[mrhoopermd]

My sister needs help rolling back and forth in the bed and moving/sliding. She sleeps on a pull sheet which is sideways across the bed which I use to pull her and then help her roll. Well, I have done this now for almost 2 years and I have what is called tennis elbow in both arms. Doctor says find another way to do what we do. Anyone have an idea how we can do what we do different?

[Katie]

I had the same problem with my husband. He is quad and can't move anything by himself so we had a lift made which was alot cheaper than buying one. I got a pic out of the internet called hoyler lifts I think. We took it to a guy the who works with making metal fences and other stuff. It has been a big help. My back was giving out and now we use the lift for many things and my back is much better.
Now I am looking for remote control activated by voice and anything else I can find to help him feel a little more independent.
Good luck, Katie.

[mrhoopermd]

Thanks Katie for the response.
We have one of those hoyer lifts. It's not really much help to me for the rolling. We really don't use it much. Only once actually since we've had it when she first came home and the nurse wasn't paying attention and let her fall to the floor. Still took the fire dept. to come and help get her up because the nurse couldn't work the lift.
I've really learned a lot about things that medically trained people are unaware of when it comes to being paralyzed or foleys or equipment. It's sad when I'm teaching a 23 years nurse how to cath.

[AHolland]

In the mean time, till you figure something out, have you put some pull handles on the sheet and added a slippery material under it? I know some of the people around here has some meter x meter plasticy pull sheets. Lets one stand up with a straight back and straight arms and use your bodies weight to do most of the work.

[Apparelyzed]

Hi,

Don't take this the wrong way, but why isn't she doing this herself, as I understand it:

Quote

I take care of someone in my home whom I call my sister. She became a T11 para on Feb. 18, 2004.

I'm a C5/6, and even I can roll by myself to change my postition. Even when I've little strength from exhaustion, I can still support my upper bodyweight by hooking my arm through a "Polly Loop" above my bed to assist turning by my wife.

Were there other injuries which affect her upper body strength?

If there are not any other injuries, as a T11, she should of learned how to do this in rehab as part of her pressure management routine. It's one of the first things they teach you.

Regards

Simon.

p.s. - sorry for sticking my nose into the carer's forum, but I'm really curious on this post!

[Simon]

I agree Simon. Should be doing it herself.
Other thing is how many times are you turning her? I'm c4 complete, my uses the sheet I lie on to pull me over on the bed, then roll me. However, only need rolling three times, once for underwear, once for trousers, once for sling. Sje's done this day, day out for 23 years and has no RSI problems.

[In The Wind]

I'm a C-5, INC. I set up then roll over, but I get around very well for someone with such a high injury..if you can get her to set up she will be able to roll over..

[rooster1005]

I agree with all the other replies. Your sister needs to learn to roll on her own. My husband is a complete T11 and lived ALONE for almost 5 years before I moved in. If he is able to roll then she should be able to learn too.

[maniccanuck]

Hi there, in regards to rolling, we found that tent material, the slippery stuff, works great to roll!

[mrhoopermd]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I know she can do it because she got mad at me last night and put the transfer board under her, scooted over to the bed, fell/rolled to the side and swung her legs up on the bed. Then she used the rails to pull herself over and began to pull her pants down. After that she was out of breath and could do no more.
All I could do was laugh. I said, "Boy it's amazing what one can do when one puts one's mind to it!"
Anyway, life goes on. We'll see what happens tonight!