[julie76]

I have found this site very helpful.. I am glad that there is other people that feels what i feel... I have been lucky to have a good support from ones that care about me.. but truly knowing how i feel and what I am going through emotionally and physically only you all know.... What I am asking can you all give me tips on doing things or to buy things that will help me be more independant.. I am learning.... I didn't have insurance when this happened in sept.07 so i did not get any rehab.... I am still waiting on my personal wheelchair from the med. supply store that medicaid will be paying for.....I am having to stay off my bottom as much as possible cause i ended up with a sore on my tail bone... Thank god my boyfriend helps me alot... but i am home by myself while he is working so i don't try anything new unless someone is here .... lol i had to call 911 twice cause i fell out of my chair trying to transfer..... i am pretty good now .. but alot of things are high so it is harder.... okay i will stop talking ... but i would really appreciate and advice or things that will help me in the long run

[Motor]

julie76, on Jan 11 2008, 02:47 PM, said:

I have found this site very helpful.. I am glad that there is other people that feels what i feel... I have been lucky to have a good support from ones that care about me.. but truly knowing how i feel and what I am going through emotionally and physically only you all know.... What I am asking can you all give me tips on doing things or to buy things that will help me be more independant.. I am learning.... I didn't have insurance when this happened in sept.07 so i did not get any rehab.... I am still waiting on my personal wheelchair from the med. supply store that medicaid will be paying for.....I am having to stay off my bottom as much as possible cause i ended up with a sore on my tail bone... Thank god my boyfriend helps me alot... but i am home by myself while he is working so i don't try anything new unless someone is here .... lol i had to call 911 twice cause i fell out of my chair trying to transfer..... i am pretty good now .. but alot of things are high so it is harder.... okay i will stop talking ... but i would really appreciate and advice or things that will help me in the long run

Hey Julie..

I keep a milk crate close by and use it like a step if I fall out of my chair. It a 2 step process to get back in the chair. I also remove my cusion as its 4 inches thick and therefore I have 4 inches lesss to climb. I actually have a few crates stratigically placed around the house. Hope it helps. feel free to contact me with any questions or comments... PS Don't forget to cream your bottom and do pressure release regularly. Make sure you use cream and not BEN GAY AS A DUMB NURSE DID IN MY REHAB HOSPITAL..I had ben Gay all over my ass and scrotum. LOL glad I don't feel pain but it did smell....

This post has been edited by Motor: 11 January 2008 - 08:20 PM

[Kwag_Myers]

The first thing they taught me in Rehab was how to get up after falling. Maybe someone can help you with that until you can do it on your own. I've heard that if you call 911 too many times for something like that they may start charging you, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Also, if you can, try and get into the habit of raising yourself up in your chair (to give your butt a break) every hour or so. This is also good exercise for helping you transfer.

If you like, I can email you my exercises from Rehab. But I'll have to scan them in, etc. Maybe PM me if you like.

Is your injury complete or incomplete?

My injury happened in August, T12 incomplete. I'm sure we have a lot in common.

[Motor]

Kwag_Myers, on Jan 11 2008, 03:29 PM, said:

The first thing they taught me in Rehab was how to get up after falling. Maybe someone can help you with that until you can do it on your own. I've heard that if you call 911 too many times for something like that they may start charging you, but I'm not sure if that's true.

Also, if you can, try and get into the habit of raising yourself up in your chair (to give your butt a break) every hour or so. This is also good exercise for helping you transfer.

If you like, I can email you my exercises from Rehab. But I'll have to scan them in, etc. Maybe PM me if you like.

Is your injury complete or incomplete?

My injury happened in August, T12 incomplete. I'm sure we have a lot in common.

Being a cop for 19 years I can tell you you can't be charged for calling 911. Just learn what can help you for if and when you fall.

[nomis]

Motor, on Jan 12 2008, 11:20 AM, said:

Being a cop for 19 years I can tell you you can't be charged for calling 911. Just learn what can help you for if and when you fall.

With different countries represented on the forum this can get confusing. I presume the above refers to USA. Here in NZ (where it is 111) I could imagine it happening once and the problem being sorted but a second time without strong reason would cause much wrath and could lead to paying costs.

Kwag_Myers, along with Motor I suggest you take great care of that tailbone. Take your time and do it right this time and avoid later problems. Your paralysed body is much much slower at healing than normal. And it won't heal as strong as before. Take extra care.

[hanguk]

I have been paralyzed for 20 years and have fallen a number of times (once getting off of a train- scraped my knees). When no one's around, I find it really hard to get back into the chair from the floor. I need another surface to pull up onto. At times I have had to drag myself to a couch (bad for skin), pulling the chair along with me and get up onto the couch first. More often, I have fallen in the bathroom. Then I use the toilet or bathtub to pull up on. I get back on the toilet or on the shower bench then into the chair. Good luck to you.

[edlee]

Not having had the benefit of rehab training is a shame, as I found it helpful in many ways, but you will, of neccessity, learn it all, eventually.

Getting back into a wheelchair from the floor is a skill that I have never been able to acquire. maybe it's the extra pounds I put on, post injury. I use the couch as my way back to my chair, as you've read above. You might consider getting a transfer board for more difficult maneuvers

The best advice I can give is to watch your diet. You will find it much easier to gain weight, now, both from lack of activity and from boredom. Being careful of what you eat will help with everything , from bowel care to wound healing.

Most importantly, read through this forum thoroughly. You will find, as I have, a wealth of experience and insight you will find nowhere else.

Best of luck!
ed