Re: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair
Hi Cyndi... I'm a C5/6 Q also. When I first began using a power chair (25 yrs ago) my biggest difficulty was keeping my hand on the joystick control. I was in a halo and my hand kept slipping off the joystick in whatever direction I might have been pushing, pulling or whatever. I asked my PT/OT and/or nurse to help me by fastening a medicine cup upside down on top of my joystick ball -- the type of cup used with Pepto Bismol or used to dispense meds in a hospital. I had a matching cup on the palm of my wrist splint. This was occasionally a problem if I had a spasm but my arms/hands rarely did that. The cup on the splint palm fit perfectly over the one on the joystick... and it slide off. This was occasionally a problem if I had a spasm but my arms/hands rarely did that. Now I use a 'T' style joystick made of metal brake line tubing that we carefully bent to 80-90 degrees about halfway up. (It looks like a "limp T.") I hope that gives you some ideas. Get creative. Use things around the house. Eventually you'll come up with something that works better than anything you could EVER buy. Best wishes & Good Luck! ... and as others have said, Get your husband on this list!! It's a combination of everyone's PT, OT, Docs, Nurses and personal experiences! There's no better place for him to get info and be part of a public, social community! Extremely healthy for a new Quad (aka Q, in my book.) Sincerely, Tod Santee > --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Cyndi Davis wrote: > > > Hi! How do you all drive your power chairs? My husband is a c5,6 quad, 1 > yr. post. He has limited use of some shoulder muscles, but not enough > control of his arm to work the joystick on his power chair. A friend > suggested getting some kind of head control: sip & puff, chin control or > head control. When we had the OT do an evaluation, she said he should get > enough use back to drive with his arm. She suggested a "T" shaped joystick. > We just saw a "U" shaped piece on another quad's joystick (someone made his > 29 yrs ago). He sets his wrist in the opening and goes where he wants to. > The children and I drive my husband around for now (our 2yr. old boy loves > driving his Dad's chair - but he runs into everything! so I don't allow him > to. He only drives when my back is turned!). It would be nice for my > husband to have some independance. Any suggestions? Thanks! > momofmany0...@yahoo.com >
Re: [QUAD-L] Hoyer Straps
A local seamstress or even a drycleaner may be willing to sew up a new pair of
straps for you and sew them to the steel bars that the old ones attached too.
Good Luck,
john
From: Raymond Kelly
To: Quad-list
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 4:19:18 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] Hoyer Straps
I am hoping somebody on this list will be able to help me. I am a C 3/4
quadriplegic and since I left the rehab facility 15 years ago I have been using
two straps about 6 inches wide {instead of a sling} whenever I hoyer in and out
of my wheelchair. One of them goes behind my shoulders and the other goes under
my knees. I want to replace those straps and cannot find them available
anywhere. All I can find are slings now and we are used to the straps and would
really like to stay with them. Does anybody on here have an idea where I could
purchase them or have them made? Thank you in advance for any ideas you I hope
everybody has a good weekend.Raymond Kelly
Re: [QUAD-L] Hoyer Straps
My hoyer lift was bought in 1975. On two occasions we had to add hydrolic fluid
to it. You want to keep an eye on the pivot bolt and replace it with a new
grade 8 bolt equivilent if it seems worn.
I think you are referring to deminished fluid as fatigue factor. Trust me, just
topping off the fluid makes it lift like new.
Best Wishes,
john
From: "wheelch...@aol.com"
To: kel...@hughes.net; quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 3:53:08 PM
Subject: [QUAD-L] Hoyer Straps
Hi Ray!
Hoyer, has been sold ... yet again. I talked with their "chief tech" today and
he advised me, the two straps you mentioned are "No Longer Available." The is
a reason. Insurance underwriters, approved the product back in the 60's when
liability laws did not apply to the product and how it was used. As the Hoyer
lift gained popularity in the enduser market, so did customer abuse of the
product. I'm sure it only takes one case before the insurance people cast
their decision to Quash that type of sling. If you notice today's slings with
weave mesh which offers more protection and less risk to it user and those
doing the lifting. You are now more protected, because of this.
You can always contact a manufacturer of cargo strapping to restore your strap
slings.
BTW, the same thing happened with scooter trunk lifts using cloth straps for
lifting. Today those cloth straps have been replaced by AirCraft Quality
Stainless Steel, braided wire.
The person who I talked with also expressed some concerns regarding the
possible Fatigue Factor of your lift after all these years of use. Depending
on the actual model and how much stress it has been exposed to over the
years you might consider..
Best Wishes
In a message dated 4/17/2009 2:17:10 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
kel...@hughes.net writes:
I am hoping somebody on this list will be able to help me. I am a C 3/4
quadriplegic and since I left the rehab facility 15 years ago I have been using
two straps about 6 inches wide {instead of a sling} whenever I hoyer in and out
of my wheelchair. One of them goes behind my shoulders and the other goes under
my knees. I want to replace those straps and cannot find them available
anywhere. All I can find are slings now and we are used to the straps and would
really like to stay with them. Does anybody on here have an idea where I could
purchase them or have them made? Thank you in advance for any ideas you I hope
everybody has a good weekend.Raymond Kelly
Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio
Toolbar!
Re: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair
I don't know and can't imagine who or why they would say he will get back enough movement to use a standard joystick. That is malpractice in a minor form. If they give him things he can't use, tell them not to leave useless crap around your house. Now that they have had their laugh, call them and insist they return immediately. Tell them it is urgent that they see your husband using his chair. Do not let them leave without a written letter that they will make the chair usable for your husband. A lot of DME's are actually incompetant when it comes to severe handicapps. I think you should begin by calling your doctor and get him involved in this "miracle chair". Maybe he can find out what they know about his returning function? I know that here in Ohio, if you sign for the wrong chair, that is what your stuck with for 5 years. You must research the chairs and insist on a chair that tilts in space and reclines as well as functioning from a chin switch or a sip n puff. I think it is unfair and cruel at best to tell you both he will get return of function enough to use a joystick. I'd like to know the name of this DME and make sure others have a chance to avoid them. If you are in the Cincinnati, OH area, use Care Medical and The Brace Shoppe. Never sign for anything your not 100% happy with. They can't get paid until they make it right, if you don't sign, the chair clutters their place, not yours. Best Wishes, john From: Cyndi Davis To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 3:47:58 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Cyndi Davis wrote: From: Cyndi Davis Subject: mobility - driving your own power chair To: quad-list@eskimo.com Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:30 PM Hi! How do you all drive your power chairs? My husband is a c5,6 quad, 1 yr. post. He has limited use of some shoulder muscles, but not enough control of his arm to work the joystick on his power chair. A friend suggested getting some kind of head control: sip & puff, chin control or head control. When we had the OT do an evaluation, she said he should get enough use back to drive with his arm. She suggested a "T" shaped joystick. We just saw a "U" shaped piece on another quad's joystick (someone made his 29 yrs ago). He sets his wrist in the opening and goes where he wants to. The children and I drive my husband around for now (our 2yr. old boy loves driving his Dad's chair - but he runs into everything! so I don't allow him to. He only drives when my back is turned!). It would be nice for my husband to have some independance. Any suggestions? Thanks! momofmany0...@yahoo.com
RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure
TIM, MINE IS EXACTLY LIKE YOU--AND I HAD BEEN RUNNING 60/40 AFTER GETTING UP..MY DOC PUT ME ON THE SAME MED AS YOU, GLAD TO HERE WE ARE SIMILAR ON THAT AND IT'S BEEN WORKING FOR YOU. DAN H. --- On Sat, 4/18/09, t crook wrote: From: t crook Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, ddh...@sbcglobal.net, "Danny Espinoza" Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 7:50 AM Well it depends if your BP of 130/70 is sitting up; that blood pressure is fine, but is that a supine (lying down) BP? With me I have orthostatic hypo-tension; which means that my pressure drops when I am sitting. I was getting down to 60/40 and sometimes a little lower; now my pressure runs near the normal 120/80, unless I am dehydrated. Tim --- On Sat, 4/18/09, Danny Espinoza wrote: From: Danny Espinoza Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure To: onemofor...@yahoo.com, QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, ddh...@sbcglobal.net Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 12:57 AM what in your opinion is a low and high blood pressure for us? When im UTI free and healty mine stays around 130/70. When I get a UTI it drops a good ammount... Danny Espinoza 26/m/California Occupation before accident Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer What happened: Broke c2,c6,c7 with doner bone at c2 Traumatic brain injury from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord not vent dependendent anymore. :] My myspace address - http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx My spinal cord injury support website - http://spinalcordinjured.net/ From: t crook [mailto:onemofor...@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:25 AM To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com; Danny Espinoza; ddh...@sbcglobal.net Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure Yes I take one a day; it helps the Midodrine do it's job better, thus maintaining a normal blood pressure. I have always had low blood pressure (orthostatic hypo-tension); but with my muscle atrophy over the years the vascular system just doesn't work as it should, so I had more lows. As we all should know- blood pressure high or low is bad; highs we can stroke and lows we can do damage to our organs, and both are hard on the heart. I was fatigued so much with the lows that I didn't have any energy, now I feel better than I have in years. Tim WhoopieKat.com --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Danny Hearn wrote: From: Danny Hearn Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, "Danny Espinoza" , onemofor...@yahoo.com Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 9:37 AM TIM, DO YOU TAKE FLUDROCORTISONE EVERY DAY FOR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND SAID TAKE ONE EACH DAYSO FAR I ONLY TAKE IT WHEN MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAS BEEN REAL LOW. DAN*** --- On Fri, 4/17/09, t crook wrote: From: t crook Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, "Danny Espinoza" Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:54 AM Like I said- it may not work for everyone; and look at the side effects of your meds and how alcohol may effect them. I take fludrocortisone and midodrine for low blood pressure; I am told by my doctor (and pharmacists) that a couple of beers will not effect me and my low blood pressure meds. However- I do take diazepam PRN for sever spasms; or for a good nights rest, however, diazepam (all narcotics) and alcohol do not mix. Tim c5-c6 20 yrs. post www.geocities.com/onemofortom WhoopieKat.com --- On Thu, 4/16/09, Danny Espinoza wrote: From: Danny Espinoza Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: onemofor...@yahoo.com, alcibiat...@yahoo.com, QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, wheelch...@aol.com Date: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 12:41 PM Interesting.. I personally don't like most beers, but I will have to keep that in mind and maybe try it one day Danny Espinoza 26/m/California Occupation before accident Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer What happened: Broke c2,c6,c7 with doner bone at c2 Traumatic brain injury from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord not vent dependendent anymore. :] My myspace address - http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx My spinal cord injury support website - http://spinalcordinjured.net/ From: t crook [mailto:onemofor...@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:51 AM To: alcibiat...@yahoo.com; QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com; wheelch...@aol.com Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping Back in ’88 they were teaching the tap and credae method; and it was not working for me, until I started drinking beer on home visits. After several tall cans of barley-pop; I felt this strange sensation near my anus, the flood gates opened and the urine process was so forceful it blew my condom cath clean off of me. When I returned to the hospital I told my rehab doc about the beer making me void on my own; and he prescribed me 3 beers a day (my re
RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure
Well it depends if your BP of 130/70 is sitting up; that blood pressure is fine, but is that a supine (lying down) BP? With me I have orthostatic hypo-tension; which means that my pressure drops when I am sitting. I was getting down to 60/40 and sometimes a little lower; now my pressure runs near the normal 120/80, unless I am dehydrated. Tim --- On Sat, 4/18/09, Danny Espinoza wrote: From: Danny Espinoza Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure To: onemofor...@yahoo.com, QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, ddh...@sbcglobal.net Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 12:57 AM what in your opinion is a low and high blood pressure for us? When im UTI free and healty mine stays around 130/70. When I get a UTI it drops a good ammount... Danny Espinoza 26/m/California Occupation before accident Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer What happened: Broke c2,c6,c7 with doner bone at c2 Traumatic brain injury from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord not vent dependendent anymore. :] My myspace address - http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx My spinal cord injury support website - http://spinalcordinjured.net/ From: t crook [mailto:onemofor...@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 11:25 AM To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com; Danny Espinoza; ddh...@sbcglobal.net Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping/blood pressure Yes I take one a day; it helps the Midodrine do it's job better, thus maintaining a normal blood pressure. I have always had low blood pressure (orthostatic hypo-tension); but with my muscle atrophy over the years the vascular system just doesn't work as it should, so I had more lows. As we all should know- blood pressure high or low is bad; highs we can stroke and lows we can do damage to our organs, and both are hard on the heart. I was fatigued so much with the lows that I didn't have any energy, now I feel better than I have in years. Tim WhoopieKat.com --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Danny Hearn wrote: From: Danny Hearn Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, "Danny Espinoza" , onemofor...@yahoo.com Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 9:37 AM TIM, DO YOU TAKE FLUDROCORTISONE EVERY DAY FOR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON THIS ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND SAID TAKE ONE EACH DAYSO FAR I ONLY TAKE IT WHEN MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAS BEEN REAL LOW. DAN*** --- On Fri, 4/17/09, t crook wrote: From: t crook Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, "Danny Espinoza" Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:54 AM Like I said- it may not work for everyone; and look at the side effects of your meds and how alcohol may effect them. I take fludrocortisone and midodrine for low blood pressure; I am told by my doctor (and pharmacists) that a couple of beers will not effect me and my low blood pressure meds. However- I do take diazepam PRN for sever spasms; or for a good nights rest, however, diazepam (all narcotics) and alcohol do not mix. Tim c5-c6 20 yrs. post www.geocities.com/onemofortom WhoopieKat.com --- On Thu, 4/16/09, Danny Espinoza wrote: From: Danny Espinoza Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping To: onemofor...@yahoo.com, alcibiat...@yahoo.com, QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com, wheelch...@aol.com Date: Thursday, April 16, 2009, 12:41 PM Interesting.. I personally don't like most beers, but I will have to keep that in mind and maybe try it one day Danny Espinoza 26/m/California Occupation before accident Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer What happened: Broke c2,c6,c7 with doner bone at c2 Traumatic brain injury from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord not vent dependendent anymore. :] My myspace address - http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx My spinal cord injury support website - http://spinalcordinjured.net/ From: t crook [mailto:onemofor...@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:51 AM To: alcibiat...@yahoo.com; QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com; wheelch...@aol.com Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] TRAINED BLADDER- Thumping Back in ’88 they were teaching the tap and credae method; and it was not working for me, until I started drinking beer on home visits. After several tall cans of barley-pop; I felt this strange sensation near my anus, the flood gates opened and the urine process was so forceful it blew my condom cath clean off of me. When I returned to the hospital I told my rehab doc about the beer making me void on my own; and he prescribed me 3 beers a day (my rehab doc was a marathon running non-drinker), now I just have a couple of beers every other day. I have been cathed about 5 or 6 times in over 20 years (due to a full bowel and the few bladder infections I have had), I’ve only had about three bladder infections. I void about 300 to 500 cc’s each time I void and always have residual; but I’ve been told that my mass amounts of water that I drink doesn’t give bacteria a chance to grow. I rec
[QUAD-L] driving your own power chair
Hi Danny. You've mentioned this before and so have some others and I just wanted to be sure we are on the same level. A physical therapist, works with the nerves, muscles and strength of your body. An occupational therapist, works to achieve your life's goals. Also, I have known some OTs and PTs who have stepped out of their speciality to inspires others with their talents. Best Wishes In a message dated 4/18/2009 1:12:14 A.M. Central Daylight Time, static...@roadrunner.com writes: at first I was unable to as well and had to use a sip and puff setup. Make sure he works hard with a good OT "occupational therapist" to get as much return as he can! The first 3 1/2 years are the most important because he will get the most return then! :) Good luck and you two stay strong! Danny Espinoza 26/m/California Occupation before accident Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer What happened: Broke c2,c6,c7 with doner bone at c2 Traumatic brain injury from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord not vent dependendent anymore. :] My myspace address - _http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx_ (http://www.myspace.com/dannylnx) My spinal cord injury support website - _http://spinalcordinjured.net/_ (http://spinalcordinjured.net/) From: Cyndi Davis [mailto:momofmany0...@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 12:48 PM To: quad-list@eskimo.com Subject: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Cyndi Davis wrote: From: Cyndi Davis Subject: mobility - driving your own power chair To: quad-list@eskimo.com Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:30 PM Hi! How do you all drive your power chairs? My husband is a c5,6 quad, 1 yr. post. He has limited use of some shoulder muscles, but not enough control of his arm to work the joystick on his power chair. A friend suggested getting some kind of head control: sip & puff, chin control or head control. When we had the OT do an evaluation, she said he should get enough use back to drive with his arm. She suggested a "T" shaped joystick. We just saw a "U" shaped piece on another quad's joystick (someone made his 29 yrs ago). He sets his wrist in the opening and goes where he wants to. The children and I drive my husband around for now (our 2yr. old boy loves driving his Dad's chair - but he runs into everything! so I don't allow him to. He only drives when my back is turned!). It would be nice for my husband to have some independance. Any suggestions? Thanks! _momofmany0...@yahoo.com_ (http://us.mc434.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=momofmany0...@yahoo.com) **Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown0003)
