Advice For New Wheelchair Users

It is not easy to adjust to life in a wheelchair, especially if you are going to be in a wheelchair for the long term. Whether this is from an accident, injury, or health-related issue, many people struggle to adapt, and this is understandable. There are obvious physical challenges to adapting to life in a wheelchair, but you will also find that it can take its toll on your mental well-being. With this in mind, there are a few tips for adjusting to life in a wheelchair that will hopefully help anyone who recently requires the use of a wheelchair for any particular reason. 

Look Into Stem Cell Treatments

First, it is always worthwhile exploring your treatment options. These days, stem cell treatments can help people with spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries alleviate their symptoms and, in some cases, even walk again without the use of a wheelchair. Stem cell treatments can be available for traumatic spinal cord injuries, paraplegic patients, quadriplegic patients, and both complete and incomplete SCI. Where recovery was previously thought impossible, stem cell treatment can help many people to lead a more active lifestyle. Therefore, this is an option always worth exploring if you require the use of a wheelchair.

Practice

It can feel very strange in a wheelchair at first, but like anything in life, practice makes perfect. Therefore, you should practice your wheelchair skills as much as possible, especially techniques like turning and reversing. Practicing will develop your skills as well as your confidence and help you to feel more comfortable in the chair.

Plan Trips Ahead

Any kind of trip out can create challenges when you require the use of a wheelchair, which is why it is important to plan ahead. You need to consider how you will get to your destination, make sure that the venue is wheelchair-friendly, and consider how you will get home. Having a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) can make a big difference to your life as it will make trips out a lot easier to plan and reduce stress.

Ask For Help

It is not easy, but it is important that you are able to ask for help when you need it. It is not always easy getting around in a wheelchair, especially at first, so there may be times when you need assistance. Friends, family, and even strangers should be more than willing to help, but you need to be comfortable asking. 

Get Emotional Support

As mentioned in the intro, adjusting to life in a wheelchair can also take its toll on your mental well-being, especially if it is for the long term. Therefore, it is important that you seek support. This can involve talking to friends and family, but you will also find a therapist or counselor helpful for learning to cope. Additionally, support groups can be helpful for support and getting advice from other wheelchair users.

It will never be easy getting used to being in a wheelchair, but hopefully, these tips will help and allow you to start feeling comfortable and confident in the chair. 

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