[PsychoSimon]

Hi all. I've had my appointment date set for the 15th of may to go and get measured up for my calipers and crutches. Anybody use them on here? How successful are they in terms of a more permanent solution? I would like to use them a lot but don't know if this is too much to ask. I'm an l5 incomplete and can stand of my own accord now my balance is getting better, and I can walk around the kitchen now if I hold onto the work surfaces.


Another question I have is what happens if I fall over? Will I be taught how to get up off the floor?

Any experiences/opinions would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers,
Simon

[Gary Anderson]

Hi Simon,

This is one I CAN answer. I too have been in your position. My injury is to the cauda equina, the horses tail of nerves that leave the spinal cord. So, in my case, my legs were able to move, etc, they just "forgot" how to walk because of nerve damaged.

Anyroads, like you, I started off walking around the house, holding on to things. However, at therapy you will be shown how to fall and how to pick yourself up. This can be very frightening the first time you do it. I know for me, I thought I had died. At first I was a bit shaky but as I got more used to being upright, it got a lot easier. In the beginning I went between my feet and a chair, however, now, yonks later, I am on my feet all the time.

Perhaps a bit luckier in that my nerve injury was a bit lower than yours, my problems are from the knees down, so I dont have to rely on calipers. However, they are very successful and the results can be amazing.

If you require any further information or assistance, just contact me either on here, by PM or email.

Best of luck.

PS Stick at it. The only way to succeed is by hard work and persistence. My therapist told me that it was not working unless you sweated BLOOD!! So don't give up at the first hurdle.

[PsychoSimon]

Thanks for your reply mate.
I won't give up at the first hurdle at all. I've never been one to let anything stop me.

I will need the calipers, because my "rear end" muscles don't work, along with my ankles. My knees work fine but i can't lif my left leg out to the side if you get me, so I think the plan is to have an ankle brace on my right leg, and a full caliper on my right.
I'm looking forward to trying this in a way, but also very apprehensive about the whole thing. My problem is I don't like being told what to do, I would much rather just try and get on with it but in this case I knw that's just not possible.

I would really love to eventually get about soley on sticks like ou. I bet you feel as though you have come on leaps and bounds since your accident/illness. I know I'm over the moon with what have got back, because I was tld i would never walk again and there would be no chance whatsoever of being able to stand up etc. Jus goes to show what a bit of willpower and luck can do!

Anyway thanks again mate for your input!
Regards,
Simon

[wooffwooff]

PsychoSimon, on Apr 20 2007, 05:36 AM, said:

Hi all. I've had my appointment date set for the 15th of may to go and get measured up for my calipers and crutches. Anybody use them on here? How successful are they in terms of a more permanent solution? I would like to use them a lot but don't know if this is too much to ask. I'm an l5 incomplete and can stand of my own accord now my balance is getting better, and I can walk around the kitchen now if I hold onto the work surfaces.


Another question I have is what happens if I fall over? Will I be taught how to get up off the floor?

Any experiences/opinions would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers,
Simon

Hello Simon,
I've been a "para" since I was 20 (1970). My paralysis is to my butt, hamstrings and everything below the knee. After the usual hospital stay and follow-on PT I was still moving pretty slow but I just kept pushing and 5 months later I was back at school and "crutch'n-it" to my classes. Of coarse if you are much over weight, it ain't gonna work out too good. Also very important, check out www.youngevity.net and what Dr. Joel Wallach calls "full-spectrum nutrition program". It'll give you the best chance to enjoy healthier and longer life than otherwise(but if you smoke cigerettes or jump from planes, it's probably a waste of resources).....ww