26 replies to this topic

[amer]

I have a friend in town who is a para and we can not seem to get much alone time. He really wants to come over to my apartment but the problem is I live on the 2nd floor and it is pretty steep narrow staircase. Anyone have any suggestions on how he could get up them? Probably not in the chair b/c I do not think it will fit too good in the stair well.

[John Anderson]

Hmm...I remember I had that problem when going to a friend's house.

I don't know how your apartment is structure but out here in the West there's always elevators that leads to the different floors, so I just take that. And for those friend who do not have elevators (since most of my friends are buddies from the football team) they just pick me up and bring me upstairs I'm ok with that since it's way easier then getting the chair and me up there in the same time. So it actually depends on how your friends feel about it. Talk to him and see what he thinks.

If that doesn't work...you can always have a block party

[xMaddiex]

yeah, i'd say the best idea is to take an elevator, but if there's not one, then attempt a piggy back, but, these can go kinda horribly wrong, so i'd suggest someone strong doing it, because, through personal experience, it can hurt a lot!

[John Anderson]

xMaddiex, on Oct 5 2006, 10:32 AM, said:

yeah, i'd say the best idea is to take an elevator, but if there's not one, then attempt a piggy back, but, these can go kinda horribly wrong, so i'd suggest someone strong doing it, because, through personal experience, it can hurt a lot!

Oh I love piggy backs especially when I see my football friends and I just can't help but crack up Or if they don't feel like doing that, then they just pick me up and swing me on their shoulder like a wet towel they seem to enjoy that

[xMaddiex]

its funny sure, as long as im not on the recieving end of the piggy back! which i have been oh too many times, and it's resulted in lots of bruises...but lots of laughs aswell to be fair...

[John Anderson]

xMaddiex, on Oct 5 2006, 10:41 AM, said:

its funny sure, as long as im not on the recieving end of the piggy back! which i have been oh too many times, and it's resulted in lots of bruises...but lots of laughs aswell to be fair...

That's always fun

[amer]

Well, there is no elevator and I am certainly not a football player (I am a girl, though I guess there are womens football teams). I would throw a block party but I'd rather get him alone ;). being relativly new to his chair I was hoping people might have some things they have tried in the past that he did not know about which worked (that did not involve lifting). Oh well! Guess we'll have to figure something else out. Fireman's carry!!

[John Anderson]

amer, on Oct 5 2006, 12:22 PM, said:

Well, there is no elevator and I am certainly not a football player (I am a girl, though I guess there are womens football teams). I would throw a block party but I'd rather get him alone ;). being relativly new to his chair I was hoping people might have some things they have tried in the past that he did not know about which worked (that did not involve lifting). Oh well! Guess we'll have to figure something else out. Fireman's carry!!

Hmm...no elevator and not a football player

Oh alone eh?

Well ask him what he think about it and maybe you got some neighbor that are willing to him and get him upstairs? I always hated going up, down, it's way easier just push!

[wheelie182]

Or theres the dreaded bum shift, if maybe thats an option

[Chilepepper]

I'm not sure of what kind of strength he has, but if he has good upper body strength then just hold both his angles so that they do not keep hitting the steps on the way up. He will have to lift himself up onto each step, one at a time. There is a little bit of a technique, but it does not take that much time to master.

Now if for what ever reason the both of you had a few drinks and feeling Lossie, gossie, then there might be a bit a problem getting up, because he will more than likely get tired half way up the stairs. The situation the both of you guys are now in, is that he is now stuck on the stairs. Trust me this can be funny for the both of you
...Good Luck.

Edited by Chilepepper, 06 October 2006 - 09:09 AM.

[Nichole]

I do the lifting myslef down the stairs, but its takes quite a bit of strength and balance. Then, you also have to be strong enough to pick yourself back up from the floor, and into your wheelchair. I've done it a few times, but it takes a lot of work, and can be a little dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

[Chilepepper]

Hi Nichole



I agree it does take some strength, balance and is tricky, especially if there is no railing to balance you. Just be careful and take your time until you've mastered it.

[Chilepepper]

amer, on Oct 5 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

I have a friend in town who is a para and we can not seem to get much alone time. He really wants to come over to my apartment but the problem is I live on the 2nd floor and it is pretty steep narrow staircase. Anyone have any suggestions on how he could get up them? Probably not in the chair b/c I do not think it will fit too good in the stair well.

Other than the suggestions below. i have one more sugestion. When your friend has gotten up the stairs, it is so much easier to transfer to a kichen chair or something like that. Why because it is lower than his wheelchair, and would make it easier to transfer from the kichen chair to the wheelchair. At least that is what I have found.

[John Anderson]

Chilepepper, on Oct 6 2006, 07:22 PM, said:

Other than the suggestions below. i have one more sugestion. When your friend has gotten up the stairs, it is so much easier to transfer to a kichen chair or something like that. Why because it is lower than his wheelchair, and would make it easier to transfer from the kichen chair to the wheelchair. At least that is what I have found.

I agree with that...way way easier...

[benok]

Hi amer:
I am learning to go up the staircase but it took quite a while for me to do it. I wear my AFO and then I hold on the railings while a friend holds on my belt in case I fall. With my left hand on the railings, my right hand rests on the shoulders of my companion (that is when I dont have my forearm crutches.) Then, the stronger leg goes up first followed by the weaker leg. Be able to catch your breath after covering some steps. In going down, bad leg goes first, stronger leg follows.

I hope this suggestion help. be sure not to risk if it is not at all possible.

[amer]

Thank you all for the suggestions. We are going to try a few things out this afternoon and if they do not work at least we can't say we never tried. We'll just have to go grab a cup of tea instead.

[Nichole]

Chilepepper, on Oct 7 2006, 02:22 AM, said:

amer, on Oct 5 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

I have a friend in town who is a para and we can not seem to get much alone time. He really wants to come over to my apartment but the problem is I live on the 2nd floor and it is pretty steep narrow staircase. Anyone have any suggestions on how he could get up them? Probably not in the chair b/c I do not think it will fit too good in the stair well.

Other than the suggestions below. i have one more sugestion. When your friend has gotten up the stairs, it is so much easier to transfer to a kichen chair or something like that. Why because it is lower than his wheelchair, and would make it easier to transfer from the kichen chair to the wheelchair. At least that is what I have found.

I totally agree! When I get on the floor to play with my puppies, i always transfer into the recliner, or the couch. They're bigger, and softer, so it makes it much easier!

[wheelie182]

Nichole, on Oct 7 2006, 06:37 PM, said:

Chilepepper, on Oct 7 2006, 02:22 AM, said:

amer, on Oct 5 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

I have a friend in town who is a para and we can not seem to get much alone time. He really wants to come over to my apartment but the problem is I live on the 2nd floor and it is pretty steep narrow staircase. Anyone have any suggestions on how he could get up them? Probably not in the chair b/c I do not think it will fit too good in the stair well.

Other than the suggestions below. i have one more sugestion. When your friend has gotten up the stairs, it is so much easier to transfer to a kichen chair or something like that. Why because it is lower than his wheelchair, and would make it easier to transfer from the kichen chair to the wheelchair. At least that is what I have found.

I totally agree! When I get on the floor to play with my puppies, i always transfer into the recliner, or the couch. They're bigger, and softer, so it makes it much easier!

This is the perfect way to get and stronger and get good at floor to chair !!

I get down several times a day to.....

Stretch (very stiff legs )
Play with dogs/parrot
Check skin with mirror
Get stuff that in general i cant reach when in chair

[amer]

My friend seems to be quite good at getting in and out of the chair from the ground, but I can see that after all those staits he will be a bit worn out.

[John Anderson]

I have to confess something...

I hate just hate to transfer between chair and the ground, it drives me nuts somtimes So far, I've only done 1 floor transfer, everything else I had either Colonel or his men help me up. I hate it...

[xMaddiex]

jason finds any excuse to practise his floor to chair transfers. he's really, really, really obsessed with making sure he can do everything perfectly.

but yeah, just for convinience, it's probably easier to transfer to another chair first.

[Chilepepper]

Hi xMaddiex



But once you’ve gotten the technique down, transferring from the floor to the chair is not that difficult. It's only tough when you’ve not yet figured what's the easiest way to do this. Also with Jason doing this all the time, it’s great for strengthen the upper body..

[Texaswheelz]

Hmm I had this problem also. About a year after my injury I went to visit my mom who lived on 2nd story in apts also. Very tall, narrow staircase with no rails. Worse part was when I got there she was at work for another 3 hrs. So how I did it was to get onto the stairs, tie a rope to the back of my chair and then slowly lift my ass, then my feet up one stair at a time untill i got to the top and then pulled my chair up by the rope. Then the hardest part of all was getting back into my chair with my arms so tired after the climb and then the pull.

Others were talking about hating to get from ground to chair. Personally I don't mind that, I just always hate getting to the ground from my chair. Don't wanna go to fast and bust my ass to hard, but I've busted my ass so many times in the past accidently that I've gotten plenty of practice getting back in my chair.

Edited by Texaswheelz, 09 October 2006 - 04:05 AM.

[amer]

Update:
Getting up the stairs was a success. One step at a time and was well worth the effort

Edited by amer, 09 October 2006 - 09:28 PM.

[John Anderson]

amer, on Oct 9 2006, 02:27 PM, said:

Update:
Getting up the stairs was a success. One step at a time and was well worth the effort

Alright! Give him a high five from me next time...

Now I think it's my turn to try it out

[Chilepepper]

nice job amer

[bigsmiles]

Great... one step at a time