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I bought my husband a Corvette for his birthday. It is beautiful. It is his baby. We recently joined a Corvette club and have events a couple of times a month. I am disabled. I have severe arthritis. I have severe back issues and post-fusion of my lumbar spine. and have residual weakness in my left lower extremity. I had a stroke affecting my right side resulting in weakness about 15 months ago. I would like to take our Corvette when we go to the events. I am walking and can get up from a regular chair and bed. I can get in the car but my legs can not help me get out of the corvette. It takes 2 people to assist me. I am asking for help. I am thinking of cushions on the seat but doubt they would do the trick. I use a step stool to get in and out of our Ford Excursion. I get in and out or our Mercedes SUV and Mercedes convertible. I plan to ask my physical therapist to see if he can help with strengthening. Any ideas, suggestions, or similar experiences?
Kathy
Welcome to the Forum, Kathy!
Sorry to hear about the challenges you are currently facing getting out of your Corvette. What do you think is different about getting out of the Vette compared to your other vehicles? Is it the seating position when you are in the Corvette compared to the other vehicles?
Your thought about cushions might be an approach if being more level, hip-to-knee, is the biggest difference in getting out of one car compared to another.
You mentioned joining a local club. Oftentimes a club can be a source of good information, not just for the best mechanic, parts, or trips but for other more direct support in cases like yours. If you have not already, you may want to address your challenge with club members and see if there are suggestions there. Sometimes a person, knows a person, who knows a person with the same challenge you are facing and could possibly provide a suggestion about how they confronted this obstacle.
And, if you have not already, have your husband take you to PT in the Corvette. Let the PT see your challenge getting out of the car. This may help them develop a specific strength training exercise to help you get in/get out of the Vette easier.
Also, you did not say which generation of Corvette you bought. Seating in some of the earlier generations is very different from seating in later generations, so addressing your challenge in the General section for your specific generation of car may provide even more beneficial recommendations.
Hopefully one of these thoughts may prove beneficial so that you and hubby can enjoy your Corvette for many years!
Best wishes!
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Kathy - what member Route99 stated is good advice. I do not know what year Corvette you have, but if you let me know, I can get this to the section where members may be able to offer some advice. I’ll leave this open for a while for you to respond in the thread.
As a former nursing home administrator where a large part of operations it PT, I agree with bringing the car for the PT crew to see directly what it is you are dealing with. It is rare, but SOME locations even use donated cars or cut-up halves of cars to do this exact practice inside the therapy gym. I have never seen a Corvette in one however! They sit quite low.
Knee pads - if you are ever out and about and find you are unexpectedly weak, you can keep a large foam knee pad behind your seat which can be laid on the ground in case you need to extricate yourself in with less grace while keeping a mind on safety and keeping the knees of your pants clean.
Roho - I don't know how comfortable it might be, but using a Roho cushion on your seat may help.
Raise the car's ride height - while the youngsters care about looks, the car can probably be raised easily by a shop by a full inch without spoiling the sleek lines. Every inch counts.
NOW... presuming you are steady enough to maintain balance we might consider a jury rig. I would not advise this for any future date where you may be weaker or unable to maintain balance, BUT.... you *COULD* place an inflatable device under you before getting out and plug a tire inflator with the correct air adapter into the DC outlet in the lighter area. Preferably a wedge shaped product vs a center-high pillow or round device. Depending on the device you may be able to use two. One to support the other as you exit. This presents an increased risk of falling. Be wary of the roof or the windshield corner. Put a hand on that corner to help pull yourself up so you know you won't bonk yourself.
Any PT worth their salt is swearing at me up and down right now. And well they should. But I am not offering legal advise, just postulating on simple solutions for daily life for someone intent on not missing out.
Seat height - I'm certain you set the seat to max height, but I'm just checking boxes here.
My idea behind all of these suggestions is based on your statement that you can traverse your other vehicles, so it sounds as though you have general ability but the angle / leverage / strength required to exit the low-slung wide-doored Corvette is just more than you can manage without assistance currently. I was thinking that if we can mitigate that knee and lumbar angle and get you in the ballpark of an angle where you have greater strength you can get up on your own or with only limited assistance.
Please *DO* run it all past your PT as they know you best and I am just shooting from the hip as a stranger on the internet. I have no specialty or license related to direct care.
Thank you very much. I will bring it up during PT on Thursday.
Kathy
Originally Posted by Tusc
As a former nursing home administrator where a large part of operations it PT, I agree with bringing the car for the PT crew to see directly what it is you are dealing with. It is rare, but SOME locations even use donated cars or cut-up halves of cars to do this exact practice inside the therapy gym. I have never seen a Corvette in one however! They sit quite low.
Knee pads - if you are ever out and about and find you are unexpectedly weak, you can keep a large foam knee pad behind your seat which can be laid on the ground in case you need to extricate yourself in with less grace while keeping a mind on safety and keeping the knees of your pants clean.
Roho - I don't know how comfortable it might be, but using a Roho cushion on your seat may help.
Raise the car's ride height - while the youngsters care about looks, the car can probably be raised easily by a shop by a full inch without spoiling the sleek lines. Every inch counts.
NOW... presuming you are steady enough to maintain balance we might consider a jury rig. I would not advise this for any future date where you may be weaker or unable to maintain balance, BUT.... you *COULD* place an inflatable device under you before getting out and plug a tire inflator with the correct air adapter into the DC outlet in the lighter area. Preferably a wedge shaped product vs a center-high pillow or round device. Depending on the device you may be able to use two. One to support the other as you exit. This presents an increased risk of falling. Be wary of the roof or the windshield corner. Put a hand on that corner to help pull yourself up so you know you won't bonk yourself.
Any PT worth their salt is swearing at me up and down right now. And well they should. But I am not offering legal advise, just postulating on simple solutions for daily life for someone intent on not missing out.
Seat height - I'm certain you set the seat to max height, but I'm just checking boxes here.
My idea behind all of these suggestions is based on your statement that you can traverse your other vehicles, so it sounds as though you have general ability but the angle / leverage / strength required to exit the low-slung wide-doored Corvette is just more than you can manage without assistance currently. I was thinking that if we can mitigate that knee and lumbar angle and get you in the ballpark of an angle where you have greater strength you can get up on your own or with only limited assistance.
Please *DO* run it all past your PT as they know you best and I am just shooting from the hip as a stranger on the internet. I have no specialty or license related to direct care.
Thank you, I will bring it up at PT on Thursday. Tonight the local corvette club is meeting for dinner at a local restaurant. My husband will be going alone. We moved to Florida about a year ago but we left a hangar full of our stuff. My husband towed it with our Mercedes SUV and all went well. He is eager to show off his beautiful Corvette. He offered to take me in another car but I know he wants to take his Corvette.
Thank you, I will bring it up at PT on Thursday. Tonight the local corvette club is meeting for dinner at a local restaurant. My husband will be going alone. We moved to Florida about a year ago but we left a hangar full of our stuff. My husband towed it with our Mercedes SUV and all went well. He is eager to show off his beautiful Corvette. He offered to take me in another car but I know he wants to take his Corvette.
Dont be afraid to ask people for help. I’m a paramedic, 21 year’s experience. I’m glad you’re trying to enjoy that corvette as much as your husband is. Enjoy it while you can. If I was in your car club, I would be honored to help you in and out of the car, safely. My Mom used to take her husband to car shows, he was wheelchair bound, lung cancer, and on oxygen. She needed help getting the wheelchair out of the SUV, and she asked for help, and always got more then enough muscle. He’s with the Lord now, but my point is, don’t be afraid to ask.
Now go enjoy that corvette and tell your husband to put his right foot through the floor.
Hello! I have a spine injury and am tall. I can tell you I have learned the easiest way to get in and out of my Corvette is as if I were wearing a dress.
Sit down perpendicular to the seat and swing my feet in... and to get out, swing the feet out and stand up that way.
Hello! I have a spine injury and am tall. I can tell you I have learned the easiest way to get in and out of my Corvette is as if I were wearing a dress.
Sit down perpendicular to the seat and swing my feet in... and to get out, swing the feet out and stand up that way.
You will find the best way that works for you.
This procedure along with the door device (handle) is
a great idea as long as you have enough strength in
your arms and legs.
Good luck.
Welcome to the Forum, Kathy!
Sorry to hear about the challenges you are currently facing getting out of your Corvette. What do you think is different about getting out of the Vette compared to your other vehicles? Is it the seating position when you are in the Corvette compared to the other vehicles?
Your thought about cushions might be an approach if being more level, hip-to-knee, is the biggest difference in getting out of one car compared to another.
You mentioned joining a local club. Oftentimes a club can be a source of good information, not just for the best mechanic, parts, or trips but for other more direct support in cases like yours. If you have not already, you may want to address your challenge with club members and see if there are suggestions there. Sometimes a person, knows a person, who knows a person with the same challenge you are facing and could possibly provide a suggestion about how they confronted this obstacle.
And, if you have not already, have your husband take you to PT in the Corvette. Let the PT see your challenge getting out of the car. This may help them develop a specific strength training exercise to help you get in/get out of the Vette easier.
Also, you did not say which generation of Corvette you bought. Seating in some of the earlier generations is very different from seating in later generations, so addressing your challenge in the General section for your specific generation of car may provide even more beneficial recommendations.
Hopefully one of these thoughts may prove beneficial so that you and hubby can enjoy your Corvette for many years!
Best wishes!
I bought my husband a Corvette for his birthday. It is beautiful. It is his baby. We recently joined a Corvette club and have events a couple of times a month. I am disabled. I have severe arthritis. I have severe back issues and post-fusion of my lumbar spine. and have residual weakness in my left lower extremity. I had a stroke affecting my right side resulting in weakness about 15 months ago. I would like to take our Corvette when we go to the events. I am walking and can get up from a regular chair and bed. I can get in the car but my legs can not help me get out of the corvette. It takes 2 people to assist me. I am asking for help. I am thinking of cushions on the seat but doubt they would do the trick. I use a step stool to get in and out of our Ford Excursion. I get in and out or our Mercedes SUV and Mercedes convertible. I plan to ask my physical therapist to see if he can help with strengthening. Any ideas, suggestions, or similar experiences?
Kathy
Welcome to the forum. Your husband has to be one lucky man. I can't give any better advice than already given. I can suggest a couple of things that help me. One is raising the seat as high with the power seat control will allow it to go, then power tilt it so the butt portion is raised while the front of the seat drops. Obviously, this won't work unless you have power seats. The other suggestion is perhaps putting spacers under the seat mount, then replace mounting bolts with longer ones. This is all assuming some of the difficulty is due to the car being so low. If not, please disregard, and I wish you the very best of luck and great times....
Help with disability
