Need ideas for self-dressing

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
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Zadynsmom
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:29 pm

Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by Zadynsmom »

My daughter is LOBPI and 4 years old. She can do everything to get dressed by herself EXCEPT her shirt. She can get a few, very few, shirts off, by pulling the left sleeve down while bending her left arm slightly to get her left arm out of the sleeve hole. Then she pulls the shirt over her head and lets it fall off her right arm. This only works when the shirt she is wearing is VERY loose. This also stretches the shirts out a whole lot (not that I mind, because if it works, it works). I have tried many ways to help her figure out a way to get her shirt on. So....what works? How can I help her figure this out? Thanks---

Alisa, mom of Zadyn, LOBPI and 4 years old!
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marieke
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:00 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI
no external rotation against gravity, can only go to 90 degree fwd flexion, no hand-to-mouth
1 surgery at age 14 (latissimus dorsi transfer). In 2004, at age 28 I was struck with Transverse Myelitis which paralyzed me from the chest down. I recovered movement to my right leg, but need a KAFO to walk on my left leg. I became an RN in 2008.
Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
Contact:

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by marieke »

I am LOBPI too.

For putting shirt on (and coats, sweaters..) I put the Left in first, then pull it over my head, then the right arm. Or if it is looser I can do Left them right then over my head.

To take it off I take it off the right side then over my head then off my left.

It will take practice and time to figure it all out.

Marieke 33, LOBPI
Marieke Dufresne RN
34, LOBPI
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by Carolyn J »

I do it the same way as Marieke.
Carolyn J
LOBPI adult/71
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
Carrie
Posts: 167
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2001 2:24 pm

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by Carrie »

I do roughly the same thing only in reverse because I have an ROBPI. For tighter shirts I either grab the back of the neck with my uninjured arm with both arms still in the sleeves and then look down while pulling the shirt straight off in a forward motion over my head like out in from of me, then pull my arms out. For tank tops or other more snug shirts that are too low to reach back, I get my uninjured arm out of the sleeve, pull the bottom up over the uninjured shoulder and then (with bpi arm still in it's sleeve) pop it up and off with the uninjured arm. But mostly, I wear shirts with buttons because I am a cheater.
I could draw you a diagram if that makes no sense and you want to email me. Feel free to email me.

Carrie
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F-Litz
Posts: 970
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 6:53 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, LTBPI at age 6.5, Sensory Issues, CP, Diaphragm Weakness, Aspberger's
Location: Ambler, PA

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by F-Litz »

carrie - is there any way you could do a little video of taking off a tight shirt? Maia can't do them alone and she needs to get independent with that...

you can just youtube it or email me the video... I'm assuming your digital camera can take a short video?
-francine
AngieD
Posts: 104
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 12:28 pm

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by AngieD »

Kayla does it like everyone else. As far as the tight shirts she still seems to take her left arm out first (non BPI) over her head and then off her right arm (BPI), if that makes sense. She refuses to ask for help so she does what ever she needs to do to get it off by herself. As far bra's she does not like sports bra's or the ones that hook in the front (she likes the ones that hook in the back. She hooks them before the puts it on and then puts it on like a shirt.
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hope16_05
Posts: 1670
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:33 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 28 years old with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury. 5 surgeries to date with pretty decent results. Last surgery resolved years of pain in my right arm however, I am beginning my journey with overuse in my left arm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: Need ideas for self-dressing

Post by hope16_05 »

I seem to do it differently than most here. I dress my bpi arm first but I also undress it first. I generally wear a shirt a little bigger than I need because its judt more comfortable. for a long sleeve or short sleeve loose shirt I take the end of the sleeve and pull my bpi arm out I generally have to pull up and toward my good arm to get my bpi arm to come inside my shirt. Then I take the bottom of my shirt on the bpi side and pull it up and over my head and off my good arm. Its always been easier for me to get my bpi arm out first I dont know if I could take off my shirt if I tried to get my good arm out first.

As for tank tops I just start at the bottom and pull it up while I bend over so my bpi arm falls above my head. Or I pull my bpi arm inside the shirt and then pull the front bottom bpi side up and over my head.

Good luck finding a method that works!
Amy 22 years old ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
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