11 replies to this topic

[Ches]

Recently I got a standing frame,..love the convenience of it all, but am trying to figure out what the hell is happening to me.

When I get up, my AD kicks in overdrive.. and its the pressure kind. The sweats and clammy upper body. Its not a blood pressure issue, that I can guarantee.

I've never been given the oppurtunity to get on a standing frame not already drenched in my sweat, so Im not sure if this is often the case.

And,.. I'm pretty good with my AD.. I dont have horrible attacks and my signals are pretty distinguished and reliable at this point. This is undoubtedly the same reaction I get when I have too much pressure going on somewhere.

I stood myself.. checked to see if my knees were 'out of wack', nada. I checked to make sure I wasnt being squished somewhere.. but Im not. Nada.

So.. is this just some normal reaction? Is there something I should be looking for? Could it be something ridiculous like my ankles tendons trying to retract? I cant figure it out.

Edited by Ches, 03 September 2008 - 01:41 AM.

[Hapahowlee]

My husband uses his frame, not as much as he should, but there are times he gets the symptoms you described if he goes up too fast. So he tries to take it in stages. I don't know what type of frame you have, but hubby has one that has a seat and hydraulic handle that he yanks on that lifts him up a little at a time. When he does it in stages, he's fine once he gets all the way up and usually stands about an hour. We got some wedges cut for him to place under his feet to help give him an extra stretch.

I really can't think of what else it could be. It really seems like a blood pressure thing.
Hope you figure it out so you can enjoy the benefits of the frame.

[Ches]

What do you mean wedges under his feet? My machine sounds like yours.. and its got the adjustable foot plates.. Im thinking maybe I should just try it a few different ways..

When I go up I get the sensations.. Its all the pressure on my knees and knee caps.. Once Im up that feeling goes away and another one arises. I wonder if it has anything to do with my broken chest and rods.. maybe they are all just shifting and considering I healed in this chair, I suppose they could be a little 'off'?

Its not blood pressure. I dont have any blood pressure issues, in fact I can stand up without anything.. no binder, no meds, no supply of water.

I just cant imagine what it could be.. so Hapa tell me more about these wedges?

[russ1]

Ches - how long is it since you last stood, or were injured if you haven't stood since injury? You're body is clearly telling you it's uncomfortable somewhere - that could be because you've got too much pressure on your knees, the lower support should be below your knees and not on your kneecaps so if you're pressuring your kneecaps that could be it, it could be that your muscles/tendons behind your knees have shortened and are protesting against the stretching effect, I get all sorts of spasms because of this if I've not stood for a while and occasionally mild AD effects (I'm talking weeks rather than months or years), or it could be the rods in your back.

You clearly know the difference between low blood pressure from standing too quick (which is what I assume you refer to when you say it's not a blood pressure issue) which shouldn't be too much of an issue at your level and high blood pressure AD. If you're not getting the headaches then the AD obviously isn't too severe and it's clearly from discomfort, if you're happy the frame is set up right and you're not getting full AD (the headaches) then it may just be a question of little and often while your body gets used to being in a position that it's forgotten how to be in. Maybe get yourself one of the cheap blood pressure guages to check that the AD isn't causing a worrying raise in your BP and persevere for a while.

[JT80]

chas - i get these symptoms too if i don't stand for a while and then stand upright. through process of elimination i've come to the conclusion that its the tight muscles and tendons protesting a bit to being stretched out. i think you might find these effects might diminish the more you stand. my standing frame sounds a bit different to your texan number, but i'm sure they do the same thing.
hope you sort it. jt

[Ches]

Yeah its gotta be a stretching issue. You boys are right..

Ok so.. Russ.. whats this bit about behind the knees? That has never occured to me, is there anything I can do to help out. like other stretches?

[russ1]

Quote

whats this bit about behind the knees? That has never occured to me, is there anything I can do to help out. like other stretches

Yep - what you're supposed to do is every morning sit up in bed and do the old touch the toes routine but you have to do one leg at a time, push down on your knee with your forearm while pulling up on your toes with the hand on your other arm to straighten your leg, hold for 30 secs and repeat 2 or 3 times for each leg. This sets off the same AD response you describe above but the more you do it the easier it gets and at least you know it's working. I can't quite straighten my leg completely anymore but get most of the way there.

I'm really bad at doing it every day but when I do remember/have time/can be bothered it does help. Standing is still the best exercise.

[curbyi]

Is there a maximum period after injury (10 years post) that a person can start to use a standing frames?

[Hapahowlee]

Ches, on Sep 2 2008, 07:41 PM, said:

What do you mean wedges under his feet?

Sorry Ches,

I lost track of this post. I just noticed it up again. I guess your standing table is much newer than hubby's. His feet touch the carpet and he doesn't have foot rests on his. So we had just a 2 X 6 piece of wood cut diagonally to place under his feet to raise his toes up and it gives him an extra stretch on the calves and hamstrings.

I bet your right about all the hardware you got probably settling. Mr. Hapa has a bad left knee he was suppose to get it scoped before he broke his neck back in 1985, but never had it done, so he has to be careful how he places that leg when he stands or else it causes great pain if he knee is not straight.

Edited by Hapahowlee, 10 September 2008 - 09:24 PM.

[sunshinek]

Ches, on Sep 2 2008, 09:39 PM, said:

Recently I got a standing frame,..love the convenience of it all, but am trying to figure out what the hell is happening to me.

When I get up, my AD kicks in overdrive.. and its the pressure kind. The sweats and clammy upper body. Its not a blood pressure issue, that I can guarantee.

I've never been given the oppurtunity to get on a standing frame not already drenched in my sweat, so Im not sure if this is often the case.

And,.. I'm pretty good with my AD.. I dont have horrible attacks and my signals are pretty distinguished and reliable at this point. This is undoubtedly the same reaction I get when I have too much pressure going on somewhere.

I stood myself.. checked to see if my knees were 'out of wack', nada. I checked to make sure I wasnt being squished somewhere.. but Im not. Nada.

So.. is this just some normal reaction? Is there something I should be looking for? Could it be something ridiculous like my ankles tendons trying to retract? I cant figure it out.

Hey,
I have a t4-t5 sci I wear a binder all the time it helps keep my pressure at a normal leave. That should help you with AD. I also sip on Gatorade that helps too while standing.
Sunshine

Edited by sunshinek, 10 September 2008 - 10:07 PM.

[Ches]

Im a total athlete, always with the gatorade.

Russ was right on the money, Thanks man. Was just stretching behind the knee.

[Hapahowlee]

Hot Dog Cheshire Cat! Now there's nothing stoppin' ya! Take a stand