Weight shift/tilting problem

BigDave · 07-27-2008, 03:22 PM

For 20 of my 21 years as a quadriplegic, doing a weight shift every 2 hours for 15 minutes has been sufficient. This year, though, if I don't tilt every hour, I notice a red spot on my bottom when I get into bed at night. My cushion is good. My weight is steady. My diet is the same, healthy diet. This is very frustrating and "life interfering". What should I do?

mingo · 07-27-2008, 06:34 PM

Past performance in this case is no predictor of of future or persent performance.

You get older. As much as a weight shift may be an inconvience, it is necessary. I dare say most of us have had better skin years ago. You have to take care of your skin. It does not like hearing about what it used to act like.

Just do it.

rybread · 07-27-2008, 07:27 PM

Your body must have changed a lot over the past 20 years. You probably need to be pressure mapped on different seat cushions to see which one is best for you since so much has changed. that would be my advice.

Uncle Peter · 07-27-2008, 08:16 PM

Dave, you should shift every 15 to 30 minutes.

More frequent shifts are a lot less life-interfering that Stage 4 pressure ulcers, months of bed rest, infection from sores or skin-flap and related surgeries.
Now, it's 8:15 and time for a pressure relief lift on my armrests.

SCI-Nurse · 07-28-2008, 01:29 AM

As you get older, sloppy habits around skin care tend to catch up with you. Your skin is not as resilent as it once was. The collegen fibers get stiffer, and less flexible and thicker. Your skin does not heal as well. If you also have diabetes or peripheral vascular microvessel disease, this will get less oxygen to your skin.

Time now to change those habits. Do weight shifts more often (at least every 30 minutes; every 15 is what is recommended). Get pressure mapped (your cushion may no longer be the right one for you) and a complete seating evaluation. Turn more often in bed, and consider a different sleep surface that is more pressure reducing. If you have not been screened for diabetes, do so.

(KLD)

BigDave · 07-28-2008, 01:23 PM

Thank you for the advice. If I tilt every 15 to 30 minutes, how long should I tilt for?

Antonio · 07-29-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDave

Thank you for the advice. If I tilt every 15 to 30 minutes, how long should I tilt for?

Recent research suggests 3' are enough to restore blood supply. Be sure to tilt enough to fully unload your ischials (45° or more).

Antonio

07-27-2008, 03:22 PM	#1
BigDave Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 52	Weight shift/tilting problem For 20 of my 21 years as a quadriplegic, doing a weight shift every 2 hours for 15 minutes has been sufficient. This year, though, if I don't tilt every hour, I notice a red spot on my bottom when I get into bed at night. My cushion is good. My weight is steady. My diet is the same, healthy diet. This is very frustrating and "life interfering". What should I do?

07-27-2008, 07:27 PM	#3
rybread Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 2,409	Your body must have changed a lot over the past 20 years. You probably need to be pressure mapped on different seat cushions to see which one is best for you since so much has changed. that would be my advice. __________________ C-5/6, 7-9-2000 Scottsdale, AZ Make the best out of today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Nobody knows that better than those of us that have almost died from spinal cord injury.

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07-27-2008, 06:34 PM	#2
mingo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 519	Past performance in this case is no predictor of of future or persent performance. You get older. As much as a weight shift may be an inconvience, it is necessary. I dare say most of us have had better skin years ago. You have to take care of your skin. It does not like hearing about what it used to act like. Just do it.

07-27-2008, 08:16 PM	#4
Uncle Peter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,103	Dave, you should shift every 15 to 30 minutes. More frequent shifts are a lot less life-interfering that Stage 4 pressure ulcers, months of bed rest, infection from sores or skin-flap and related surgeries. Now, it's 8:15 and time for a pressure relief lift on my armrests.

07-28-2008, 01:29 AM	#5
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,326	As you get older, sloppy habits around skin care tend to catch up with you. Your skin is not as resilent as it once was. The collegen fibers get stiffer, and less flexible and thicker. Your skin does not heal as well. If you also have diabetes or peripheral vascular microvessel disease, this will get less oxygen to your skin. Time now to change those habits. Do weight shifts more often (at least every 30 minutes; every 15 is what is recommended). Get pressure mapped (your cushion may no longer be the right one for you) and a complete seating evaluation. Turn more often in bed, and consider a different sleep surface that is more pressure reducing. If you have not been screened for diabetes, do so. (KLD)

07-28-2008, 01:23 PM	#6
BigDave Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 52	Thank you for the advice. If I tilt every 15 to 30 minutes, how long should I tilt for?