Bed I built for Alan
 

Hi All.

Been some time since I shared anything. Been busy taking care of him and I also have an ingrown toenail which I am taking care of so I built myself a hard shell to go over my toes (my doctor told me to stop wearing sandals and to let my toe HEAL), so I am finally listening to him. It's hard to go sandal-less in summer but if I bang this toe one more time I'm going to kill myself. I use tea tree oil, I soak once a day in epsom salt and it works wonders but then my friend accidentally kicked me in that toe and imagine a sore toe from the beginning, GETTING MORE SORE. And because I have diabetic neuropathy (which is controlled by my B-12), well I have to stop wearing sandals and that's the end of that story.

Now on to why I am here. Alan has neuropathy for 25 years. He can't feel when he bangs his foot agains the wall during the night or when he kicks the bottom rail (He needs both rails in case he falls out of bed and now there are no more falls). So I said to myself "They put bumper guards in baby cribs so why can't I? I will put sheets over these foam things eventually but I just wanted to share what I came up with. I made these out of an extra mattress topper that I had that I no longer need because I prefer a HARD bed as opposed to lying on one of these soft things. But they make perfect bumper guards. Alan can no longer bang anything while he sleeps. No pun intended!!! lol. Here's the link to my photo of this new bed. He has a mattress topper on the bed and now he has the bumper guards on the side and on the bottom. Take a look.

Double click on the photo and it will show you the whole bed
NewBed by SPROUTLADY | Photobucket


Melody

This has to be the best thing I have ever done. He sleeps like a baby and hasn't hurt his feet one bit. Thank god for adult bumper guards. lol

I just saw this! You are very creative Mel. I am sure Alan is very thankful and happy now. Xx

Hi

Thank you for the kind words. To be quite honest, he couldnt care less. Could be that he has lived in pain for 25 years and it really affects one's personality.

This is how I live. At least he cant hurt himself.

Melody

Yeah your right pain does affect ones personality. My dad had bad ulcers in his legs from peripheral artery disease and diabetes and he was in agony most every day. There was hardly anything I or anyone could do to help. It was what it was.

But you should take pride in knowing how much you help and support Alan, even if he doesn't show it I am positive he appreciates all you do for him. Xx

Good job. ;)

Nice Bed!
 

I just saw the bed you created for Alan and I applaud your creative spirit!:D

I'll go you one better. I had a bad ingrown toenail that I kept banging. I took care of it. I saw my podiatrist. He said to me 'You certainly know wound care don't you?"

I came home saying to myself "I'll never bang this toe again".

I banged it last night on the leg of the handcap toilet (I think they call this a commode) that I have in the bathroom. I said "oh no, not doing this again".

So I got some of the exact same material that I used for Alan's bumper guards. Took a piece, made a hole, stuck it on the bottom of the leg that I bumped into.

My handicap potty chair now has it's own bumper guard.

Thank god I have a brain. rofl.

Melody

Click on the link to the bed, select on upper left SPROUTLADY'S BUCKET, and I think you can see the commode bumper guard that I made.

I tried to copy and paste the url but I don't know what I'm doing today. rofl.

Melody

I have a question about bumper guards. I made this one for Alan so he doesn't bang his foot against the wall (when he sometimes gets spasms during the night). As we await delivery of his custom molded shoes next week, he is to stay off his feet so he doesn't develop a new foot ulcer. He has shoes but they were made last year, he is on the last pair of inserts and the doctor isn't taking any chances. So we wait until next Monday.

Just now I checked his toes and he has a black and blue in the front of one of his toes (almost between the toes but not quite). This tells me he turned over on his left side, kicked the bumper guard I created and he must have used such force (also the bones of his toes are delicate because he has had neuropathy for over 20 years). So just now I added one more piece of the Visco Elastic foam (to make it a thicker, safer foam bumper guard)and now we have a double bumper guard.

And tonight I will place three pieces of cut up (top of) socks and place them over his toes (and his regular socks over them) so hopefully even if he DOES bang, he won't break a toe. I know someone with neuropathy who pulled the sheets over his toes and broke a toe, so I know people with neuropathy have delicate bones or whatever they have that can easily break.

My question is this. I'm like Macgyver, if I want something I have to build it because I don't know where to buy this online or even how to word it.

My bedroom looks ridiculous but who cares, as long as we both get a good night's sleep.

What I'm asking is .....is there anyplace online that sells specially made wall foam protectors (like what I have) but made for people with neuropathy? I mean, they have rails (which we already have), they have canes (which we also have), I also have the couch cane so he can get up from the couch. We have all disability aids that we use but this one has me stumped. Hundreds of thousands of people (perhaps millions) of people have neuropathy and they have muscle spasms and they also must bang SOMETHING in their sleep. I can't move the bed away from the wall. It's too small a bedroom. There is no place else to put him. I'm on the other bed which has a window and also (where his foot would be) there is a wall. So we have to make do with what we have.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have been googling "Protective wall foam bumper guards for people with neuropathy", etc. etc. but all I get is rubber bumper guards, and the like.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks much

Maguyver signing off

Melody