Andrea Elisabeth and her husband can continue to live within their own four walls – thanks to the TOPRO Step stair climbing aid

Inhalte

Andrea Elisabeth suffers from neuropathy and climbing stairs has become difficult for her. However, a stairlift was not an option for her. She wants to continue using her legs. With the TOPRO Step stair climbing aid, she can continue to live in the house that she and her husband built together in Trondheim in 1984.

Hier erzählt uns Andrea Elisabeth ihre Geschichte

They would like to continue living in the house they built together.

Andrea Elisabeth and her husband Tore Andreas live together in the house they built in Trondheim in 1984. They have spent most of their lives there. Fifteen years ago, they considered buying an apartment instead but decided to stay in their house.

„If you can climb the stairs, it’s okay, as everything we need and use is on this level, so we are quite happy with it.“

Diagnose Neuropathy

One day Andrea Elisabeth began to lose feeling in her legs. When someone touched her feet, she no longer felt it. The diagnosis was neuropathy.

„She had great difficulties climbing the stairs. She almost hung over the railing and pulled herself up on it.“

„That was the big problem. One is afraid to climb the stairs.“

When her occupational therapist comes to her home to look at possibilities for adapting the living space, she asked about ways to make the stairs accessible to her again.

Many people get a stairlift as soon as it becomes difficult to move between floors, but Andrea Elisabeth did not want this. She was looking for an alternative to the stairlift.

„That goes too far. I want to use my legs as much as possible.“

Andrea Elisabeth und ihr Mann

Stay active

Staying active is important to her and movement is important to maintain walking function.

Andrea Elisabeth visits a training group with a physiotherapist 2-3 times a week to stay mobile and flexible. It is fun, pleasant, and valuable. The ladies feel so comfortable that they also meet privately once a month just to enjoy their time together.

Andrea Elisabeth received the stair climbing aid TOPRO Step through the Norwegian assistive devices center. She remembers reading about the TOPRO Step stair climbing aid in a magazine and asked if it could be an alternative to a stair lift.

The occupational therapist then arranged a trial run with the TOPRO Step and helped her apply for support through the NAV Assistant Center in Norway. Shortly after, she had the stair climbing aid at home and has been using it for a year now.

“It’s so easy now! And if you still had to hang over the railing, you would definitely feel it in your back sooner or later,” says Tore Andreas.

“Yes, and in the hips, shoulders, and whatnot,” Andrea Elisabeth replied.

“It probably also helped that you, as an engineer, looked at the TOPRO Step and thought it looks good – and you even use it yourself.”

„Yes, it is made of high-quality materials and components and is suitable as a stair railing for those who can still climb stairs well.“

I think this is a solution that we will have for many, many years.

 — Andrea Elisabeth

Create new memories

They have been married for 52 years and have many good memories of the past. However, it is important to also create new memories. When Tore Andreas goes hiking, they find ways and opportunities for Andrea Elisabeth to participate as well. Although neuropathy makes it difficult for her to walk.

She is driving her four-wheeler on the forest paths and then they meet here and there. Then they stop and wait for each other before continuing. In this way, they can experience nature together.

She is not letting neuropathy stop her. And with some aids and adjustments that make everyday life easier, this is made possible.

„With my walker, which supports me while walking, I zip quickly from one side of the house to the other.“

Andrea Elisabeth und ihr Mann 2

This is neuropathy.

Neuropathy is not a disease in itself, but a collective term for a range of diseases that occur due to damage or irritation of peripheral nerves (not the brain and spinal cord as in MS). Depending on which nerves are affected, the symptoms vary. You may experience sensory disturbances, burning, stabbing or radiating pain, paralysis, muscle twitches, sensitivity to touch, or, in the case of completely destroyed nerve fibers, numbness. The treatment focuses on uncovering and treating the underlying cause. If the underlying cause can be healed, the affected nerves usually recover, but the course is typically long-term. Many people use physiotherapy as part of the treatment to maintain optimal function and muscle strength and to alleviate pain and other symptoms.

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