X-Message-Number: 18439 Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 22:31:18 +0000 From: Kennita Watson <> Subject: Re: James' leg troubles References: <> > From: James Bryan Swayze <> > > A catalog I get contains "anti embolism stockings"... > > Thanks Kennita for your thoughtfulness an time spent. Unfortunately I haven't been > able to wear these kinds of stockings, at least the type I used to, in many years. > Perhaps I should, and I will, see if they've been improved. However, the problem is > that my blood and also lymph circulatory condition in my lower limbs is so poor that > my skin suffers the least insult way too easily and then takes a long time to heal. > The problem with these kinds of stockings is that they exert a constant pressure to > squeeze the leg. My problem with them is the constant pressure ends up causing a > pressure area dicubitis sore wherever there is a prominence. I don't suppose one of those battery-operated blood pressure cuffs would help? It wouldn't be constant at all, but it might help, like massage. > > Well rocking back and forth is not really possible for me... My > legs are frozen in place and my knees cannot come together or apart, absolutely > solidly frozen in place. You may recall the surgery I had two years ago to remove a > piece of this abnormal bone that had bridged my femur and fibia and tibia across my > right knee making articulation of that knee impossible.... No I don't recall. I'm amazed that you manage to function at all. I think I'd be incensed to the point of "Saw the gawdamm joints apart and cap 'em off with Teflon or something! Whatever! Do SOMETHING!" I don't deal well with pain, and am in awe of those who deal with it day in and day out. > ... > tilting and reclining actions are meant to lift my legs and shift my weight from my > legs and bottom to my back but it still doesn't quite get my legs high enough to be > level with my heart. Can the knees go straight now (with support)? Maybe if they were straight when you rocked back, the feet would go high enough? Then again, the chair would probably tip over, so that may not be such a good idea... > There also is the social issue of people wondering what may be > wrong when they see some guy reclined flat out in a wheelchair in public and I do > get questioned so I tend not to just do it any old where. How about a sign on the bottom or sides of the chair that reads "I'm fine. I just need to have my feet up. Thanks for caring."? > > > And a blanket, > > especially an electric one, could help keep your blood warm, or > > help you get over chills in bed. > > I have an idea from yours here. Maybe electric socks. Hmmm, but I can't feel so if > there's any chance of them getting too hot I could have worse problems. I bet the descriptions in the catalogs will tell you. Your doctor may also have an idea. I've seen hot/cold packs at the drugstore that you can heat in the microwave; they cool after a while, but you can test them with your hand and they may last long enough that you can get to sleep. > > ... As you can see I have many issues to consider. No fooling! > I wish it all were simpler. Thanks > again though for trying and I will look anyway and see > if changes have been made to the available stockings. I wonder what would happen if you put on a silky stocking (to protect your skin), wound one of those extra-long, extra-skinny balloons that people make balloon animals out of around your leg once or twice, put another stocking over that (so you had a balloon sandwich), then blew up the balloon (with a bicycle pump?). In theory the balloon might expand and compress your leg by an amount proportional to how much air you put in it. I suppose a bicycle inner tube might work, too -- you could wind it around more times (in a spiral), but it sounds rougher on your skin and you'd have to be careful not to wind it too tight or blow it up too much so you didn't completely cut off circulation to the leg. I can't help thinking of this stuff; I hope it gives you ideas that might help. Cherry Garcia is also good in a pinch :-) . > While I'm thanking, Kennita, thanks again also for your > contribution to my fund. You're quite welcome! Good luck with the botox! -- May you live long and prosper, Kennita -- Kennita Watson | Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; | None but ourselves can free our minds. http://www.kennita.com | -- Bob Marley, "Redemption Song" Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18439