My husband cannot sit in wheelchair for long rear end hurts
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
August 25, 2009 7:55pm CST
We are waiting for a diagnosis of what my husband has. All I know is that it might be als and it is not a stroke. It also might be muscular dystrophy, but then he is not young so we suspect it is als or a variety of. Now lately, I have been using the Hoyer (that is a machine that lifts a person from one place and puts him in another and it includes a sling made up of very strong material, etc. It is a bit complicated to describe it so here is a link that shows you what they are used for. http://www.planetmobility.com/store/paitentlifts/index.html
I have been quite skilled at getting him off of the liftchair and into the motorized wheelchair and from there onto the comomde. Average time on each chair about a couple of hours. I feel like we are playing musical chairs.
Now we are attending my younger son's wedding and he does not think he can stay that long because well I cannot take the Hoyer with me and he will be sitting for sometime.
And he says his rear end hurts. The motorized wheelchair has a firm cushion of part Miracle Foam and when it was given to us, they thought he had a stroke.
So I was wonderong whether it is one of the signs of als that one cannot sit for long, that one has lost the fat pat off the rear end or the muscles and therefore one is now sore? So if there is anyone can tell me what is going on?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I would honestly say that he is just uncomfortable. We usually do not sit that long and when you have to it can be uncomfortable. My son cannot just stay in his chair either. I would also watch and see if you see and red spots that could be pressure points. It may be that the way he is sitting is bothering one spot. Do you have a manual hoyer? If so, is there a ring at the bottom of the main post, that you can take it apart so that it would fit in the back of a car. I know it is bulky, but our hoyer does come apart so that it can go. It separates at the bottom where it hooks to the legs.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
I don't think our Hoyer comes apart. It is the one with the electric raiser up on it. We did put an extra cushion inside the cushion part of my husband;s wheelchair so we will see if that works. He says he is a bit more comfortable, but you never know.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
I think you have als confused with alzteizmers. Als is Lou Gehrig's disease and their brain function works pretty well. They remember everything. I am going to take along a cushion and the belt and see if there is someone there to help him.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
A lot of people do. They think once you get old, you lose your memory and become senile. They forget about Lou Gehrig's or Als and yet not only did Lou Gehrig have it, but David Niven, so it is a disease that famous people get and because of that they should at least try to find a cure, but right now once you get it, you will die in about three years or five or ten if you are lucky.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
26 Aug 09
From what you described, it may be a sign similar to bed sores because he only complains about it when he is sitting on the chair for long periods off time. One recommendation I can make is just to move him a little to the side so that the heat from sitting down will dissipate a little. You can also ask your doctor what you can do about this situation.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
He also slips down because the cushion is too smooth. I wish that there was an upholstery stitched on it, but they want something that is easy to wash and does not have to be dry cleaned, although I think there are washable fabrics that are not as slippery. We were able to attend the wedding and part of the reception. But we had to leave by ten (else we would turn into a -- 
) no really, the Handitransit only goes to ten on Saturdays.
) no really, the Handitransit only goes to ten on Saturdays.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Sep 09
I'm sorry to hear that. I sit alot of hours seven days a week, working on the computer. My rearend gets to hurting sometimes too because of it. I have to get up and walk around. I know your husband cannot do that but maybe he needs a thicker cushion to sit on or maybe lay down for a while if possible.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
Right now he lays down for a while, but it will soon be that will be all he does. They say the disease is like that. Eventually he will become bed ridden.
@drdivu (1011)
• India
26 Aug 09
hmmm..i m sorry to hear all that..here are few sugestions if u can try them out...
1. u can use a cushion for him..that eases the person for sometime..
2. try WATER CUSHION OR WATER BED..!! they are available near hospitals and can be used for long..just need to change the water in them after few days..!! they also provide COOLING EFFECT..!!
3. try distracting ur husband by keeping him busy, making him think over something or write anything..it eases the trouble..
4. motorised wheel chair is also a good option as u have mentioned..
lastly, sine u are attneding marriage function try giving him some work, watching over the servants,also if then guests are eating properly or anything that would distract him for sometime..
wiishing him best wishes my side..!!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
We talked about a water cushion, water bed, or air bed, but for some reason, they do not seem to work. It is because he has no muscles left in his rear end. We were able to attend the wedding but had to leave the reception early and he did not feel good for the next couple of days. What he finds that helps is to have a blanket under him when he sleeps, but the power wheel chair and his regular chair have smooth fabric and that does not help.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Have you tried a "donut"? It's an inflatable or foam cushion with an open center and might take some of the pressure off his bottom. There are also cushions that are filled with water, used for patients who sit in a chair for hours. Both those things helped my mom a lot when she was confined to a chair for a few weeks.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
You know that sounds like the thing that would help. I will have to talk to Home Care the next time. Also he wants a cushion that does not slip off the power chair or his rise up chair.
@GardenGerty (160708)
• United States
26 Aug 09
It does go with ALS that the muscles degenerate. Are there any cushions you can get that will work to put under him in the wheel chair. Perhaps for the day you could hire an attendant that would be able to help you help him stand by use of a gait belt and pivot to another seat? It is safer and better for both of you to use the Hoyer, I know. So how are you getting to the wedding anyway? It is hard to decide what to do. Maybe some respite care in your home while you go to the wedding?
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Aug 09
We both have to go to the wedding as it is our younger son who is getting married. I was thinking of taking along an extra throw cushion but it is not the same size as the wheelchair. I do have a gait belt, and we might get someone to help move him to another seat. We are going by handi=transit.
Of course, the other problem is when he wants to go to the bathroom. I am not exactly comfortable taking the urinal with me and going into the men's with him and I am sure that he would be uncomfortable going into the ladies.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Aug 09
suspoenseful hi my your husband is having a lot more'trouble'
I know a lot of people here in the retirement center are in'wheelchairs for as many reasons as there are people.
Could you get some really soft comfy pillows for his chair'so he doesnt get a sore rear.also he should be moved every few'hours and it sounds to me like you do need some help,it must be very'hard to nurse your hubby 24 7. It could be any of several diseases but I'would ask my doctor as we arent really doctors.could you get some strong
willing person to baby sit him while you go to your sons wedding ?you''
dont want to miss it.Would your insurance pay for a nurse for'one day perhaps wish I was near and that I had my left arm back in comission or I would try to help you.do get some kind of help.you dont want to
miss your youngest sons wedding.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Sep 09
We were able to go to the wedding but could not stay for the whole reception, that is, we missed the dance. I did not want to go myself, because my son is also his son. I was not married to someone else when I adopted our sons. I was married to my husband. I wanted him to go to the wedding because well who knows how long my husband will live? The place was power wheelchair friendly and he made sure not to drink any coffee. We have home care and respite care. I will try to get more help, but we have to think about that. We still think it is ALS, as that is the only disease that fits.
