6 replies to this topic

[LovingSister]

Ronny never has a mark from the bed but he does have red spots often when he gets out of the chair. He had the same problem with his old chair too, that one had a Roho seat in it. This chair is brand new and no way can we afford a new seat so is there anything I can do to stop this from happening? We make sure he is all the way back in the seat and he tilts the chair back and forth throughout the day but still has red spots.
By the way he is doing much better and hasn't had a freezing/sweating attack in about 3 weeks. Maybe they finally got his infection cleared up?? He is active on this site now and that pleases me to no end. Thank God for the Dragon program. Next we will be duking it out over all the time he spends on MY computer but not yet. For now I am just glad he is entertaining himself

[GoldenYears]

Loving, he is likely sitting too long in his chair. Whether in bed or in the chair, we get PawPaw moved to a new position in bed, or if in his chair -- out of that chair -- every two hours. We also give him skin care that involves massages.

It's really tough moving PawPaw around every two hours and it takes two of the family members to help me with this. PawPaw is quadriplegic but we nonetheless "stand" him up and make walking motions with his legs and feet. Another thing we are signed up for is water therapy. You can also float him in a child's inflating wading pool that's placed on his bed. Drain and fill it with a garden hose hooked to your shower nozzle or faucet, and have him in it when you inflate it, fill it, and empty it. While PawPaw's skin is still wet, we give him a good rub down with aloe vera lotion -- it's something like $1.00 for a nice sized bottle at the dollar stores. Then we dry him off.

One of my sons is developing a lift with a vest we can put on him to lift and hold him in a standing position and immitate walking. We are big on exercises for him even if it seems futile. It all seems to be very helpful for PawPaw.

I try to keep a good cushion in his chair at all times, but even that is not fail proof when it comes to pressure points. Getting him off those pressure points is the only thing I know will get rid of them.

Good luck to you Dear, and to your Loved One as well! It sounds like he's doing great!

[qbounce]

Maybe his cushion has to much air in it? Is it a Roho high profile?
Have his physiatrist or therapist check out the air so you know what's appropriate, then you can maintain it that way. Recommend from them to get a seat mapping so you can get the optimal amount of air in the cushion to relieve the pressure on those red spots.

[Quad65]

It could be either over-inflation, as stated, or under-inflation. If it's under-inflated, he could be bottoming out and his butt is pressing against the seat sling or seat board. After he's been sitting up for about 20 minutes, slide your hand under one side of his butt and see how much clearance there is between flesh and the bottom of the cushion. If I recall correctly, there should be about the thickness of your flat hand. That should tell you if there's either too much or too little air in the cushion.

[LSB]

Quad65, on 15 January 2011 - 07:40 PM, said:

It could be either over-inflation, as stated, or under-inflation. If it's under-inflated, he could be bottoming out and his butt is pressing against the seat sling or seat board. After he's been sitting up for about 20 minutes, slide your hand under one side of his butt and see how much clearance there is between flesh and the bottom of the cushion. If I recall correctly, there should be about the thickness of your flat hand. That should tell you if there's either too much or too little air in the cushion.

This is not the old Roho he had before that you can inflate/uninflate it is just a very soft squishy seat.

[xxm]

loving sisters brother, on 15 January 2011 - 10:34 PM, said:

This is not the old Roho he had before that you can inflate/uninflate it is just a very soft squishy seat.

brother,

Do everything possible to get a good high profile Roho. If you can't afford a new one check e-bay for a second hand.
The only thing you can't afford is sores on you bum. Healing will cost you much more than a Roho and most importantly will
make your life a hell.
Never play with pressure sires !


Also don't be afraid of red spots that dissapear in the morning but take care fo red spots that stay red for more than one day.
As I know thanks to your sister you haven't got a sore so far and believe me bro it is hell - i don't want to scare you in any way.


Welcome to the forum and take care.
Rudy

[Quad65]

XXM is right. I think the problem is he is using the wrong type of cushion for his situation. I'd also recommend a ROHO High Profile model. I've used one for more than 25 years. Not the same one, obviously, but that model.