To prep for my surgery I bought a used bariatric recliner so I can sleep after surgery.

It is a manual recliner (non-motorized) and I cannot work the lever to raise my legs from the sitting position (my arm doesn't reach far enough down to get enough leverage).

I ordered a lever handle extender but it doesn't solve the problem.

Has anyone else run into this problem and found a way to adapt the lever or engineered a workaround?

Any ideas?

@@Inner Surfer Girl I'm sorry this just brought back some very funny memories for me of the day I had surgery in the hospital. I was in a recliner and I am all of 5'2" and I could not reach the handle either. I was so comfortable in that recliner that when my hubby left for the night I said just leave me there I would move when the nurse came to move me. She came in and took out the catheter but I told her I was fine there...until guess what a few hours later I needed the bathroom and I could not reach the floor!!!

Thank goodness they had to come back for my vitals...and I was able to convince the poor guy to help me out of the chair and to the rest room because I was going to hold my vitals hostage until then

Anathesia is a wonderful thing isn't it...makes us silly!!

I feel your pain! I can easily see me getting trapped (and I'm 5' 6"). And, once I need to go, I NEED to GO!

It's pretty aggravating but there must be a solution. Obviously, this isn't an unusual problem.

Where did you find the used bariatric recliner?

I found it by searching online and making some phone calls. It was serendipity that I talked to someone who knew someone who had one for sale.

Due to some back surgery, I already have a lifting recliner in my bedroom. It really came in handy after my sleeve surgery, and helped me get up and down comfortably.