[kreink]

I just received my manual wheelchair for use when out and about. It isnt practical to use it inside my home with the thick pile carpet and the 3 flights of stairs I have to walk up.

I worry about how to stay ambulatory when I am using it for a good portion of the day. I take a lot of pain medicine for my PN and both feet/ankles are braced with Arizona Boot AFOs and I have been using forearm crutches to get around. This has been very impractical at work though since as a teacher I need to be able to work with the kids and be mobile.

Hence the wheelchair, it has been a great releif to be able to take the pressure off my feet and releive some of the pain and hopefully I can get off some of the medinces I am on but I dont want my legs to atrophy and stiffen.

I have tried walking and swimming. I can do weights if I am sitting down, but nothing with my legs or feet.

Also, does anyone have any creative ideas for how to easily load a folding wheelchair into the back seat of pickup with an access cab?

[cyclelops]

I can't think of anything to say, other than to talk to an occupational therapist who may be able to help you with adaptations.

[daniella]

I am not sure if it would be the same for a wheel chair but I know with my grandfather scooter it can be attatched to the back of the car. Sorry if this is totally off. Have you tried pool walking? Not sure if you are able to do this but it has less impact. I agree about talking to a therapist and your doc who is working with you on ways to not atrophy. Feel better

[kreink]

I am hoping that the relief I get from using the chair can translate into more time in the pool. The local pool where I live does not have stairs to enter the water, I stopped going when it was too painful to use the ladder to get in and out of the pool. They do have a lift chair I can use though.

I did do walking in the water as well as swimming with a noodle around my waist. Any kicking movement REALLY aggravated my pain level. Walking in the water was ok, but when I quit, I was so sore at the end of the work day that getting in the pool was out of the question.

Next time I see my doc I plan to talk to him about ideas for keeping my legs in shape. I had to order gloves for my hands when using the wheelchair because pushing it aggravates my PN in my hands some. I should receive them this week. I need encouragement during the day to get up out of the chair I think, while it really helps with pain relief, standing up periodically to stretch my legs does help.

I have looked for a system for getting it into my truck easier. I am thinking I just need a pully and some cord to hoise it high enough, then I can swing it into the back seat easier. Figuring out how to attach it is another question.

[cyclelops]

The pulley and the rope sounds like something I would do.....which means, don't do it!

Maybe if you got some better pain meds, you could walk more. If it is not weakness, but only pain, you could build yourself up somewhat, and very slowly.

I don't know your situation, so I have to refer you to a physical and occupational therapist for help. See if they can get you moving. We don't do well when we let inertia get the best of us...I know, I am fighting it myself, and I hurt as well....pain is one thing, weakness and inability another.

[nide44]

My son, who is a quadriplegic with a power/tilt-back wheelchair(450 lbs) - has an aluminum folding ramp that he uses to get his chair
in-and out-of, the van his girlfriend/care-giver drives.
He also uses it to get his wheelchair into my house that has 5 steps
up, to get into the front door.
The ramp is very compact and folds into 1/4's and is easy to transport.
Check with wheelchair or handicap accessory sellers, or possibly eBay.