Comments on: Peter on Legbrace Wearing http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm Talking about Body Integrity Identity Disorder - Just another disability! Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-16034 Chloe Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:47:01 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-16034 Yesterday my partner and I got dressed in our finery and went out for the evening (dinner and opera). I was wearing KAFOs. On the way back to the parking garage we noticed a short cut through an alleyway with a large flight of stairs going up. We looked at each other. I said "Yeah, I'm gonna go for it" (meaning with both knees locked). I had done stairs with a similar rise before, but not with a run that short; so the slope was quite substantial. With the run that short, I was not able to go up directly sideways. However, by putting the right leg forward at the same time as going up a step (I was facing left), I was able to manage it. It meant putting a LOT of weight on the left crutch in order to bring the left leg up. So, I went up diagonally. The passage width was great enough to do it all facing left. Otherwise one could turn around and zig zag. It pleases me to be gradually making progress with these techniques! Yesterday my partner and I got dressed in our finery and went out for the evening (dinner and opera). I was wearing KAFOs.

On the way back to the parking garage we noticed a short cut through an alleyway with a large flight of stairs going up. We looked at each other. I said “Yeah, I’m gonna go for it” (meaning with both knees locked).

I had done stairs with a similar rise before, but not with a run that short; so the slope was quite substantial. With the run that short, I was not able to go up directly sideways. However, by putting the right leg forward at the same time as going up a step (I was facing left), I was able to manage it. It meant putting a LOT of weight on the left crutch in order to bring the left leg up.

So, I went up diagonally. The passage width was great enough to do it all facing left. Otherwise one could turn around and zig zag.

It pleases me to be gradually making progress with these techniques!

]]> By: Bracy http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-16001 Bracy Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:25:44 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-16001 I wear two KAFOs. They are pretty unique; they have very few of the details seemingly sought by most "devotees." They keep my legs totally straight. I don't need paralysis or anything like that; I just need a reason for wearing them that people will believe. I like the way they feel & look; as long as they're tight & shiny, that's all I need. I go down stairs sideways (didn't think about that, huh?). My favorite experience while wearing them is the time one of the hottest young ladies I know (AB) stared at them unabashedly and asked me all kinds of questions about them. I love to hang out with her now; she always stares so hard. I wear two KAFOs. They are pretty unique; they have very few of the details seemingly sought by most “devotees.” They keep my legs totally straight.
I don’t need paralysis or anything like that; I just need a reason for wearing them that people will believe. I like the way they feel & look; as long as they’re tight & shiny, that’s all I need.
I go down stairs sideways (didn’t think about that, huh?).
My favorite experience while wearing them is the time one of the hottest young ladies I know (AB) stared at them unabashedly and asked me all kinds of questions about them. I love to hang out with her now; she always stares so hard.

]]> By: Brice http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15998 Brice Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:12:53 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-15998 My thing is and always has been right kafo for a totally paralyzed right leg, and left afo for unstable left foot, sequelae of polio. When amputation fantasies come into it, it's high rak (but not hd). All quite definite in my mind, and always has been as far back as I can recall. My thing is and always has been right kafo for a totally paralyzed right leg, and left afo for unstable left foot, sequelae of polio. When amputation fantasies come into it, it’s high rak (but not hd). All quite definite in my mind, and always has been as far back as I can recall.

]]> By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15993 Chloe Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:11:07 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-15993 Thank you Peter. I hadn't actually thought of using a left KAFO and a right AFO. It seems like that might be quite a good fit for me. I'll have to give that some more thought. I have a friend, paralysed from the waist down, who can manage stairs with KAFOs. I figure if she can do it then I should be able to do it. Yeah, going down stairs can be scary. I might fall down stairs, break my back, and become paraplegic. Whoops! Thank you Peter. I hadn’t actually thought of using a left KAFO and a right AFO. It seems like that might be quite a good fit for me. I’ll have to give that some more thought.

I have a friend, paralysed from the waist down, who can manage stairs with KAFOs. I figure if she can do it then I should be able to do it.

Yeah, going down stairs can be scary. I might fall down stairs, break my back, and become paraplegic. Whoops!

]]> By: Peter http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15992 Peter Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:58:28 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-15992 Chloe, I use a KAFO on the left and an AFO on the right, so stairs are not a problem. I understand how sometimes you feel a greater need for paralysis in one of your legs. Paraplegia is not a brain issue but BIID is and therefore, like all things in the brain, it can be "stereo" but often has the balance to one side or even in mono. Thus it seems unlikely that anyone would require something to go wrong with the left arm and the right leg or vice-versa. As for the stairs.. question of practice. I assume you require quite a low SCI so as to keep control of your hips. If so, you'll soon learn how to left both legs. I have seen many polio victimes do this. Going down is quite dangerous at first! Peter Chloe,
I use a KAFO on the left and an AFO on the right, so stairs are not a problem. I understand how sometimes you feel a greater need for paralysis in one of your legs. Paraplegia is not a brain issue but BIID is and therefore, like all things in the brain, it can be “stereo” but often has the balance to one side or even in mono. Thus it seems unlikely that anyone would require something to go wrong with the left arm and the right leg or vice-versa.

As for the stairs.. question of practice. I assume you require quite a low SCI so as to keep control of your hips. If so, you’ll soon learn how to left both legs. I have seen many polio victimes do this. Going down is quite dangerous at first!

Peter

]]> By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/peters-thoughts/peter-on-legbrace-wearing.htm/comment-page-1#comment-15991 Chloe Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:53:45 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=876#comment-15991 This was interesting, Peter. I have some questions, if you don't mind. If I am understanding correctly, you need only one leg to be paralysed but you wear braces on both legs? Do the two legs "feel" any different from each other when you are wearing braces? After you get your leg paralysed, will you continue to wear braces on both legs? The issue is relevant for me because, although I need both legs paralysed, somehow the need feels greater for my left leg. The difference comes up when I do stairs. Whenever I am going out and am likely to confront stairs (dinner or parties at friends' houses, certain restaurants, etc) I choose leg braces instead of the wheelchair. I have gradually improved my technique of managing stairs while keeping both knees locked. However, some stairs seem too difficult for that, and I unlock the right knee to put the right foot on the next step and use the crutches to bring the left leg up so as to avoid the the right leg being weight bearing (I hope I'm explaining that clearly). It feels completely wrong ever to unlock the left knee in such a circumstance. I'd be happy if anyone has any tips for managing stairs! Another question: Do you use two crutches? If so, all the time? After you get your LBE amputation, will you be able to get an adaptive crutch for that? This was interesting, Peter. I have some questions, if you don’t mind.

If I am understanding correctly, you need only one leg to be paralysed but you wear braces on both legs? Do the two legs “feel” any different from each other when you are wearing braces? After you get your leg paralysed, will you continue to wear braces on both legs?

The issue is relevant for me because, although I need both legs paralysed, somehow the need feels greater for my left leg. The difference comes up when I do stairs. Whenever I am going out and am likely to confront stairs (dinner or parties at friends’ houses, certain restaurants, etc) I choose leg braces instead of the wheelchair. I have gradually improved my technique of managing stairs while keeping both knees locked. However, some stairs seem too difficult for that, and I unlock the right knee to put the right foot on the next step and use the crutches to bring the left leg up so as to avoid the the right leg being weight bearing (I hope I’m explaining that clearly). It feels completely wrong ever to unlock the left knee in such a circumstance. I’d be happy if anyone has any tips for managing stairs!

Another question: Do you use two crutches? If so, all the time? After you get your LBE amputation, will you be able to get an adaptive crutch for that?

]]>