[benok]

I would like to ask how OLD is old for you?

I beleive that there are some members here who are above 10 and 15 years as SCI people. I on my fourth year a SCi myself. I dont know how to plan ten years from now. I believe it is tought because we have to be independent. I know I am still young but I dont want to grow grumpy.

Right now, I try to enjoy by wheeling around and doing and learning a lot of things "probably" more when I was still able bodied. Getting hooked up on learning web design and medical transcription.

Any Practical suggestions on how to grow old with style as SCI?

[Chilepepper]

You know the old saying your health is your wealth. You can have all the money in the world but if you are not healthy what good is the money. So my suggestion to you is to stay healthy. Exercise, take your vitamins and try to eat clean. Keeping your body clean is by far the best thing you can do for yourself, weather in a wheelchair or not. I could go on and on and how to grow old healthy and happy. If I never did what I've already mentioned to you and more, god know where I'd be now. I could not be better and feel great.

[juls]

Hi benok,
i think it's really important to stay positive, laugh alot and try to do something at least once a day that you enjoy and makes you happy and when your feeling down, don't bottle things up inside..talk to someone about it instead.
And EXERCISE!! It's a pain in the ass but afterwards you feel so much better about yourself . last but not least..be confident and love yourself, give yourself a compliment each morning and say it like you mean it
This helps me out..after being in the wheelchair 7 yrs now i still find it hard to look towards the future, so i just take it one day at a time

[Salimacatwoman]

I'm 35! and just in 3 months I'll be 36... I sometimes feel old, especially when I see my friends and relatives getting married and have children,though I am satisfied and happy with my life and with all what I have lived,no matter if there are bad experiences and tears, all those experiences have made me stronger,I am never bored, I am very busy most part of the day...besides life starts at 40!

[Apparelyzed]

I'm 37, 38 on Friday!

I still feel like I'm 23 though, that's when I had my accident.

The past 15 years have flown by, who would think my life would be what it is today 15 years ago!

Simon.

[Chilepepper]

I know what you mean I just turned 48 and have been in the chair since 1979 and still feel like I'm in my Twenties. I hope this feeling stays for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time

[juls]

I was born in 1979!!! I'm going to be 27 on october 4th which seems SO old most of my friends are younger then me though, so that doesn't help. I do get kinda depressed on my birthdays 'cos it's another year of my life that i've spent in the wheelchair

[Salimacatwoman]

juls, on Sep 21 2006, 03:41 AM, said:

I was born in 1979!!! I'm going to be 27 on october 4th which seems SO old most of my friends are younger then me though, so that doesn't help. I do get kinda depressed on my birthdays 'cos it's another year of my life that i've spent in the wheelchair

Juls, don't feel bad for your situation, don't waste time on depression and bad thoughts or memories, nor wishing something that for now is not at all possible (I am sure one day we will have the chance for walking again but not for now ,I know it's sad but it's not in our hands to make it happen)

Better try to think how lucky you are for being alive with new opportunities for doing things and learn, also for admiring life,focus your life in small goals at the beginning at first and once you go achieving them,think bigger goals,enjoy what you can do and your life.

[benok]

Chilepepper, on Sep 21 2006, 08:32 AM, said:

I know what you mean I just turned 48 and have been in the chair since 1979 and still feel like I'm in my Twenties. I hope this feeling stays for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time

how do you keep this feeling?
how do you maintain such positive energy (outlook, whatever)

how time flies ....

[babs]

Simon, Happy Birthday!

benok,
I am approaching my 8yr post injury date and as we all know, you will have good & bad days (as do AB folks) my suggestion is to start each and every day with thoughts of 'I can...' and enjoy every one of them. Find new ways to do old things..I am C5/6 complete & have found ways to do things I love which everyone thought/said I wouldn't be able to...I can go fishing, shoot pool, go bowling, even cook an entire 4 course dinner by myself!

chilepepper,
lol...you amaze me! what is your secret?

juls,
I can appreciate how you feel, yet you need to find a way to turn 'another year..in the chair' to 'another year to be alive & experience new things' (always easier said than done)...I agree wholeheartedly with salimacatwoman. hugs to you!


btw, I just celebrated my 39th bday in july and look forward to many more!

[Jilly]

babs, on Sep 25 2006, 01:27 AM, said:

btw, I just celebrated my 39th bday in july and look forward to many more!

Hi Babs....just wait until you hit 40......40s cool!

[bigsmiles]

Can't believe im 40 next birthday and still never married, not even asked..ever...by anyone...not once...not even for a joke, can you believe it?.at this rate i'll be left on the shelf. Still they say life begins at 40 so here i come

[Okie Rick]

I'm 54 years old and 32 years and 9 months post injury. I can't imagine life as an adult w/o being paralyzed. Find yourself a reason to want to wake and experience another day. Develope a positive attitude. There will be days or weeks or even seasons when life seems not so grand, but this too shall pass.


okie
-

[bigsmiles]

Okie Rick, on Sep 25 2006, 01:51 AM, said:

I'm 54 years old and 32 years and 9 months post injury. I can't imagine life as an adult w/o being paralyzed. Find yourself a reason to want to wake and experience another day. Develope a positive attitude. There will be days or weeks or even seasons when life seems not so grand, but this too shall pass.


okie
-

Well said Okie, always stay positive You have done great (32yrs) is a life time

[htwhlz97]

Okie, your the only person that I have come in contact with that many years in. How long did it take for the toll on your body to show ie skin breakdown and what not? The dr told me that after 10+ years the strains will show, maybe it was a scare tactic to stay healthy and watch for breakdown. That was almost 10 years ago come April/07. I know everyone is different and some can go many many years w/out complications but that plays on mind quite often.

I think of myself old like 60+ and still wheelchair bound, and it brings a sadness and fear. Will I be able to take care of my self being disabled, can I transfer, drive, take care of personal needs, be healthy, and most of all will I REALLY BE A BURDEN ON MY CHILDREN? I live every day for the moment and take one day at a time but the biggest fears that I have is what will my disablity bring me in my later years. I'm young enough now and I do have lots of time, but as they say time flys by when your having fun and that time will eventually get here.

Mentally and emotionally you can be young at heart, but unfortunatly physically is a different story.

[sandyrun]

My b/f is 37 yrs. 2 mos. post injury which occurred at the age of 16, and will be 54 Oct. 5th! His sister and I have discussed that he has, overall, lived a very good life. He attained both a Bachelor's and Master's degree and worked with Rehabilitation Services (helping others in wheelchairs) until he had to retire on disability. He's had several, or numerous, surgeries on (and complications with) his behind since @ 1995. Take care of your health, and keep a very close eye on pressure areas / sores. He believes what started his initial problem was the changing of cushions and wishes he'd never done it. He now says.....if it works, and there's no problems, don't change it. He's gone from being able to be in his w/c from the early morning (working or whatever) to late evening/night to now only being able to be in his w/c 2 times a day for @ 2 hrs. each time. He has a lot of pain in that area....they have done more than one muscle flap...and he's had complications with at least one of those. So, along with taking care of your general health, take care of that butt....it's the only one you'll ever have....and it's what you have to sit on.

[benok]

Okie Rick, on Sep 25 2006, 12:51 AM, said:

I'm 54 years old and 32 years and 9 months post injury. I can't imagine life as an adult w/o being paralyzed. Find yourself a reason to want to wake and experience another day. Develope a positive attitude. There will be days or weeks or even seasons when life seems not so grand, but this too shall pass.


okie
-

i admire your positive outlook; hope I also reach that age very positively

[Chilepepper]

Hi sandyrun



You can rest asure that every one of us in this forum agrees that taking care of our butts is also a number one priority. Nothing worse than a pressure sore.

This post has been edited by Chilepepper: 27 September 2006 - 05:25 AM

[LadyPilot]

Okie Rick, on Sep 25 2006, 01:51 AM, said:

I can't imagine life as an adult w/o being paralyzed. Find yourself a reason to want to wake and experience another day. Develope a positive attitude. There will be days or weeks or even seasons when life seems not so grand, but this too shall pass.

Wise advice!

This year in Dec I shall mark a milestone in my life.... making it through 25 years of SCI that's more than half my life

I put my continuing health down to the fact that I get up at 6am (summer) and 5am (winter) to do my animals, 365 days a year. I spend at least 3hours a day outside in the fresh air (in all weathers).
They are my physical therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and aerobic exercise.
I rarely get colds/chest infections. Ive never had a pressure sore, that's because I have a brilliant cushion (Spenco ) and UTI's are few and far between (if Ive had to self cath in less than hygienic circumstances).
Like a lot of other SCI I can put on weight easily if Im not careful, so I only eat twice a day and have a BMI of 23 which I want to lower to 19 as I get older to lessen the stress on my joints when I transfer. I still feel like Im 20 but looking in the mirror I know Im not!!!

I have no idea what my health will be like in 10 or 15 years time but I have warned my family that I will commit suicide rather than be put in a care home etc. I suffered badly in rehab and Im not going through that again. QUALITY OF LIFE OVER QUANTITY!!!

[Chilepepper]

Very well said LadyPilot. I have to agree about the cushion part. Everytime I've tried a different type of cushion, I normally get some kind of skin break down. But since I have feeling below the waistline I'm able to catch it at an early stage, thank god. So I now just stick with the high profile Roho. This cushion seems gives me the best results.



My wife Sabine runs a daycare from our home, so with all those kids there is always colds, runny noses, sneezing and coughing going on. So our house at times is probably worse than a hospital when it comes to germs. Sometimes I feel like I should be waring a biohazardous suite when all the kids are sick. LOL So when I'm starting to feel a cold coming on I start to drinking lots and lots of water while pumping up the Vitamin C and taking Echinacea.

[LadyPilot]

Chilepepper, on Sep 27 2006, 04:43 PM, said:

My wife Sabine runs a daycare from our home, so with all those kids there is always colds, runny noses, sneezing and coughing going on. So our house at times is probably worse than a hospital when it comes to germs. So when I'm starting to feel a cold coming on I start to drinking lots and lots of water while pumping up the Vitamin C and taking Echinacea.

Wow, all those children, you must have some funny stories to tell!

I keep Echinacea handy but I routinely take 1000mg Vit C especially in the winter months. I feel that what isnt used will be excreted by the kidneys.

[Okie Rick]

It's never as easy as one tells you or writes you but self preservation techniques have to be learned and practicted. I cracked my neck in Dec of '73. By the late '70s my father had me verbally beaten down I thopught I amounted to absolutely nothing. I was the reason he couldn't do this anmd that on the weekends or I was the reason he couldn't (wouldn't) take a vacation = etc. It took me to hit rock bottom mentally before I turned arounmd and started my climb uphill, slow by jerks. I told myself I was of some worth and I deserved some respect. Eventually - over a 5-6 year period - I convinced myself and everyone around I was deserving of the same treatment as they would want to be treated. In '84 my father had brain surgery (99.9% sucessful, than God) and he realized what it was to be "down, out, without etc. with only those around you to turn to. He retired, my life became important to all and finally I was ... mmm ... human again to those around me. Now that I've aged, I put m,y parents wishes ahead of mine as a good son shold. Bnut we nowdiscuss options, opportunities and outcomes. My family of 2 parents, 3 sisters and me is whole again. We take no one for granted. We do for all. This is what I've had to do to stay alive.

My physical condition has been extremely well in the last 32 years. Only one decub from sittig too long on a strange cushion. I *live* on RoHo Quadtra 12 hours a day with occasional tilt and recline motios throughout the day. Diet is important - I eat anything that doesn't bite back ... and have been known to eat a few.....well, never mind. I eat breakfas at nood and anothetr meal at 7:00pm-ish...then a snack at bedtime with my meds.

You, me, we, thay are no less important, needy, worthy, whatever than any one walking upright using their arms.

Remember you are important in the scheme of things in this World. My Jesus told me so. He's a neat guy, Lord is, get to know him if you don't. And don't be too ashamed to tell him you're sorry for taking his name in vain or for generally f*cking up during the last time you conversed with him.

ah dios

okie


scuse the typos - I'm not in a proofread mood 2nite.
-

This post has been edited by Okie Rick: 28 September 2006 - 03:32 AM

[sandyrun]

Okie Rick, on Sep 28 2006, 12:28 AM, said:

It's never as easy as one tells you or writes you but self preservation techniques have to be learned and practicted. I cracked my neck in Dec of '73. By the late '70s my father had me verbally beaten down I thopught I amounted to absolutely nothing. I was the reason he couldn't do this anmd that on the weekends or I was the reason he couldn't (wouldn't) take a vacation = etc. It took me to hit rock bottom mentally before I turned arounmd and started my climb uphill, slow by jerks. I told myself I was of some worth and I deserved some respect. Eventually - over a 5-6 year period - I convinced myself and everyone around I was deserving of the same treatment as they would want to be treated. In '84 my father had brain surgery (99.9% sucessful, than God) and he realized what it was to be "down, out, without etc. with only those around you to turn to. He retired, my life became important to all and finally I was ... mmm ... human again to those around me. Now that I've aged, I put m,y parents wishes ahead of mine as a good son shold. Bnut we nowdiscuss options, opportunities and outcomes. My family of 2 parents, 3 sisters and me is whole again. We take no one for granted. We do for all. This is what I've had to do to stay alive.

My physical condition has been extremely well in the last 32 years. Only one decub from sittig too long on a strange cushion. I *live* on RoHo Quadtra 12 hours a day with occasional tilt and recline motios throughout the day. Diet is important - I eat anything that doesn't bite back ... and have been known to eat a few.....well, never mind. I eat breakfas at nood and anothetr meal at 7:00pm-ish...then a snack at bedtime with my meds.

You, me, we, thay are no less important, needy, worthy, whatever than any one walking upright using their arms.

Remember you are important in the scheme of things in this World. My Jesus told me so. He's a neat guy, Lord is, get to know him if you don't. And don't be too ashamed to tell him you're sorry for taking his name in vain or for generally f*cking up during the last time you conversed with him.

ah dios

okie


scuse the typos - I'm not in a proofread mood 2nite.
-

God Bless You, Okie

[Joed]

Okie Rick, on Sep 28 2006, 03:28 AM, said:

Remember you are important in the scheme of things in this World. My Jesus told me so. He's a neat guy, Lord is, get to know him if you don't.

Amen, brother! This made me smile...thank you.

[DaveP]

I heard that for many long-term wheelchair users, by the time we're in our 50's, we're highly likely to start getting serious shoulder problems. Has anyone experienced this or have any facts in this?

[bigsmiles]

DaveP, on Sep 28 2006, 02:28 PM, said:

I heard that for many long-term wheelchair users, by the time we're in our 50's, we're highly likely to start getting serious shoulder problems. Has anyone experienced this or have any facts in this?

Hi Dave, my boyfriend had his accident three years ago, he is now 58yrs. He tells me he would feel alot fitter if he was younger as he doesn't have a great deal of upper body strenght as he always jokes hes getting on in years. I have wondered about this myself and what things will be like in later years as we all slow down....sorry not much help really

[mrsE]

I am now 20 years post accident and have been very active until 3 years ago. I used to have a part-time job, did a lot of gardening, walkin the dog, shopping ect until I developed supraspinatus tendinitis and calcification in both shoulders. I don't know if I maybe overdid it in the gym as I was always wanting to lift/push/press higher weights or maybe I was sitting in the wrong position as most of the gym equipment was not at the correct heigt or correct position for me (even though they were adjustable). Or maybe it was work, where I had to lift heavy files from awkward heights and positions continuously, or maybe it was just wear and tear from using my shoulder joints too much. How do people do all these sports without damaging their shoulders?
Now I have to change my lifestyle a bit. I don't go to the gym. I do most of my shopping on internet. I only do a limited amount of gardening at a time and try not to use the same arm all the time. I only hoover once a week. I still go to work but mostly do computer work and telephone work now. I don't have shoulder pain if I watch what I am doing but if I really want to do something and I know it is going to be painful then I just do it and take painkillers.
I was offered debridement opperation where they cut away any bits of bone or calcium that are causing the problem but I opted out of that as there are no garuntees that it would be sucessful or if it would just happen again and it would have meant a lot of bedrest etc again. Most of the pain was caused by inflamation and because I am on warfarin longterm I can't take anti-inflamatories, not even herbal ones because of interaction.

[Chilepepper]

Hi DaveP

Well the only way that you can help prevent this problem from occurring, or minimizing problems in the elbows shoulder area is to try and keeping your body weight down. For example, if you are twenty to thirty pounds over weight that is very hard on the joints. Have you ever tried lifting this kind of weight? Well just imagine what your shoulders/elbows go through evertime you have to transfer yourself. Over time the joints start to ware down. Another thing to do daily and keep doing until your six feet in the ground, is take something that will lubricate your joints. If you compare your joints to car parts that should be lubricated, but for whatever reason they get neglected, over time they'll ware down and have to eventually be replaced. This works the same way with our shoulders and elbows, in that arthritis will start to occur. You have to keep these joints lubricated at all times. If you don't, then you'll be seeing the doctor for pain and arthritis pills and god knows what else. There are some joint-rebuilding nutrients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methyl sulfonylmethane (MSM), hydrolyzed cartilage and collagen type. Myself I just use Grape seed extract oil. There was a time last year when I injured my neck( where the shoulder blade meet the neck)at the gym so I started taking Lakota joint formula. And it seemed to help. But that was more and injury than waring and tare of the joints. I hope this helps you out abit Dave.

This post has been edited by Chilepepper: 28 September 2006 - 04:27 PM

[bigsmiles]

Chilipepper, is it ok to take these things whilst on other medication do you know?

[Chilepepper]

Hi Bigsmiles





Most of the times I would say yes but you might want to do a little investigating on the net first or ask your doctor if you are not sure.