Sitting all day definitely has it’s drawbacks (though no doubt is certainly someone’s lifetime dream!) And sitting in a wheelchair whose armrests are just slightly too high can double your dilemma. Since I have been ordered to not put any weight on my left foot (called NWB: non-weight-bearing) while I await my reconstructive surgery to my Charcot foot, I have opted to use a “transport” wheelchair for my main sit-down, because it allows me to zip all around town (ok, ok…the house). I use the chair, and a walker to get about…but I haven’t been able to figure out just which one of the two is causing my shoulders to hurt so badly that I get crappy sleep at night. And reaching up for something in the refrigerator? Get out! Super-painful. I really think it’s because of those too-high arm rests on the chair, it causes me to hunch up my shoulders all day. I have to tell myself “drop-‘em!” all day long in my half baked efforts to counter the situation. I suppose it could be all the work I’m making my arms do when I use the walker…but one thing the walker is for sure guilty of is my cracked, callused palms! I mean, like, ACK! Check out the photo (sorry for the “ICK” factor!)
I have been applying this horsey-hoof gunk my mom swears will cure up my skin, but it A. stinks, and B. is greasier than Saturday morning at the diner! I can’t do anything for like, 30 minutes, or I will get the greasy gunk all over everything! I have been trying to do some daily arm and shoulder stretches to ease the pains, but it hasn’t really worked. Anyone out there have any suggestions? In the meantime, I guess I will just paint my nails some god-awful wackiness to just bring a smile!
Cassandra, Charcotchacha copyright 2015