Confined to wheelchair post stroke: How do you go upstairs?

@Scott R L Can you help sue@123sue? Blessings & Prayers & Thank you.

This is a tough one.

Even though I'm not confined to a wheelchair now, I had a serious knee injury many years ago that put me in one for four months.

Short answer: I didn't go up or down any stairs during that time.

This was a problem at work one day when the fire alarm went off and I was in my cubicle on the top floor. The elevators were deactivated and everyone left the building. I was alone, stuck at the top of the stairs with no way out. Luckily, it was a false alarm.

Nowadays, stairs are still a problem. I need an elevator or a very sturdy handrail to grasp and pull myself up or down. But no handrail, I don't go. I tried it a couple of years ago without a handrail, and I fell and tore a big patch of skin off my leg.

I'm a big guy; maybe someone who's petite could be carried. I've never heard of an Ecojoy chair.

I wish I had better news. Sorry!

Hi, @sueduf - I'm tagging a few members who've posted in the Mayo Clinic Connect Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases support group before about wheelchairs to see if they have any input on how to get upstairs if you are using a wheelchair after a stroke @grrranny @slowrunner1 @coffeeplease @tazcat. @strokesurvivordynamo and @naturegirl5 also may have some thoughts for you.

After 4 months PT, just starting to do a little step-up work on "practice stairs" in the "gym". They had me go sideways using one handrail -- strong leg first going up, and weak leg first going down. Hard.

I would avoid stairs as well, I would purchase a foldable cot so you can visit wherever you wish. So many people get hurt falling, reducing fall risk is super important. If visit is temporary situation.