17 replies to this topic

[JuanC]

I'm a C5, and I sleep on my side all night with a pillow behind my back and between my legs. I have no triceps or hand function. some arm movement. I'm pretty strong though, and sure i'll be able to turn myself. is there anyone who has tips for me? maybe a vid link? thanks

[kjm465]

Hey Juan - do you have a bed ladder? this image shows it starting at the foot of the bed, but we lie ours across the head (width-wise) so that my husband can use it to turn during the night. We bought a wood & rope one in Canada for about $25 and a hard-plastic & rope one in Vegas for about $40.

It attaches to the frame under the bed and allows you to pull yourself up and over. If you have no hand function, you can hook your wrist in the rung and pull that way.

http://www.assistire...ope_Ladder.html

[JuanC]

kjm465, on 18 November 2010 - 06:56 PM, said:

Hey Juan - do you have a bed ladder? this image shows it starting at the foot of the bed, but we lie ours across the head (width-wise) so that my husband can use it to turn during the night. We bought a wood & rope one in Canada for about $25 and a hard-plastic & rope one in Vegas for about $40.

It attaches to the frame under the bed and allows you to pull yourself up and over. If you have no hand function, you can hook your wrist in the rung and pull that way.

http://www.assistire...ope_Ladder.html

would you look at that . thinking about it, that could come in useful for a lot of things. I guess I can just make some loops to put my arm through. as long as I can get hold of something, I can push and pull myself around. the ladder looks awesome. I can also use it to sit up. I might be carrying on a bit, but I got a handle hanging from my roof to pull myself up. because I don't have hand function I've never used it. and I dont seem to get my arm through to grip it. does your hubby sit up unassisted? I've seen some C5/6 quads do it, but I can't balance (yet hopefully). I have to lock my elboys and place my arms behind me on the bed.. Why I'm asking is cause I wanna try transfering

Sorry for the essay. hope I get full marks though

[kjm465]

He can pull himself into a sitting position, but in order to stay sitting up he either needs to use his hands to balance or put a bunch of pillows behind his back, as he has no core strength. He can pull himself up to a sitting position and turn over in bed without help though, as long as he can reach his bed ladder. You should be able to buy one at any decent medical supply store - just give them a call and ask about a "bed rope ladder." Good luck!

[allis53ca]

http://www.colonialm...productid=16376

[tyvin]

Half rails are good for mobility. Perhaps with rope tied to both sides and being able to pull from one side to the other; same concept as the bed ladder but on the sides.

[COOL Mobility]

I'm a complete C5-6 (for 32 years) and flip using overhead loop of seat belt webbing. It is stiff enough to stay open - or to make loop wider target, sew two thicknesses together. I learnt to swing my arm through and pull on my wrist/forearm to flip, move or even sit up. You need to practice (note: you'll hit yourself in the face a few times as your elbow collapses :-) ) You can also use drawer of side cabinet too.

Worth the battle and when you can discuss deltoid Tricep Transfer tendon surgery.

[Steevo]

Hmm- My wife is similar in ability and injury level and we have been very careful about her matteress for this reason. We shopped the market, and found something called intellibed or intelligel bed. It is a gel mattress, that uses a gel that is sort of a honeycomb (I am an engineer, and studied the problem for months before purchasing) http://www.intellibedmattress.com/ Be sure you take care of this, or you will suffer pressure sores. My wife is able to sleep on her back all night without having to shift, and has had NO pressure sores in six years. Stay away from the air beds. they will lose air at the most inappropriate times, and leave you in a mess.

We also use a sure hands lift. www.surehands.com. If you can get some dexterity, you can use it to transfer yourself. The beds you can get these days also have controls with big buttons that will allow you to rais, lower head teil, knees, etc. if you have some dexterity. So you could control the bed to sit up, and then use the lift to get to your chair. that allows some level of autonomy. Also, Permobile offers chairs these days that allow you to stand, and even drive while standing. My wifes has a control cneter that allows her to change the TV channel and use her computer using the joystick as a mouse. She uses Dragon Naturally speaking for the rest. Technology is quickly catching up...

[ss770640]

I bought my bed with turning in mind. My head board has horizontal slats in it. so i just stick my hands in there and twist my body around and over.

I have an electric one with memory foam. defo recommend simply for laziness and watching tv!

[Shrike23]

I am a complete C-5, C–6 and have been since 1984. Am I the only one here (or is it unusual) that doesn't turn in the bed during the night? I turn on my side with a pillow behind my back and my legs are tied to the bed rails on my hospital bed because I jump around quite a bit during the night with my spasms.

I don't turn at all during the night and I've never had a pressure sore, thankfully. I would imagine that my leg spasms and jumping around during the night are the reasons for not getting sores, but I'm just wondering if this is unusual amongst us?

Greg

[Ang]

I sleep on my right side with pillows between my legs and arms. I don't turn during the night unless I wake up and am hot and then I will lay straight but if I lay straight it doesn't feel like I am getting any rest and wake up tired. So I try to stay on my side all night.

[Scribbler]

I stay on my side all night irrespective of sleeping, as my sleep pattern varies.
I hate laying on my back, which I only do when I get pneumonia, but my District Nurse gets me a special mattress.
I've been injured 52 years and never had a pressure sore.

[twentieth]

Turning over is a royal pain in the ass even for high paras. I thought about a velvet rope with a knot in it tied to the foot of the bed and just lay it over my bed covers at night. Right now I just wrassle with the head board if there is one. Another thing I use is the carrying loop on the side of the mattress. Just grab it through the sheet and pull.

[Seier]

Wow it's amazing how people find ways to adapt! I've been sharing all these ideas with my husband as I read them, reckon it's gonna make our lives a lot easier!

[Ashhubber]

I dunno how you all sleep on your sides ALL night. I get Pain in my arms from laying on them after a few hours and end up getting my missus to roll me onto my back, which is a horrible way to sleep. Also, does anyone sleep on an ordinary mattress, I do.

[St. Peter]

check out this quad rugby player towards the end of vid 21.02 he uses his dog

Edited by St. Peter, 21 October 2011 - 03:34 AM.

[goose]

Thanks for sharing that video. It always amazes me how some people have adapted and the struggles of daily life. In my head I don't see or feel me struggling but I know to others they do. I feel the accomplishments as rewarding.

[Modeus]

Ashhubber, on 11 October 2011 - 10:48 AM, said:

I dunno how you all sleep on your sides ALL night. I get Pain in my arms from laying on them after a few hours and end up getting my missus to roll me onto my back, which is a horrible way to sleep. Also, does anyone sleep on an ordinary mattress, I do.

I sleep on my side all night though quite often have to switch sides at some point. both my shoulders are injured so even on a memory foam they get sore, i find hugging a pillow helps keep the pain down.