@@ChampsLeak I usually don’t sleep on my back; I flip from side to side and sometimes sleep on my belly, so I don't have to worry about heel pressure sores. That said, I’m fortunate with my skin and don’t need to set alarms to change positions. For others, though, it’s important to change positions every 2 to 4 hours, depending on your skin's integrity. There are also different mattresses that are better for your skin, and I've heard of some that can automatically adjust your position or shift pressure points, though I haven’t looked into those myself. When you're first injured, it’s crucial to do regular skin checks to understand how your skin reacts. This helps you determine when you need to do pressure relief, whether you’re in bed or in your chair. Even though I’ve never had pressure sores or skin breakdown, I still check my skin regularly, at least three times a week. Everyone is different, so these checks are vital to your health. Pressure sores can escalate quickly if not caught early. Hope this helps.

@@bencaldecott6583 Welcome & Thank You!🙏🏻

@@QuadLife101 np

@@garbanzo54 I never heard of that. But good thing to know about it. Hopefully I won’t have to go have a colonoscopy for a long time but keep me posted how it goes when you get your done.

I agree. The 3-day fast was very difficult. I had to make sure to drink lots of water and ended up adding electrolytes to prevent getting super lightheaded. I’ve been pretty fortunate with my bowel routine and usually go when I’m scheduled. Despite that, the 3-day fast still took a while for everything to clear out. By the end, I was still passing a brown liquid. Absolutely lovely times! The colonoscopy was successful, and I’m glad it's over. For a month and a half afterward, my bowels were all over the place-longer days and lots of accidents. I had to wear a lot of "adult support" (diapers). It took a while for things to settle down and get back to normal. Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, I don't experience them as much when I'm sitting down and transferring, though I do occasionally get a bit of clonus spasms. They occur more frequently when I'm going from sitting to lying down, probably due to the hip flexor stretch reflex being triggered. I also get a lot of spasms when I flip over in bed, after sitting for a long time, and sometimes when I need to go pee. Hope this makes sense!

@@QuadLife101 Do I have to be "Sorry" for saying "I enjoy your nonspasming legs?" My former gf had extreme spasms and she tried to fight against them but nothing could help. I am sorry but I love to see your legs!

That sounds good! You should check out my kitchen set up video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIrJiqF4fqiXj7ssi=E6brcaFCybqe_ISx). I go through a lot of different things I use in the kitchen. I’ll make another one that’s more specific to other random things I have around the house that’s really helped me to maneuver things more easily.

Thank you! 😃

I use to void with a Foley catheter going into a bag for 2.5 years post injury. I tried self-catheterization through my urethra during that time, but wasn't successful to independently do it. Eventually, I decided to undergo a bladder diversion surgery called a Mitrofanoff (appendicovesicostomy in medical term). It was the best decision I’ve made to increase my independence and overall bladder health. Now, I use an intermittent catheter (ICP) through the Mitrofanoff stoma when I need to pee. If you think this might be a good option for you, discuss it with your urologist. I have made a couple of videos related to this method of voiding. If you would like to check it out. How I pee through my Mitrofanoff: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHPLZoahgMSpY6Msi=-IuLgWZZyD7FBOZA The Mitrofanoff procedure (surgery prep & recovery): kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIC0k5uBq9V5jJYsi=Ysy9QPXvHjoNpyiD Please let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck!

@@QuadLife101 i use spc catheter. Thanks ❤️

How are you finding the SPC? I initially considered getting an SPC catheter, but my intuition kicked in and decided against it. I discovered this other bladder diversion technique, and it’s been a game changer-no more bags. It took some time to understand my bladder behavior when it wasn’t sitting on empty any more, but now I'm quite attuned to when I need to pee and use an intermittent catheter for my Mitrofanoff stoma. I'll soon make a video on how I manage peeing when I'm out of the house. Did you end up watching the 2 videos I posted previously? Please let me know if you have any questions. You’re also welcome to email me [email protected]

@@QuadLife101then how to control urine. How to control urine if you drink a lot of water

@@jishk8470 some people have to make sure that they catheterize every 3 to 4 hours. For me I end up getting cues from my body when I have to go pee. I start getting goosebumps and sweating so kind of like beginning to get AD when I know I have to go.

I’ve tried those roller thing also. Bought it on Amazon, but it didn’t work very well. Ended up sending it back. Maybe I need to try the one that you have. Do you mind sending me the link your contraption?

Glad it’s helping. It’s been a great little tool I’ve had for quite a long time and also nice to be able to share my knowledge from my profession before my injury.😁

What’s your level of injury? I’m happy to share all the different chair components. What exactly do you like about the chair? What’s your level of stability?

That makes two of us. I’m C5 but present like a C7. Tried to put my pants back on on my chair, but can’t do it. I have to usually get on a bed or flatter surface, where I can lie down to be able to put them back on. Can take them off on my chair, but cannot put them on… Yet anyways.

I’ll eventually make a video about incontinence and period underwear. I’ve covered a little bit of it in my putting on underwear video if you want to check it out.kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJe4koeNj8ytnrMsi=gVzaf-sy07YzMWfm I haven’t tried Wuka or Modibibi, I’ll have to check those out. Thank you for bringing those to my attention🙂. I’ve used Thinx & Knix and really like the Thinx. Knix is all right but I find they don’t stay on as well because the crotch area is a little bit too thin and they tend to slide around when I transfer. They’re also a little bit harder to put on with the lack of finger function because the material is a bit more thin and slippery. Have you tried any yourself? If so, I’d be keen to hear the feedback with your experience. Thank you for bringing those to my attention. Will try to test different underwear out and make a video about it once I got more input.

I am a C5/6 quadriplegic since November 2015. So about 8+ years. It was a car accident. Don’t remember the day at all but from the police report, know that I ended up hydroplaning, flipping over onto the oncoming lane. Also had one of my best friends in the car that unfortunately didn’t make it. I was also the one behind the wheel, so it’s been a little bit of a journey with getting accustomed to my new life with an SCI, as well as grieving the loss of my friend. for a long time felt responsible, thinking that I’ve killed, my friend. It took some times to come to terms that it was just an accident. It was raining heavily that night. They were 6 other accidents On the road that evening. Accepting and coping with my SCI was one thing, but losing my friend was a whole other ball game and probably tougher than actually dealing with the injury.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! 😊

I can feel my hands, but it’s also habit. My sensation is more acute towards my thumb rather rather than towards my pinky side. I can technically feel touch everywhere, some areas are just more acute than others. With my arms and hands I have more sensation on my radial side (the side that my thumb is on) then below my shoulders the acuteness of my sensation varies in certain areas. I would know if something is touching me. So if I hit something I know that I’ve hit it, but I technically wouldn’t know how much pressure you’re putting on or don’t feel any pain or temperature below the level of my shoulders. So let’s say I’m rolling around in my chair and I hit a wall or hit something with my toe. I would feel that I’ve hit something, but I wouldn’t know how hard I’ve hit it and whether it was painful or not. does that make sense?

@@QuadLife101 yes that makes sense. Thanks.

Thank you 🙌

Doing my best. It’s important… thank you 😊

Amazing! I’m running on only 8+ years but learned a lot in the process. And there’s so many advances in medicine these days that we can still live a great quality of life as quads. And who knows there’s also a lot of advances in research that might make strides to bring back motor function, better management with pain, bladder and bowel etc. That’s my optimistic way of looking at things anyways.😊 What are you doing for work? Curious to see what people are doing out there.

​@@QuadLife101you are so inspiring.. What's your age ?? Are you living alone at home ? Please ....reply

Thank you! I’ve just turned 40 and yes I am just me & my kitty, Jerry. I have home care that comes in 3 days a week to help me with my bowel routine, some cleaning around the house & some meal prepping. Use to have it every day, but learned to do a lot on my own now.

Everyone has it different way of dealing with their disability. Pain on its own can be very demanding physically & emotionally. I’m very fortunate that I’m not getting as much pain as other individuals in my situation. I just have bodyaches from muscle overuse and get autonomic dysreflexia symptoms (mostly due to my stubborn bladder), but no nerve pain which can be very debilitating for a lot of individuals with an SCI or other neurological conditions. Hope that you have certain ways of managing your pain as it’s not something that’s not easy to deal with. You should not feel like a wimp at all. Ha ha!

Thank you for your kind words 🩵🔥

I have my good and bad days. Probably as you know, the emotional journey can be quite tough. I mostly try to focus on the positives and the things that I can do versus the things I’m not able to do. I’m very fortunate that I survived my accident, so I gotta make the best out of the life that I have. That’s the way I look at things anyways. Do you have an SCI as well or what is your condition that you’re struggling with?

@@QuadLife101 thanks for your reply, I have arthritis in almost every joint, I have had new knees and I am on the waiting list for hip joints, my problem is pain, my medication helps in the short term but doesn't last all day, I can still walk with leg braces and thank god that I can still drive. Good luck 🌹

Can’t feel pain below my level of injury… Well, sort of! I don’t really feel the pain, but my body has all the ways of letting me know that something is painful like getting autonomic disreflexia (AD). I’ll probably make a video about it explaining what it is. I’m also very fortunate that I don’t experience nerve pain like a lot of other peers with an SCI do.

Thank you so much! I tend to be proactive to try and make my life the best that he can be. My spinal cord injury came from a motor vehicle accident in 2015. It took sometimes to get there, but live my life pretty much independently now. Thank you for your words of encouragement!

Many thanks

I think with those pants that I’m using about 2 years post injury. It’s hard to say, because you’re learning how to use your new body when you get injured. The key is to pick the right pair of pants. Something that’s loose in the legs and have an elastic band at the top. Things like sweatpants are great to first start trying with or the pair pants that I have in this video. They’re a smoother material making it easier to transfer because they slide better and dont ride down when you transfer. I also would try it for a while every day. At first needed some help for the upper part to go around my bum and up to my hips and then eventually was able to do it by myself, but it took some time. Practice and a lot of frustration will make it perfect ha ha! Then moved from having looser pants to leggings and jeans, but it’s been a journey. Best of luck! Let me know if I can help in any other way or if there’s something that you’re struggling with I can maybe make a video about it.

Thank you that’s how I used to do it. But I’ve become better with practising over the years that now I just do it on the covers. Thank you for your tips!

It’s the ADI smaller board 21” x 8”. You can also pick the orientation of the hand holes whether you want them vertical or horizontal. Hope this helps! My apologies for the tardy response as well.

Kind of… I can feel touch but I wouldn’t be able to feel how much pressure you putting on. So if I am hitting a wall, I will feel that I’e hit something, but I wouldn’t know how hard I’ve hit it. My touch sensation is also different in different areas of the body. Some areas are more sensitive than others. But I don’t feel pain or temperature below my shoulders or so. Hope that makes sense?

I appreciate that, but that defeats the purpose. I could have my caretakers help me out as well, which is what I was doing at the beginning. But I kind of like to do things myself so I don’t require all the help. My goal since the beginning has been to be as independent as I can be. So learn how to do things myself along the way.

I appreciate that, but that defeats the purpose. I could have my caretakers help me out as well, which is what I was doing at the beginning. But I kind of like to do things myself so I don’t require all the help. My goal since the beginning has been to be as independent as I can be. So learn how to do a lot of things myself along the way. But thank you for the offer.

@@QuadLife101 Okay, if you need anything, talk to me. I am happy to know whether you are married or not❤️

Thank you I can usually hold my own pretty well. No I’m not married and it’s also not really part of my journey. I don’t really care about that type of stuff. You can have a life partner without getting married. I guess it depends where you live, but here in Canada, there’s no real financial advantage to getting married. It’s just a piece of paper at the end of the day.

Through my wheelchair vendor. They’re called “anti-reverse wheel locks” and I think they only work with certain brakes. It comes together as a unit. Hope this makes sense.

@@QuadLife101 it does, thank you

They can also be called “Anti-Rollback Wheel lock” looks like Newton makes a set of them. That wasn’t there when I got my chair. www.motioncomposites.com/en_ca/community/blog/tips-and-tricks/wheel-locks-unlocking-safety-and-function

I’m not sure what you mean? Like absorbancy underwear? Or are you talking about wearing adult support every night before going to bed? Apologies not picking up what you’re throwing down?

Amazing thank you for the support!🩵

Yep, doing good thank you for asking! Just been busy with school and work. It’s not giving me as much time to be producing videos, but I would like to get back into it more regularly.

@@QuadLife101 Hope to see you more often you made awesome videos and it’s happy to see you every time ❤

The plan is to eventually do a yoga video, but still need more practice as I’m just following somebody’s yoga sessions and modify certain things to make it work for me with my limitations. I do have a lower body stretching video if you want to check that one out. Usually do this at least 3x/week to maintain ROM and prevent contracture from happening. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH_QdoWricebjac

Thank you!

@@QuadLife101 Perhaps quadriplegic foot care is a topic you can try❤️

Thank you! I’ve worked quite hard to maintain mobility in my joints through yoga, stretching, and range of motion exercise on a weekly basis. I’m also very fortunate that I don’t have too many spasms or increased tone that throws my body out of wack that a lot of individuals with SCI struggle with.