Life in a wheelchair

I thought I would post about what life is really like for people with spinal cord injuries, paralysis, or loss of mobility. Let me just say I was SO naive prior to all of this happening.

The cane and walker were so manageable and how I dream of life with them and not a chair. But since the chair is what I have to deal with then so be it. You have no clue how heavy dead weight legs are until you have to use your own upper body strength to move them everywhere. I cannot even barely move them in bed, bend them on my own, wiggle my toes....just dead weight. .

Also I guess in my own stupidity, I thought that if you were in a chair that obviously meant that you couldn't feel your legs. Well I can feel my legs, they provide plenty of pain, spasms, but they just won't move. I don't know which is more frustrating. Steroids and some pain meds are helping me with the pain issue in the hospital. We will have to re-address that once I get discharged since the steroids will be lower dosages.

Something more personal that I had never even considered when looking at everyday people in wheelchairs is how do they use the facilities. With my condition, any many spinal cord injury people, I am unable to control my bladder. I retain my urine and it is amazing how much my bladder holds without me knowing since I have loss of sensation. I can measure up to about 6-9 coke cans of fluid. I must catheterize to empty my bladder or I get urinary tract infections. Of course I cannot feel any of the early symptoms so left unattended it would cause kidney infection. The bowels I still have control of but you can imagine getting to the bathroom is a royal pain.

I have realized that there are many helpful people out there willing to open a door or give me hand. To my amazement there are still very rude folks that just turn a blind eye to someone in need. I pray I raise my kids better than that.

My upper body strength is getting better each day and I am learning the tricks of the trade to get from my bed, chair, and back again. All of which is a work out in itself.

If I could pass along any unsolicited advise to anyone that reads this board - if you have the ability to get up a go the do it. You never know when it could be taken from you. I guess it's that same old thing I have been trying to remind myself; don't take today for granted because you don't know what tomorrow will bring.