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A brace will actually extendA functional need for a brace|
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| Living in a wheelchair is what you make of it |
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| Better mental and physical health for wheelchair using persons | Places you can visit on your computer for tons of info about wheelchairs |
| May 5,2008 Time to get out even in the northern states.I know you want to and roll about your neigborhood. We sometimes start to think we aren't loved any more as They refer to our status as She or he is confined to a wheelchair.I hate that statement!!! We are in these wheelchairs because we lost mobility and this is the best way of making about the comunity or around the world . when I say around the world I mean exactly just that!! I would love to sail about the earth in a world cruise.The only thing stopping me is the lack of money,as I have had many cruises in a sitting position.Both of my physicians tell me the same. "you can go anywhere if you determine to go and if you have the money!"They never said you can't go because you need a wheelchair.They know that many of us really are physically stable. we can do a lot of travel,provided we don't have some other illness like heart problems. Richard May 5,2008 Keeping healthy in your changed life style of using a wheelchair.: First stay thin by eating good food but much less of it.one thing I have noticed way too often is over weight persons in wheelchairs.Society in general is too far over weight.Learn to appreciate good tasty foods but not much of it. Because you are largely more inactive than before you need those wheels.Its good to split a meal with another person .neither of you will suffer but gain from it. Second take care to watch for skin problems ,especially on your rear.You may have to use a small mirror . Really I have know several MSer who were long them wheelchair users who have DIED from sores on the butt. I was told to get bag loation which can be purchased in feed stores or pharmacies.Its primaryly used on cows utters. But it works good for mthe butts of wheelchair users. I assume you also have the best of cushions under you. I met a wheelchair designer ,retired and he informed me that this part of the wheelchair concerned them the most in their plans and designs.Transfering frequently if you still can is also good. laying down for a nap will also be a good way of taking the pressure off certain places. Third:We are in life to have fun.But is it possible living in a wheelchair.YES!YES!! There are so many things you can do and do as good as ablebodied. I just discoved tours of well known gardens are nearly all wheelchair accessible .Some may be close to you. Living in Florida we have nearly 365 days of gardening.One of the delightful places I like is The Bock tower It plays well known tunes on the organ every hour,The grounds are beautiful.Disney is also well taken care of and if you like to photograph flowers ,like me you can go ther and enjoy it. My art improved as soon as I become a wheelchair user as I then had the time to devote to doing it and could easily focus on it. I just loved talking to other people . I find disabled people are usually in need for conversation and attention and I have done very good just talking to another disable. If they are in the mall by themselves they are very receptive to extended conversations. I also enjoy seeing good movies,I hate the violence and killing,sex in bed room style movies but saw a great one yesterday " Shall we dance?" very clean but exciting no sex and no violence. Those of us that accept the need for a wheelchair in order to get about easily have the greatest chance to find fun and happiness. Fourth: Watch how you dress.Its important for your moral and ego. I purposely like flamboint clothing as I feel good in these items of colorful shirts and never blue jeans we are fortunate in Florida we can wear almost anything when we wish.The acceptance is more accepting. But you need to take good care of skin,facial features and watch your breath.I find unusual ties also attract attention. Undisabled will be more accepting of you when you dress the part of showing you love life and not some dejected thing in a wheelchair. But you must watch your hair and all details .I get a manicure and pedicure monthly .As a man I also get matt clear polish.People look!Men don't go for the beard,actually women hate them.They were OK in the Civil war and immediately after as King Gillette hadn't come along with his easy to use blades.Men can also wear jewelry and be well accepted as other men will actually know you are bold .many of them also wish they also had the nerve to wear such things . I have had many men tell me so.I just tell them taht once people get used to you wearing colorful things they expect it from you. I never had piecered ears until one day in my scooter I was bored in the mall and had them pierced.I'm fortunate I still have most of my hair at my age.My wife never knows what to expect next ,but that is one of the characteristics she like about me.She will often in the mall ask me to transfer so she can use my scooter. Fifth:If you are at ease then its catching when you are around other people.That means you have to stop fretting the fact you are in a wheelchair.The disability isn't going away so adjust your life style to have the most out of it. My doctor still knows I can handle myself almost anywhere and he still says I'm cleared to travel around the world if I have the money. He then told me ," I don't give that same release to all my MS patients who are wheelchair users.But I know all you need is a smooth surface and you are gone rolling. Most of my wheelchair patients really are still inwardly crying.You would make a good patient to be in wheelchair ads as you seem well adjusted and happy.After I finally get my Johnson &Johnson IGLIDE ,I'm showing it off at the companies annual stockholders meeting. Be bold and know you still have attractive features.Really a light weight wheelchair or Jazzy power chair will compliment you.The cheaper wheelchairs will be showing you as a pathatic cripple.Keep on thinking as you did before your disability. Remember the happy and contented person seem to stay healthy. Sixth; take a daily vitamin, and other suppliments,eat lots of fruit and vegatables and go easy on the sugar items and empty calories.Enjoy life without heavy drinking,moderation is always in style and the most healthy choice. Drink lots of fruit jucies especially in the winter.You need the vitamin C,also extra E too many of us will have ineffecient digestive systems.But watch the over indulgence of over eating. Most over eating is a sex subsitute. The bigger you get the less real interest you will generate.Remember while many of us have lost our ability to do real sex ,but many women actually want attention,compliments and love without sex.the movies and TV actually are wrong.Kissing ,hugs, other signs of affection are still in demand .Kind words for any new change you notice are appreciated. Seven; Hassles I have had with my wheelchair or scooter. To start with one of the funniest times with my scooter.I was aboard a very small plane going from Detroit to Toledo The plane held 20 people .They barely had room to squeeze my scooter into the luggage section.I was watching them It was the last think to be loaded.Then I noticed the batteries still on the trailer that brought out the baggage.The door was being closed and the plane was ready for take off.I YELLED "My batteries aren't loaded yet.The flight attendent come back to me seat and ask me what i wanted .They she quickly went and opened the door and told the ground crew about the batteries whic I watch them load and the door went shut again.Had I been on the other side of the plane I could not have watched them loading and shutter to think what I would have done in Toledo. On another time we were at an unconvential air port where there was no jetway and I couldn't climb the steps into the plane.They took the fork lift which was used to put the food into the back and hoisted me and wheelchair into the plane. Those so called wheelchair accessiable restrooms on planes even the larger ones really don't have room for you and the wheelchair.You leave it outside and grab the bars in the rest room and hope your arms and legs will hold up to get seated inside. In Amsterdam ,Holland I had a scooter which the crew had never seen.This was back about 1985 I got off it and was seated in the plane then I saw the luggage people later doing all sorts of running about on my scooter down in the freight area.I wondered if I would have enough power left in the batteries to carry me when I reached NYC.Fortunately I did and fortunately I was staying for two nights in NYC so at the hotel I promptly pluged it in to charge. Once before all stores had ramps I was at a McDonalds in Ga. There was no ramp into the store.My wife went in to ask and the manager came out and said ,"we will carry him in" I said no you not I'm going across the street to the other restaurant which ahs a ramp. The next time we were threogh this town in Ga. they had a ramp but we didn't stop June 11,2004 IGLIDE See www.independence.com/glide This power assist wheelchair is exciting and you will want one if you try it.Its so easy even with you doing some of the propelling.I had the demo and it was wonderful. You can do a mile in it without getting tired,even with upgrades or rough surfaces. But the cost is really high at $7200. But try it. UPDATE April 19,2004 A f riend recently had to take up using a wheelchair full time after walking with a cane ,then a walker and now a wheelchair.She actually will soon have a power chair as the last effert at walking was painful and her legs just fatigued almost so quick her physician said it was the time to start using her chair all the time. She knew it was coming and put up no ressistance to the suggestion in fact she said it was she that brought it up .She told me Its a relief to not worry about legs folding up with you even a short distance was a great effort. Her family was all worried she would not see the signs but she did and is resting from walking now since the end of March when she decided its the time to stop taking chances.RET UPDATE; Buy or selection of your wheelchair: What factors are important? 1.Do you need a manual or powerchair? If you have a strong upper body medicare will only buy you a manual.Sometimes an exception for progressive MS are made for power chairs. 2.If you go the manual wheelchair way ,will it be an expensive ultra light weight,most of these are made of Titanium and easy to handle,but the chance of your insurance paying even a substantial amount is very slim. 3. Do you need a specialized chair? such as one with a back that make it easy for a nap. there are necessary for many advanced MSer as they need much rest and it lets them have a rest without having to transfer to a bed. 4. for those whith need of a wheelchair on special occassions like going places ,these people use the wheelchair simply to save getting ultra tired too soon .Uusally they can walk with either crutches or a walker at home. For these people theyt could get by with what ever wheelchair their insurance will buy. Getting back the reason you should be getting the light weight wheelchair that has quick release wheels. These chairs will fit into the smallest of cars,an advantage that should be seriously looked at in these days of gas going up and probably not ever coming down. The world supply of oil is getting less and the demand as the developing nations go from bikes to motorcycles to cars the consumption of oil will great increase and the price is likely to stay up there. Recently in Barrons financial weekly paper an article emphizes this shortage on a world wide basis.They predict the prices going up and staying up.so you think your car uses too much gas? The ultra light weight wheelchair will fit even in the smallest of cars as I mentioned. I know a local lady who has used a wheelchair for many years She also has a gas saving Toyota smaller version of a car using gas on the highway of up to 40 miles per gallon. This is my real reason for pushing the buying of smaller cars for us wheelchair users. 3-14-04 As I felt my body getting to the status of needing a scooter or wheelchair most of the time I started asking wheelchair users about their life in a wheelchair. A sort of advanced preview. What I was able to find is a general satisfaction with their life as a wheelchair user.Most would tell you they didn't adjust immediately. But I liked my first scooter as I was having great trouble walking with crutches as early as early as the third yr.from dx. My MS came on with a bang and seemed if it would keep up that pace I would probably be in a wheelchair within the first 5 years. there were individuals in my local MS support group would say they took almost 10 years to need a wheelchair.My doctor also thought my progression was all too fast. But most did say it didn't come about in just a day or a week.The transition from walking or trying to walk was gradual. I also quizzed others from other diseases,such as post polio,and other degenerative diseases of the muscles,nervous system,and bone problems. We have several wheelchair users down at our community pool.These people have a hard time getting from their wheelchairs into and out of the pool. We have a set of parallel bars we hold on to and decend into or out of the pool entirely by our arm strength on a set of steps untill recently when a "dunker " as I call it.You transfer to the seat,operate the down or up button and you slowly start to move eithe rup or down.Very handy!! Back to the problems and strengths of being a wheelie. Listing the strength we save energy as our legs progressive get weaker. There wasn't any wheelchair user who disagreed with this sparing our energy. Most weren't entirely paralized but loosing musclular power bit by bit in a several year drift into their felt need for an easier form of life. By the way Google.com rates this web site as being good on information about braces ,crutches users and wheelchair user.Now that we have blown our horn OK. The immediate problem is your perception that you are on the surface different from the able bodied person.But back when you started using either a cane ,crutches,or walker you also knew this fact. But now everyone is taller to you.even with my raising seat on my scooter I'm still shorter to all but children.Get used to it. We didn't accept this life style but now we are wheelchair users it will all work out for our best as life picks up an we have more energy to do what we still can do with out the extream overwhelming fatigue we had as walkers. Many have just loved the activies they found out they really could do. We get strange activies as ,gardening in raised bins or large pots,playing pool and here we are at an advantage as we are lower to the pool table than a person standing up.Our body is safe and no shake of legs will ruin your shot. Fishing is amazing in a wheelchair.They have special chairs that will even navigate into the water.When ever I have been on a cruise the half moon island that Holland America lnes has in the Bahamas has several free to use wheelchairs th large tires that will take you into the water.They also float.The little noodle made of foam can be purchased from most store if water scares you. They cost about $4 at Walmart The last time I looked. The saving of energy with your use of a wheelchair is almost imposible to calculate But I always feel better after being in my scooter or Quickie all day as opposed to trying to walk all day with my crutches and braces.I just can't do it. |
Don't miss www.Wheelchairnet.org This web page operated by University of Pittsburgh Is well worth your while.They have a message board that will expose you to recent users of wheelchair as well as old timers. They will have hunders of connections that will let you wonder you computer over research in wheelchairs,living successfully in a wheelchair,how to get your house accessible.and much more. June 23 2003 ; Just received my quarterly copy of Multiple sclerosis Outlook.Its published by Berlex the makers of betaseron.In 1600 cases of SPMS in USA and Canada the conuance of betaseron did reduce the brain lesions and slow down the progression. There was a time when it was only intended for use among R/R MSer.There is now a bill up before congress for Medicare to cover all four injectable drugs for MS. The bill in congress is # HR 1956 incase you wish to send a short note to your congressperson. Since you are a wheelchair user or you probably wouldn't be here consider the following places you may want to brouse on your computer. www.championsofcourage.org www.multiplesclerosis.com www.vestil.com/wc or call them at 1-800-411-7789 they make the beach chair that goes into the water. A article I spotted which grabbed my eye was ,"I have become World's worst on Empathy" see www,indepententliving.org/column/berg20026.html Pleasant wheeling.! |
| A Wheelchair or scooter is a way of life not a dead end in life | Making a good life style from your Wheelchair |
| Frequently the general common expresion "confined to a wheelchair " really gats at me. Sure its not the same as walking.but for us that use them its a way to circumvent "bad Walking and pain" We go farther that our legs and fet would have taken us . We also soon learn we are happier,not as prone to be grouchy.We become easier to live with and we are out there going places and doing things. If you are using a wheelchair full time and this freedom isn't part of you new lifestyle ,then maybe you need a power chair. Who accomidates themselves the easiest to life in a wheelchair? The person who realizes that while the old and former lifestyle is gone,a new one awaits us in the rolling style.We should think not of what we lost, but how can we develop a enjoyable life in a sitting position. The prospects are endless in a wheelchair. One only has to read one of the magazines intended for people in a wheelchair. There are trips to take,hand controls in yoy car to let you continue driving. You do have sertain advantages the walking person doesn't get.Just think of going to a stadium on a crouded day .The wheelchair spaces are there when the regular eats are gone. The addaptation to better life in mobility in a wheelchair is expanding all the time. |
Being a wheelchair user myself I think in terms of what is my real worth to society. I pay taxes but do I deposit any thing of worth to benefit others? Those that do have a lot to live for.They add to the total acculumulated worth of society.It may be in the form of art,music,special sports,service of some sort, or writers,playactors, wheelchair dancers,and etc. We shouldn't just be takers of society's total wealth.We should be giving back. Many users of wheelchairs are valuable donaters of their spirit in many ways. We are a very diverse culture and there are many ways to be a donater of your talents. Of the valuable donators who wwere also wheelchair user whom I can recall we have had arts,(Chuck Close)I have seen in street show of art many who need a WC. There are muscians that do their thing and thouroghly enjoy life. There are financial persons who have been many years in their sxcooters or WC and actuall had done good enough to give away massive amounts of money. There are the common garden variety wheelchair users who become friends of ablebodied and proform services to them and usually go on doing so totally unheralded But as a last line rethink your lifestyle in your rolling chariot and you too will live a life which excites you daily. We have gotten a lot of respons about our specialization to the users of wheelchairs.I live hearing from you all. Over the years that I have been receiving email about wheelchair lifestyles I have noted few of us actually regret using a wheelchair on a full time basis once we have gotten oriented in a 6 months basis. RET |
| Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner | FL. | Eileen(Lobosgirl) and Richard (RET1000) both at aol.com |
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