16 replies to this topic

[Avocado Baby]

Ok, this is kinda on the same note as my last post. Since my surgery, I've had real problems pulling my trousers up. I used to kinda turn around, rest my legs on the footplate, lean the rest of my body on my chair seat and pull my trousers up that way.

Since I had my surgery, I can't twist which means that even if I did manage to get in this position, I wouldn't be able to twist to sit back down in my Chair.

So, I end up sitting in my chair i.e on my legs and trying to pull my trousers up that way. When I'm at home I lean forwardon things like my bed so I can get a bit of clearance under my legs but this has resulted in me slipping and falling over.
WHen I'm not at home, I try and find things to lean on or just end up trying to lift myself up and leaning in all kinds of directions to pull them up as best I can I hardly ever manage to get them completely right and I hate it cos I know it doesn't look great and people notice. My mum comments on it as well and it really gets to me!

The OT in hospital just after I had my surgery suggested rolling over on to each bum cheek to pull them up one side at a time but I don't have the muscles or balance to be able to do this. I can twist my shoulders but not any lower and my muscle function stops around my abdominal muscles.

Can anyone give me some tips?

Thanks everyone

[Kev-O]

the way i do it is get into bed let my legs from my knees down hang off, slip my pants on an pull them as far up as i can. once I do that i flip over on my tummy an pull them the rest of the way up. Its EZ an fast, give it a try

[1heart4u]

Well I have resorted to wearing skirts. Easy on, easy off. I am T-10 complete. I have tried everything you mentioned. There was an excellent post on a previous thread. It showed a pair of pants that had been split in the middle and velcro was sew in. You could put your pants on in bed and then if you intermittant cath, you just open the center of the pants and close them back up. No more tugging and struggling. There was another post by a young lady, who mentioned that she arched her back over the back of her chair, and by doing so, was able to get her bottom up off the chair. Good luck to ya. I hope you find something that works for you.
1heart4u

[nomis]

QUOTE, Pink Ali: "The OT in hospital just after I had my surgery suggested rolling over on to each bum cheek to pull them up one side at a time but I don't have the muscles or balance to be able to do this. I can twist my shoulders but not any lower and my muscle function stops around my abdominal muscles."

I think there could be something in what your OT suggests. The fused vertabrae is going to make it harder to twist and will require changes to the previous technique that you managed ok with. But with good upper body strength I can't see why you can't "tip" your pelvis.
Does your strength need further building?
The balance is mostly a learned thing. It will improve with regular practice.

[Ches]

Hey Pink,.. Im not sure I can be of much help to you in this paticular case.. Im still learning how to manuver and dress myself in certain manors. I can tell you that it was definitly easiest to get dressed lying, attempting to roll side to side.. Its all I could do with my pain, and lack of balance. I still suck at getting dressed in my chair, not sure why, I just suck! The best thing for me is gettin dressed on my bath bench after the show. For whatever reason I learned to hold on with one arm, and bring one of my legs up to me, dry off and aim for the pant hole. Its comforting to lean back and not let my lack of balance stress me out. Once the pants are almost up its just a matter of rocking pack and forth to get them up all the way. I know it sounds more difficult but its actually alot easier on a hard surface. And despite what you think your butt wont be soaked! Just take the time to dry yourself off before pulling up the pants. It can take forever, but it gets easier!

[angel888]

Just like Ches, I also put my clothes on in bed. You could roll over, it has a bigger space to move..

[KarenFerguson]

I kind of do what your OT suggested. I sit on the edge of my cushion, put my legs through the leg openings, pull the pants up as far as I can, then I shift my weight on each butt cheek as well as grabbing the front part of my chair (the bar right off the cushion on either side), to pull my pants on. First I shift to the right and use my left hand to pull up the pants, then shift to the left ... etc. Finally I shift to the right, and use my left hand to pull my pants totally up. I had to actually really think about how I do this, because I've been putting my pants on this way basically all my life - never had to take apart the process of it - interesting.

[LuckyinKentucky]

I usually dress in my chair, and as my process for puttin on pants seems to differ I'll outline it.

1. lift up legs one by one and put pants on up to knees, By grabbing on the waist of pants slide them up to thigh level to where they become snug from body weight--this is usually right around the bottom of boxer line so it's a good time to go ahead and tuck in the bottoms to make sure they don't bunch up during the final heave. If dressing from the buff I usually put drawers inside of pants and do both at the same time via this process.
2.grab each side of pants waistline with front two fingers and by having palms down on wheelchair tires lift up your body weight and simultaneously pull back on the hooked trousers. --usually one or two hooks is necessary and a little bouncin around or scooting sometimes helps.

[Ardean]

where do you buy clothes, are these off the rack? when I read the response with the velcro I wondered if there are designers that specialize in clothing that would be faster and easier. If not, what would be the perfect pair of jeans look like?

[Avocado Baby]

Ardean, on Oct 28 2007, 02:35 PM, said:

where do you buy clothes, are these off the rack? when I read the response with the velcro I wondered if there are designers that specialize in clothing that would be faster and easier. If not, what would be the perfect pair of jeans look like?

Hi there,

I know Tanni Grey-Thompson (British paralympic champion with Spina Bifida) is setting up a clothing company.

As for the jeans...I never wear them due to not being able to get them on!!

[kewlcatkez]

Pink Ali, on Oct 28 2007, 11:08 PM, said:

Ardean, on Oct 28 2007, 02:35 PM, said:

where do you buy clothes, are these off the rack? when I read the response with the velcro I wondered if there are designers that specialize in clothing that would be faster and easier. If not, what would be the perfect pair of jeans look like?

Hi there,

I know Tanni Grey-Thompson (British paralympic champion with Spina Bifida) is setting up a clothing company.

As for the jeans...I never wear them due to not being able to get them on!!

Hi,

Yes you are right, she is joining up with http://www.racketys.com/. They already cater for children with disabilities and are branching out to include adults too.


K

[axl from down under]

Easiest way I've found (21yrs in chair) is to dress on the bed.

Pull my trousers up to my top thighs (in a sitting position), then I roll to the left, pull trousers, roll to the right pull trousers repeat until trousers up around the waist. Takes practice and patience- then it all becomes sencond nature.

Hope this helps.

Tanya

[Avocado Baby]

Thanks

It's some to be the general feeling that getting on the bed to dress is the easiest way. I'm not trying to be awkwaed here (it just comes naturally) but how do you manage to roll? Can you roll all the way over? Not sure how much flexibility people have? I find it quite difficult to roll. The top half of my back (the unfused bit) will move and I sometimes manage to get the bottom of my back over, but then my hips won't go with them

Any tips?

[annenich]

Pink Ali, on Oct 30 2007, 05:23 PM, said:

Thanks

It's some to be the general feeling that getting on the bed to dress is the easiest way. I'm not trying to be awkwaed here (it just comes naturally) but how do you manage to roll? Can you roll all the way over? Not sure how much flexibility people have? I find it quite difficult to roll. The top half of my back (the unfused bit) will move and I sometimes manage to get the bottom of my back over, but then my hips won't go with them

Any tips?

Hi Pink Ali

Dont know if this helps - but Im T1 and I get dressed on the bed. I normally buy trousers that are elasticated so its easier to tug on them. I sit up on the bed and pull my trousers upto mid thigh then through my legs I grab the back of the trousers and pull up as far as they go. Then I hook my right arm underneath my right knee and pull over to the left and use the momentum to turn partially on my left side, pull up my trousers at the back with my right hand. Then hook my right arm under my right knee and pull to the right to sit back up. Then repeat the above process but on the right side using the left hand.

Sorry if that all sounds really complicated. I was hopeless at it to start. It takes time and patience. But we are all used to that!!

[wheeliebear75]

And people wonder why I'm so opposed to having the spinal fusion surgery? I hope you find a new technique that works for you. Best of luck.

[axl from down under]

Hi

My back is fused from T4-T10. I only half roll so I'm leaning on my elbow then pull trousers with the hand I'm not leaning on. Would be no different to if you were sitting in chair and leaning done to pick something up, roughly the amount type of posture and same distance between your butt and the surface (bed) - no more then a hand space under your butt.

But like most have said it all takes time and practice. From memory when I was first in chair used to take me about 10 minutes to get dressed, no I'm as quick as any ablebod.


Hope this helps

[sjean423]

I dress on the bed as well. I cant get pants all the way up in the chair. I've gotten so that I can usually get them up with a roll to each side, sometimes it needs on extra roll. I pull then up as far as I can lying flat, then roll one way, pull up over hip, other way, pull up over this hip, and then reach in center back, and be sure pants are all the way up and centered. Then one more roll if needed.

To roll on the bed I either

Lift my arms up over one shoulder. and fling them across my body and down towards the other hip. This usually has enough momentum to turn.

Sitting up I hook my hand slightly under one knee, and flop back and to the side.

Grab the sheets and pull. If you really need this method, a rail or a strap to pull on would help.