Tips on getting around with one arm.

[GMcG]

Here are some things of benefit since I only have one arm to use:

automatic transmission car (obviously...)

three in one jar and can opener, black and decker

umbrella that is auto open AND auto close, made by totes

dustpan, Step on It! made by Mr. Clean

broom that has retractable handle to shorten length or a children's broom (it's easier to handle with one arm)

jewelry: necklaces that close with a toggle clasp, pierced earrings that have a hook,
elastic bracelets

button holer and zipper pull (zipper pull works best for boots, not jackets)

dycem grip, prevents things from sliding when you need them to stay still (there is a type of contact paper used for lining kitchen cabinets and drawers that is much cheaper and works, just not as well if you are on a tight budget)

electric stapler

electric pencil sharpener

clipboards hold papers still so that you can write on them without slipping (put dycem on the back for extra grip)

retractable pens, so that you have no caps to remove and replace

post-it notes (just take the sheet off of the pad and stick it before writing, and they make them in all sizes, even full-sized note paper.)

elastic shoelaces -- tie them (or have someone help you)once and leave them tied, they stretch to put on your shoes.

sweatshirts that are 3/4 zip rather that fully zippered

hair-dryer mount or stand

shampoo and conditioner dispenser or pump dispensers

rocker knife and/or pizza cutter to cut food

lightweight, small sized fire extinguishers (sometimes called kitchen sized)
dental floss pick, toothbrush sized with replaceable dental floss cartridges , made by Reach

bowls with rubber non-skid bottoms for cooking and food preparation

aluminum foil, pre-cut individual sheets, made by Reynolds

Dragon Naturally Speaking computer voice activated typing program

[jmar]

found new way to dry my hair. may sound silly, but it works. i have a small (30pint) dehumidifier. it has a fan that blows upward. i turned the fan to high, dried my hair just right without having to hold on to any hair dryer. of course i now have short hair. may or may not work on long hair.

[Shell-Sea]

Reading all of your replies makes me realize how resilliant we all really are! When I injured my left arm almost 6 years ago I had very long hair. I had practically lived in a pony tail and then suddenly I realized that was one more thing I couldn't do. While my husband became really good at it I was still very frusterated that when he was gone, I was out of luck.
So, one day I decided that I was going to conquer this challenge! I got out of the shower and pulled my hair back with my uninjured hand. Once I got it to the desired position I twisted it as tightly as I coud, then shut it in a door. I made two loops with the hair tie, then slowly opened the door with my foot while wrapping the band around my hair. Then I repeated that until I got it tight enough! I was so excited I believe I called all my closest friends and family!
It sounds crazy but it worked and it felt good to overcome the obstacle! It is difficult not to become bitter when it feels like everything is a challenge, I pushed a lot of people away after my injury and I found it hard to accept help. These days I have found that with each little obstacle I overcome I feel more like myself again! I even let people help from time to time!
I am so glad to have found this forum! You all inspire me!

[jmar]

pulling this topic up for wafloodzone


WOW!!!! i read these old posts and feel like i have come so far since my surgery i had just 3 months ago. i had a horrible time with zipping a zipper. i can now zip zippers without help. i an starting to grow my hair long again because i can wash it and take care of it again. i dont have much strength, but the function is managable. i might not ever have any feeling in my arm or hand, but oh well, i just have to go on and do the best i can with it.

it also angers me that if i would have listened to that %^&$%# dr that botched my surgery and caused this injury, i would have no function whatsoever in my left hand. he told me to wait 18 moonths to do anything. it has not yet been 18 months. i would have already been to a point of never having any function in my hand.

[jmar]

i had someone at camp say they had trouble buttering toast. i found a solution to that. take a stick of butter, unwrap it, put it in a butter dish, take the toast and rub it on the stick of butter. or you could just rub the butter stick on the toast and chase it around a little bit.