Re: Joystick Stories

[Guest guest]

In high school when I was getting my senior picture taken, the photographer put

these things on me so my tray wouldn't reflect light at me. She put this thing

right on my joystick and spun me in a circle and I hit one of the lights and

knocked it over. Luckily, someone caught it before it hit the ground. I'm sure

it looked pretty funny for anyone who was watching.

[Guest guest]

hmmm...? let me see which story is funnier.... Once I was crusin' high

speed across a gravel road and I lost my balance and fell forward onto my

joystick causing me to whip circle's in the middle of the road. Thank God

my cousin looked out the window after 5 minutes passed and saved me. I

was dizzy for dayz...

OR

I was always told to keep a plastic bag for my joystick to cover it when

it rained well, I wanted to play with everyone else & it was raining and

stupid me put a sandwich baggie turned it on & flew into the kitchen

cabinets breaking some toes...Ouch!!

jmmo'

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for sharing stories about your joysticks, I guess I never

realized the curiousity to reach out and touch it- truly is not a kid thing. I

know even if I would have ever wondered what it felt like to move one - I would

never have actually acted on it- I guess some people just don't think huh?

Thanks again for everyones responses on the initial post and the joystick. I am

very glad to be a part of such a wondeful group!

Kristal

Mom to Brett- SMA II- 4 years old

" Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it. " ~anonymous

Visit Brett's website at: http://www.our-sma-angels.com/brett/index.htm

RE: Need advice

I had my fusion done almost 30 years ago (Yikes!). They fused my

spine from T10-L4. Several years ago I developed a herniated

cervical disk at the C3/4 level. The spine specialist I was seeing

told me it was caused by added pressure being put on my upper back,

because my fusion was so low. Being large busted also contributed to

the problem, pulling my neck and shoulders forward over the years.

So I definitely get recurring neck strains, no doubt.

I also get lower back strains when I get lifted too often. Most of

the time, I'm able to do my own transfers, but if my husband and I

are away from home, I need his help to transfer to bed and toilets.

We transfer using something of a pivot transfer. He stands in front

of me, gets both hand under my armpits, and pivots me from my chair,

to whatever surface I need to go to. After a few days of this, my

lower back starts to really kill me...and the pain can last a long

time after we finish doing those transfers...like weeks.

--- jondus@... wrote:

>Question for others already with fused spines: Do you have

>recurring back strains since your fusion? Jordan seems to hurt his

>back regularly from leaning to far forward, turning the wrong, or

>from being " folded " when he's lifted.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/7/2004 4:01:15 AM Pacific Standard Time,

Brettsmom@... writes:

I guess I never realized the curiousity to reach out and touch it- truly is

not a kid thing. I know even if I would have ever wondered what it felt like

to move one - I would never have actually acted on it- I guess some people

just don't think huh?

I've never understood people's need to touch the wheelchair. People grab the

joystick, use the bottom as a footrest, jump on the back, or use the

handlebar thingies as an arm rest. I don't really mind when friends do it but

it's

uncomfortable when it's a stranger. I doubt these same people would with be

okay with total strangers grabbing different parts of their body or using their

bodies as an ottoman.