[Gr8t3ful]

So. Just some random things I've been wondering..

I got these 'boots' when I was in the hospital, prafos I think there called. Their to prevent foot drop and I pretty much where them every night, sometimes I don't.. but, am I gonna have to wear them for the rest of my life?

Are my feet always gonna swell up all the time when I'm up in my chair?

How many months after injury did you stop taking the narcotic pain medicine? Or any pain medicine? I'm always in so much pain I'm really afraid to stop taking them, but my Dr insists I set a quit date. It's not like I wanna take them for the rest of my life, I'm just in that much pain that I feel the need to take them consistantly now..

How about flip-flops? Right now I still have my loner chair so it has these foot things on it, but I'll be getting my new chair in 2 days and it will have like a solid foot plate. Will I be able to wear like flip-flogs and clogs when i get my new chair? I mean if I have like my mom or sister break em in for me? lol

How about balancing things on my legs? will that get easier? Like. I make myself food sometimes and this one time I made scrambled eggs but had trouble getting the eggs from the table to the stove without almost spilling them.. will I get better at it?

Well I that's all I can think of for right now but I'm sure I'll come up with some more..
Thanks for anyones help

[nomis]

We don't know enough about your particular condition to know whether you will continue to need those boots. What is the medical advice that you have? I've changed the style of footwear I've used over the years as my tastes and needs have changed but I'm always careful to consider safety and foot placement.

Your feet probably will always swell but may settle down to swelling less. Usually it's not a problem and they usually settle back after being raised as when you're in bed or on the couch.

Flip-flops in my opiniion are not a good footwear option. Look after those bone-hard ankles.

Balancing things on your legs and just about everything about being in a chair will improve in time, much of it dramatically so. Take care of your skin and watch out for hot stuff. In the kitchen I work with a small towel draped over my lap and I often place a large breadboard there...but always super-careful with liquids and hot stuff. You're going to make mistakes learning this stuff so make sure they are small mistakes.

This post has been edited by nomis: 17 August 2010 - 12:45 AM

[mellowgator]

i'll try to answer your questions the best i know. as far as the boots go. i was given a pair and i haven't really worn them. i stand and do rom to prevent the foot drop. it's probably a good idea to wear them at night though.

as far as your feet swelling. i have worse swelling when it's hot, when it's my time of the month, when i drink alcohol or eat salty food. so in the summer when i do all of the above i'm a whale. but in the winter if i watch salt and alcohol there's not much swelling. if it's a big problem you can wear anti=embulism stockings. i wear them when i fly or take long car trips.

i didn't have much pain until i was injured a while. my pain is from my years of overuse. most sci have pain. so i'm not sure why your dr. is making you set a quit date. it doesn't sound very humane.

all my shoes have to have a back now. i usually wear sandles of clogs that have a strap.

your balance and your ability to do everyday tasks will definately improve with time.

good luck and welcome to the club,

mellowgator

[qbounce]

AdrianElise, on 17 August 2010 - 12:23 AM, said:

So. Just some random things I've been wondering..

I got these 'boots' when I was in the hospital, prafos I think there called. Their to prevent foot drop and I pretty much where them every night, sometimes I don't.. but, am I gonna have to wear them for the rest of my life?

I stopped wearing mine after 8 months and developed a slightly high case of foot drop, which doesn't bother me when I wear shoes. I guess it's really a personal choice, but I sleep and turn a whole lot easier at night without them.

Quote

Are my feet always gonna swell up all the time when I'm up in my chair?

Most likely, yes. If you usually wear a size 8 shoe, buying one whole size higher(ie.9), should allow you the extra room your feet will need when they swell during the day.

Quote

How many months after injury did you stop taking the narcotic pain medicine? Or any pain medicine? I'm always in so much pain I'm really afraid to stop taking them, but my Dr insists I set a quit date. It's not like I wanna take them for the rest of my life, I'm just in that much pain that I feel the need to take them consistantly now..

I quit about 8 months post injury, but some people have chronic pain that they try to deal with 24/7, with the help of pain meds. Everyone is different, and you shouldn't let your doctor dictate how only YOU know you are feeling. As long as you aren't taking more than the prescribed dose, why should it matter to your doctor how long it takes you to wean yourself off the drugs?

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How about flip-flops?

Try theirs on and see how you do. I can't wear anything that doesn't have a back to it . . . . they always tend to slide off from spasticity.

Quote

How about balancing things on my legs? will that get easier? Like. I make myself food sometimes and this one time I made scrambled eggs but had trouble getting the eggs from the table to the stove without almost spilling them.. will I get better at it?

Invest in a good tray with a lip on it (like a breakfast tray without the folding legs). I use mine for making food on, carrying drinks or anything really. It's made of wood and has a stainless steel top that's easy to clean. (got it from Target).

[25femalepara]

Do u wear the stocking that are tight on your legs to help your blood circulate? If so I don't think you could wear flip flops as far as pain meds you might always need them I try not to take mine as often even when I'm in extreme pain I just try to take my mind off of it but if ypu can't,you can't just let the dr. Know.

[ClaraTaylor]

Pain meds - a lot of people here are on pain meds constantly (it's almost 6 years from mine and now I'm on /better/ pain meds and so don't need as many but I still need them) and if your doctor is worried about you being on them long term perhaps you ought get him to hit the internet and research SCI. Are you on pregablin / gabapentin? They are wonderful drugs for nerve pain (and are much gentler on your body than morphine). If it hurts keep taking the drugs.

Flip flops - I'm an incomplete and can wear flip flops but I get very few spasms in my legs which might knock them off. One thing to worry about is accidentally damaging your feet if you run into something (or usually worse - if someone pushing you piles you into a wall / kerb / ...)

As for balance - it does get better, especially with practice! I've used a dinner tray (aka a tray with a bean bag type bottom on it so that it sits level on your lap) to transfer things around on my lap. Don't give up and don't be afraid of making a mess!

[pinkcloud]

Hi Adrianelsie

I am not complete so unable to answer some of your questions. I was totally anti-medication so much so that I come off morphine and lots of pain killers 3 weeks post-op. They didnt take pain away and I was just spaced out. I couldnt come home and look after two boys as it was let alone be like that.

In the end I got desperate and paid to see a top specialist. To go back to that is un-bearable for me so I think its a bit much for a doctor to be talking about you coming off them so soon. I dont know about your situation but its a chat with him that could come much later I feel. My surgeon says it can take anything up to 18 months to recover neuro pain.

Maybe try and see another doctor - if your not happy with that one change. Its hard enough living like this. I think a doctor who suffers this problem could do with writing papers on it. I think it will make much progress for us

All the best

[wheelie182]

Quote

I got these 'boots' when I was in the hospital, prafos I think there called. Their to prevent foot drop and I pretty much where them every night, sometimes I don't.. but, am I gonna have to wear them for the rest of my life?

I seem to remember wearing those whilst in hospital, but they never gave me a pair to take home.

Quote

How many months after injury did you stop taking the narcotic pain medicine? Or any pain medicine? I'm always in so much pain I'm really afraid to stop taking them, but my Dr insists I set a quit date. It's not like I wanna take them for the rest of my life, I'm just in that much pain that I feel the need to take them consistantly now..

At least for me, I just learned to cope with the pain. In my case I sometimes get back pain, but as I long as I keep busy, i tend to put it out of my mind somewhat.

Quote

How about flip-flops? Right now I still have my loner chair so it has these foot things on it, but I'll be getting my new chair in 2 days and it will have like a solid foot plate. Will I be able to wear like flip-flogs and clogs when i get my new chair? I mean if I have like my mom or sister break em in for me? lol

Personaly I wouldnt recommend it. If you're anything lik me, you'd be stubbing your toes all day long wearing flip flops

Quote

How about balancing things on my legs? will that get easier? Like. I make myself food sometimes and this one time I made scrambled eggs but had trouble getting the eggs from the table to the stove without almost spilling them.. will I get better at it?

This kinda depends on how level your legs are. If they're level then it shouldnt be much of a problem. Just make sure the plate isnt too hot though ! I tend to carry plates around with my hands. So I'll have the plate in one hand and steer/push with the other. This makes things like carrying cups of tea around easier, because coffee is just awful awful stuff.

This post has been edited by wheelie182: 17 August 2010 - 09:55 AM

[Gr8t3ful]

I agree with everyone about my Doctor. Who is she to tell me when to stop taking my pain meds, she doesn't feel what I do. And it's not like I'm abusing them, I'm just in pain. Oh and I'm taking oxycodone and tramodol in between so I'm not constantly taking narcotics. I was on morphine in the hospital but it makes me throw up almost instantly.

Flip flops prolly aren't the best idea, I guess I'm just trying to hold onto as much as possible.. I've worn them once but it didn't work out so well, I just thought maybe once I get my new chair(tomorrow!!!!) it might be easier cause my feet won't be at a tilt all the time.

And thanks for the toughts on one of those trays for my lap! I've been thinking about something like that, didn't know if they made em or not.. Will def be investing in one of these asap!

Thanks to everyone for their help, I'll prolly be needing more soon

[MikeFatty]

i know im a guy but my answer is . i was injured in february i stopped wearing those moon boots like a week after i got out of inpatient rehab on march 30th, and i was wearing the stockings at night for a few weeks after that to keep the swelling to a min. and my feet do consostantly swell all the time but not as much as they originally did. i was kinda worried that something was wrong but i was reassured by all of my new wheelchair buddies that its verry normal for mild/moderate swelling. i go barefoot around the house all the time =). i have a so called phantom pain in my hip but it doesnt seem phantom its verry real to me and i still take at least 1 to 2 norco 10/325 per day only very seldom recently have i started only being able to knock it down to one. and ive learned to actually hold things in one hand and push with the other. and use counter tops to pull and steer and keep balance. all i can say is do everything you can to strengthen any abs you have and keep trying and dont give up. i have just over half of mine to work with from my injury . i know your injury is a lil higher but with time and effort it is possible to regain more. i actully just got my chair this month and i wear flip flops ocasionaly. i hope that this is of some encouragement. and also if your struggleing with your transfers ans other stuff with time comes strength and youll be verry active in time im actually gunna be making some videos explaining teckniques on how to do transfers and getting up off the floor and all kinds of kool stuff with my buddies help and ill be sure to post it up. and dont forget. anything is possible with God. he is on your side and he loves you. God bless.

Mike

This post has been edited by MikeFatty: 21 August 2010 - 04:42 AM