Hi Greg, I had a similar problem... especially with spoons. Eventually I found that bending my fork back at the "neck" (?), the narrowest part between the tines and the handle, so that it curved about 2x or 3x the amount it normally curves there, worked pretty well.
I've found most restaurants use the cheap utensils so if I forget my own or eat out unexpectedly I ask if they'd mind if I bend one of theirs. Nobody ever said no... to the cheap stuff. But some places use utensils so heavy you could use it to knock out wild game before having it cooked for you! Those don't bend as well and are usually too fat at the handles to fit the splint pocket/cuff anyway. I've never been able to use a spoon. Nothing stays (like soups, broths, etc.) so I use my bent fork for everything from meat to peas to rice. I can scoop with it sideways or tines first and pick things up in its slightly curved "bowl." Then, with something like peas, it's just a matter of moving quickly and steady enough to get to my mouth before they fall but not so fast I stab myself in the face! (Done that... it hurts!) Mashed potatoes are a quad's best friend when it comes to small veggie parts like corn, peas, beans, etc. Just a bit of mash on the fork and it sticks to any of the small stuff! (But mashed potatoes with every meal gets boring ... and fattening!) Best wishes & Happy mealtimes! --Tod ---- Greg <[email protected]> wrote: > I can't use any of those devices that have the fork / spoon come out the > side of your palm of straight out the palm. I can get it to my mouth some if > the food sticks to the fork ok, but I can't do it well. I can't get my elbow > up so the food often falls off. The harder thing to do is bend my wrist > enough to poke the food. > > So I use the Wanchik Writer. It holds the fork a bit more natural. Like > holding a pencil. I can then scoop the food better and don't have to get my > elbow up so high. > http://www.rehabmart.com/product/5640.htm > > Greg > > > > --------- > Hi Eddie! > > For me the thing that works best for using a fork, toothbrush, etc., for the > past 26 years is called an "Economy Wrist Splint" (...or "Wrist Brace," > can't remember). > > It easily found listed under braces/splints in the Sammons-Preston catalogs. > If you have a PT or OT working with you I'm sure they can either show you a > picture of the product or an actual sample and order one to try out. > (~$25.00) > > There are (or were) two types: > ... The one I use now is not much more than 3 leather straps with velcro > to fasten them around the back (dorsal) part of the arm. There is also a > rigid, removable metal stay supporting the forearm and wrist in a straight > position. The wider, most distal, strap has a notch to go between the thumb > and forefinger and fastens around the palm while also having cuff-type > pocket in the palm. The two other velco straps go around the wrist and > mid-way up forearm. > > ... The other is what I first began using. Instead of a leather strap > around the palm it has a solid plastic "C"-shaped area for the hand/palm to > slide into with a cuff-type pocket on the palm side, as well. The two other > straps fasten the same as the one above (wrist and forearm). > > I can control my chair 's joystick just as easily with either type or > without any. > > Regarding arm and shoulder strength needed, to use this type best you would > probably need to be able to raise your hand to your face level and lift and > hold your elbow, laterally, at least half as high. > > > I hope that's descriptive enough. I'm sure you could modify some > store-bought Ace splint/brace to essentially the same thing. Whether you > wear it all day or only as needed dependeds entirely on you and your needs. > > Best wishes! > --Tod > > ---- Eric W Rudd <[email protected]> wrote: > > i use an electric as that has an enlarged base (batteries)...this > > 'impregnation' if you will allows me to grasp it...BUT the majority of > > movement comes from moving it around my mouth w/ my tongue > > > > Eric W Rudd > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Fragile" <[email protected]> > > To: "quad-list" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 12:02 PM > > Subject: [QUAD-L] Quads brushing teeth > > > > > > > Can someone recommend a quad friendly device for brushing teeth? For > > > years I've been putting an electric toothbrush in a "Pool Cue Cuff " > > > purchased at www.accesstr.com. It works great but the cuff wears out > > > after about a year, about $40 for a new one. Seems expensive, was > > > hoping I could get a recommendation for a cheaper alternative. > > > Thanks... > > > > > > Eddie, C5 quad > > > > > > >
