I'd call or e-mail one of the information specialists in the foundation. They've helped me a lot. But I've never asked your question. I don't know if it's allowed to recommend one place in particular but they'd likely help you re: what your next step should be.

I'm not sure what your goal is. Is it to be able to walk with a cane or even better? Find someone to build you a set of parallel bars. I'm a T-4 complete & was never likely to walk, but having my braces and a set of parallel bars I was able to strengthen my upper body, and bones using the parrallel bars as much as I could. I also joined a gym working out by getting on every machine I could. From 1983 less than a year after my crash I raced wheelchairs and handcycled until 2006 when I fractured both femurs in seperate incedents. I'm no longer able to straighten my legs. The Dr. didn't spend much time with my left femur saying it didn't make much sense as I wasn't using them anyway. I didn't think much of it until time went by and now I don't sit right which is due to one leg shorter than the other by almost 2". A local welder could build you a set of Parallel bars even 12ft long would allow you a means to work with you cane on your own. My mother worked at the State Prison and mine were built in the prison shop and only the height was slightly adjustable. I never needed them adjusted. They weren't "OSHA" or FDA approved, but for a couple hundred dollars worked great for several years. Keeping excess weight off is also crucial to being able to use what muscles you have left more effciently. If you have desire, you'll get more done with out PT. PT provides some security, but also dependence. Independence is something we all seek. Find it on your own. PEACE

Hi, thank you for your response. I'm new here so I don't know what foundation you are referring to.  Do you mean of this website?  I hope to hear from you.

Unfortunately getting parallel bars built won't be possible since I live in a building, but thanks for the suggestion.

Yes - the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation - this website. Their information specialists are great. I'll be back with the phone number.

Saralee

This is information specialist Donna Lowich. She's wonderful and I've spoken with her many times. Her e-mail is DLOWICH@christopherreeve.org  Let me know if you don't for some  reason reach her.

Saralee

I lived in an apartment too. The bars were 2" steel round tubing welded to a
piece of 1" square tubing which slid into 1.25" sq tubing welding onto a
piece of flat 1/4" steel plate with cross members. It simply bolted together
and worked great.

What if you had a simple hand rail like used on stairways mounted to one
wall? All you need to do is patch with spackle and paint when you leave.

I really liked your suggestion about parallel bars and I started to do a little google search and there are such things as foldable parallel bars.  They have one that is wall mountable and another that can be folded .  They both seem like great ideas but I would just have to find space where I can put it when not in use.  In case you want to see what I'm talking about the website is rehabmart.com.  Thanks for your suggestion.  I started to read your blog and your quite inspirational in the way you've lead your life after your accident.  I wish I had as much courage as you to live and not let your disablity stop you from enjoying life. 

You have gotten some really great ideas and suggestions here. I will add that you can also try participating in clinical trials. New ones are always coming up and they recruit people through websites such as clinical trials.gov. I can send that info to you. I also think you might wnat to look into the NeuroRecovery Network program. If you go back out to the homepage, in the left column, you'll see the link to the program and its eligibility requirements as well as the list of facilities where it is currently being held.

Thank you, Saralee, for the veyr nice intro!!

Donna

I am c5/c6 & walk pretty well but mostly got there by myself.  Two things helped the most.  I lived in San Diego and so could use the parallel bars on my back patio all year.  But even if you can use them only part of the year, they will help a lot.  They were designed for my height, 20 feet long and made of plumbing pipe and fittings and screwed into my cement patio.  Not very expensive.  You can walk with one cane/no canes etc and the bars will help keep you from falling. You can have someone walk behind with a wheelchairif necessary (esp at the beginning). 

The other thing that helped me the most was walking in te water, about waist deep. Most public pool or Y's have some lane time scheduled for fitness activities which includes walking.  I got stronger and better balanced in the water. Now I swim about 2/3 a mile/pool session.  But in the beginning, walking in the water helped get  me on my feet.

Hi, I actually went to the clinical trials website you mentioned and saw nothing that would apply to me, but thanks for the suggestion.  As to the NeuroRecovery Network  I see that all of the facilities are in other states.  The closest to me is the Kessler location in NJ but when I called to ask about their program they only offer an outpatient clinical trial, which I wouldn't be able to travel to NJ for 5 days a week.  I asked if they have an inpatient program he said that they didn't.  this is why I would love to find a facility here in NY.  Although I have gotten a few suggestions I'm yet to be told of any physical therapy facility.

I haven't contacted her directly but I did send a message through the information specialist section of this website.  I haven't received a response yet but I'm hoping that they will help.

I thought I would send you some different options. The NRN program is an outpatient program so I thought I'd send it in case you'd be interested.

The clinical trials listings change all the time so even if there is nothing right now, that could change so I'd keep checking that.


I can't make a recommendation for a specific rehab but Mt. Sinai in NYC and Helen Hayes Hospital in haverstraw are two rehabs you might want to contact.

I hope this is helpful.

Sincerely,
Donna
 

Hey i went from a walker to two forearm crutches to one forearm crutch to a cane. You may want to try that progression in PT or on your own. Even one forearm crutch is a big step forward.............Best to you. Hang tough!

Since Mount Sinai is closer to me so I will be contacting someone there.  Thank you for your suggestions!

hello, i've applied to KESSLER INSTITUTE. heard great things about it. it's in new jersey. there's BURKE INSTITUTE in white plains. HELEN HAYES in haverstraw,ny, orange county. but KESSLER is worth checking out. it's where christopher reeves was at. they have a wonderful 2 month in-patient intense physical therapy and stim/locomotion therapy. good luck!.