and even that is hard at times. Its hard having a little function but that little function is hampered by spasticity and weakness and clonus, spasms, pain etc etc.

I wonder and marvel at people in wheelchairs that do sports, hobbies,work etc and ask myself 'How do they do that' dont they have problems with their arms as well as their legs etc then? I cant do that......
I couldnt do that with my arms they wont do that!
I ask myself if I am doing something wrong why is it that people can do these things when I cant?
I cant use a self propel wheelchair, even a scooter isnt straightforward. I guess I am always seeking people with similar functional abilities to try and understand how they have adapted to make the most of what they have etc.

Of course I try and do things but know certain things are clearly impossible. For instance now I am wondering how I could manage to go swimming..I couldnt climb into or out of the pool, what do I need to do.... to do it I dont know if I COULD SWIM ANYHOW BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO TRY etc etc.
Maybe its all a learning curve etc I dont know and I APOLOGISE NOW IF i SOMETIMES seek answers to things that dont make sense, or seek answers too promptly lol
I just really want to learn the best way forward I can and clearly many of you have years of experience in dealing with sci issues.
Sorry for the rant it just gets depressing not being able to do so many things and I KNOW THERE MUST BE WAYS THAT i CAN ADAPT with some things etc.

[Meadowlarkmark]

Sounds like you have done a lot of wondering...have you tried just going out and trying? Sometimes trying is all that it takes. Just Do It.

This post has been edited by Meadowlarkmark: 02 October 2009 - 07:08 PM

[Lucydog]

You just have to take a deep breath and try, and if you fail try again, And keep at it until you are successful. No one can tell you how to do things only you can find out for yourself.

[scatty14]

Meadowlarkmark, on Oct 2 2009, 08:07 PM, said:

Sounds like you have done a lot of wondering...have you tried just going out and trying? Sometimes trying is all that it takes. Just Do It.

Yes I have tried things many things and fail miserably lol. i just thought maybe there are some tricks or something I dont know but thanks anyhow! Yes I suppose I am anxious re swimming as an example as I dont quite know how I would get to the pool inside the complex etc on my own or maybe thats where I fail trying on my own without help!
Its disheartening thats all and I cant be the only one that struggles etc or maybe I am just trying to do the things i did prior to my injury which all involve my limbs lol. I suppose I see many disabled on here and elsewhere talk about doing x y or z and think there must be some magic answer as to why others can or seemingly so and I CANT IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

Lucydog, on Oct 2 2009, 11:17 PM, said:

You just have to take a deep breath and try, and if you fail try again, And keep at it until you are successful. No one can tell you how to do things only you can find out for yourself.

Yes Ok. I do sorry for rant maybe it was pointless and I am looking for answers, methods etc that would enable etc I do keep trying MAYBE i NEED TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS OR SOMETHING COS you cant do what you cant do or maybe thats it acceptance .....? who knows!

[Johnny V]

Thats how I feel about the guy in this fight scene. Granted he has no legs. But I wonder how the heck he can fight so good. I should take karate classes.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=hr2MSQGQdJE

[McTavish]

Hi Scatty,
I am a para and go swimming where I am hoisted into the pool with no effort and as soon as the hoist hits the water I grab on to the side of the pool bars.
Due to a great teacher, who fills me with confidence I can actually swim on my back using only my arms.I would never thought this possible before I became a para.
Hope you get the confidence to try it one of these days. My motto is if you cant do something one way there will be another way to do it, just keep trying and dont give up.

McTavish

[ClaraTaylor]

Our local swimming pool has a "disabled swimming club" that meets on a Monday night. Perhaps it would be worth you seeing if there is something similar near you?
We have life guards, Saint John Ambulance, a physio, helpers in the water, and if requested a swimming instructor comes down... all for £1.50 a week,

scatty14, on Oct 2 2009, 11:47 PM, said:

Meadowlarkmark, on Oct 2 2009, 08:07 PM, said:

Sounds like you have done a lot of wondering...have you tried just going out and trying? Sometimes trying is all that it takes. Just Do It.

Yes I have tried things many things and fail miserably lol. i just thought maybe there are some tricks or something I dont know but thanks anyhow! Yes I suppose I am anxious re swimming as an example as I dont quite know how I would get to the pool inside the complex etc on my own or maybe thats where I fail trying on my own without help!
Its disheartening thats all and I cant be the only one that struggles etc or maybe I am just trying to do the things i did prior to my injury which all involve my limbs lol. I suppose I see many disabled on here and elsewhere talk about doing x y or z and think there must be some magic answer as to why others can or seemingly so and I CANT IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

Lucydog, on Oct 2 2009, 11:17 PM, said:

You just have to take a deep breath and try, and if you fail try again, And keep at it until you are successful. No one can tell you how to do things only you can find out for yourself.

Yes Ok. I do sorry for rant maybe it was pointless and I am looking for answers, methods etc that would enable etc I do keep trying MAYBE i NEED TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS OR SOMETHING COS you cant do what you cant do or maybe thats it acceptance .....? who knows!

[scatty14]

McTavish, on Oct 3 2009, 01:32 PM, said:

Hi Scatty,
I am a para and go swimming where I am hoisted into the pool with no effort and as soon as the hoist hits the water I grab on to the side of the pool bars.
Due to a great teacher, who fills me with confidence I can actually swim on my back using only my arms.I would never thought this possible before I became a para.
Hope you get the confidence to try it one of these days. My motto is if you cant do something one way there will be another way to do it, just keep trying and dont give up.

McTavish

Yes thanks for that I am making arrangements to go swimming in a couple of weeks with a helper so I will see how it goes!

[LuckyinKentucky]

Whether it be swimming or anything else you want to do, the main thing you have to do more of is plan/organize in advance. Maybe the local place even has a gathering like the one Clara was describing, or have a lifeguard who has special experience. Never hurts to call ahead and ask.

[jacques]

Oh, yes!! I do have some idea of what you mean!!

I'm not paralysed: I have nerve damage at L5/S1 which affects the sciatic nerves in both legs so that I feel phantom pain in my feet, calves and thighs.

However, this means I cannot use a wheelchair neither an electric one nor manual. The former because one has to sit upright and the latter because I cannot push on the wheels. I cannot swim because the reduction in pressure on the nerves due to the "weightlessness" causes severe pain afterwards.

All I can say is that you will find things that you can do although it may take some time. For example, I can mow grass (with an alectric mower) because I am continually changing position. Yes, I will feel some discomfort afterwards but if one remembers the adage "is the gain worth the pain?" then the satisfaction I feel at the, admittedly, small achievement is worth it.

I'm not trying to paint a depressive picture but it is a matter of finding out by experimentation what one can do. It has taken me many years (and tears!!) but it helps me and that is the point. Even now, after some 20+ years, I still make mistakes and overface myself but aspiration is the stuff of life.

[scatty14]

jacques, on Oct 3 2009, 10:11 PM, said:

Oh, yes!! I do have some idea of what you mean!!

I'm not paralysed: I have nerve damage at L5/S1 which affects the sciatic nerves in both legs so that I feel phantom pain in my feet, calves and thighs.

However, this means I cannot use a wheelchair neither an electric one nor manual. The former because one has to sit upright and the latter because I cannot push on the wheels. I cannot swim because the reduction in pressure on the nerves due to the "weightlessness" causes severe pain afterwards.

All I can say is that you will find things that you can do although it may take some time. For example, I can mow grass (with an alectric mower) because I am continually changing position. Yes, I will feel some discomfort afterwards but if one remembers the adage "is the gain worth the pain?" then the satisfaction I feel at the, admittedly, small achievement is worth it.

I'm not trying to paint a depressive picture but it is a matter of finding out by experimentation what one can do. It has taken me many years (and tears!!) but it helps me and that is the point. Even now, after some 20+ years, I still make mistakes and overface myself but aspiration is the stuff of life.

Thanks for your reply its nice to know I am not alone etc. Thanks for your advice aND i GUESS it is a situation of trial and error etc. many thanks again.

[guido]

It's all trial, experience and a confidence trick.

Do you know The Back-Up Trust? They are an excellent UK SCI organisation, and getting people their confidence back is their big thing. Whole-heartedly recommend that you get in touch and see how different things can look.

In hospital I watched an old film about wheelchair skills, and 4 of us sat there transfixed as the people in it went on two wheels, up and down on escalators, etc... Now I know that these things are also about level of injury, but I wouldn't have tried many things if i didn't know others could do them!

The other thing is that we can't all do some things without a bit of help. Karen Darke has a fantastic book and makes it seem as if she's not paralysed, but she does all these things because she has a massive amount of AB support.

Start with help that you trust, and see what you can do. Build confidence in your own time, but don't put it off.

Best wishes

[faribeauty]

Swimming is so much fun! I missed it terribly after my accident when I was 15 and I hadn't done it till recently last summer. (I have a T9 injury anywhoo.) My friends all took me to the lake here and I just swam normally its easier backwards though...frontwards it looks weird lol I was really shocked to see that my legs floated I mean it was just different, but if you ask you're friends I'm sure they'd be more than willing to help you try new things. My best friend keeps a list of things she wants us to do...like bungee jumping (I'm totally against I have a fear of heights lol) but if you just go out there and try new things I'm sure you'll be like woah I didnt know I could do that! Its such a great feeling!

[Zak Sharp]

I like swimming a lot. I was never like a super great swimmer before I got hurt, but being in the water is definately cool. I just feel really free.