Hellp me to make the best of the next phase of my life

I'm recently injured T2 incomplete fracture followed by a spinal canal bleed, Laminectomy to T3,4,5,6 and no metal work repair so natural healing. Injury was in May 2009, motorcycle accident and I live in Edinburgh, Scotland. Lothian Health Board. I'm still in hospital (QENSIU Glasgow Southern General) wearing a modified Minerva body brace for a couple more months and probably won't get out till Jan,Feb 2010.
Seems my only choice for an issued chair is a Quickie GPV or an Action 3 as my health board do not yet approve the Quickie Argon which I'm on now and i actually quite like.
I will have to accept a chair as issued by them and any ideas would be greatly recieved but also intend to start looking for a second chair of my own choosing to purchase later.
I like rigid, minimalist style and am happy to get second hand especially as I don't really yet know what will suit me.

Can anybody provide advice on types of chairs, web sites to look at, issues to look out for or absolutely anyother help or advice to help me get on with this new phase of my life.
I'm managing to remain very upbeat and have 3 kids 16 months, 6 and 8 years old so need desperately to stay as active s possible to be able to enjoy them.

Thanks to all in advance Colin.

You might get more response if you stopped trying to blind people with that flashing avatar. It's horrible .....and it is harmful to epileptics and migraine sufferers. For goodness sake find another, PLEASE!!!

Hi Colin,
I have a Quickie Neon which I purchased myself because I needed a chair that would fold into my car roof box. The chair I originally got from Rehab did not fold like a concertina, which was what I needed.
I am happy withe the Quickie, and mine is a nice greeny/blue colour with spinergy wheels.
I was in your city Edinburgh a few weeks ago and had a great time, although the old city is not that wheelchair accessible, but I hired a scooter and was albe to get around quite comfortably.
I am a native of Glasgow myself and have read great reports of the Southern General and I believe it has one of the best spinal injury units in the world.
The best of luck with your chair hunting.
McTavish

Aww Grey, I quite like his avatar but if it (or any other moving avatars) offends your (or anyone elses) eyes then just press your esc key on your key board and it will stop

Thanks Trin. Nice tip. At least I can now read his posts without getting a headache!

Hi Colin

When I was looking for a chair, all the reps were there trying to say that their brand was the best, but one of theme was in a chair himself and could sell lots of different brands. He had a Kuschall K4 and seemed very happy with it, and so that was what I bought. Haven't looked back or had any cause for complaint (apart from the price). Swiss made, and lightweight: 2 good things. I've given mine a hard time and it's been hard wearing (now a 6 year old chair, and no intention of replacing). I went for it for 2 reasons:

1. L-shaped frame, so easier to put in and out of car myself, without extra metal structure in the way.
2. Quickie also pretty similar, but had a 10 week lead time for delivery at that time, whereas Kushall was only 2 weeks.

Getting a wheelchair to fit you is essential, so if you choose to buy 2nd hand, make sure you get it right otherwise it'll be a waste of money however much you save! If you do want to buy 2nd hand there are plenty of forums and places you can look on. A good start is the DLF factsheet on buying 2nd hand (click here) as well as the forum here. My website DisabledGear.com is primarily created for FREE-Ads for 2nd hand disability equipment, and the number of listings is growing.

My retailer in Sheffield has always been brilliant and let me try chairs at home before committing to the money. You can always ask your local dealers. If one says no, another may say yes, and it's helpful to have a loyal business relationship with a good supplier.

Hope this helps!

Guido

I know it's still very early days for you but when you're ready to go back to work then Access To Work will fund, or at least part fund disability equipment, worth bearing in mind before you shell out 2 or 3K
Chair wise I hated my quickie. I have a Tilite TRA and a Topend Terminator. The Topend wins hands down for me.

Bad news trinity...it didn't work for me Maybe it's because I use a Mac (Apple variety not the dirty raincoat type!)

I have a Mac too and it works fine for me! Maybe you're just speyshul!

You have such great insight!!

I use a Quickie Argon Titanium with spinergy wheels i think its a great chair but it is all about personal choice.

RGK wheelchairs seem very popular and they now have a second hand website as well.

http://www.rgk-wheelchairs.co.uk/lifestyle.php

hope this helps

Oh THANK YOU Trin!

I think you will find that many of us end up having to purchase them on our own in order to get the better equipment OR having to take a payout from the insurance company & then make up the difference on their own. I have a QuickieXTR & a ROHO Qautro cushion. My back likes the suspension system it has on it but I might see if other chairs have similar to the shock system under the XTR.

I have two chairs: Quickie GPV comp and a Melrose Titanium. The set up is almost the same (theony diff being width at the front bottom/foot plate). The Melrose is like a pair of my favourite sneakers - super comfy; the Quickie like a pair of hard leather shoes - uncomfortable. The point is that two chairs, supposedly the same in set-up, can be so different in feel & performance. Try as many as you can before you buy.

I have to agree with Bulky about the Quickie GVP but it is a very good all rounder first wheelchair, it did give me insight to what I did & didn’t need or want from a chair, you really need to spend time in a few chairs to find what you like.
The only advice I can give you is:
Make sure you go for pneumatic tyres / Don’t be talked into inserts like I was, rolling resistance is hell
Try & get small castors, helps with tighter turning circle which I found to make a big difference indoors.
& don’t forget height of back rest, small low ones look cool but can be hell to live with if you need some support.

http://www.rgklife.com (I highly recommend)

CR

yes I agree i had toswitch off it was sending my eyes crazy, it is too much to lok at!! Please channge it.

Tintinboots

I rode and broke down two Quickie GPVs after I got rid of the folding 'chairs with the handles and anti-tips and all that. The GPV is a tough wheelchair to stand up to what I did to them.
I just got an Invacare Top End T-6 and will niver go back to the Quickies. The Invacare is lighter, stronger and so much more maneuverable than the Quickie chairs. I feel like the 'chair is a part of me instead of sitting "on" the wheelchair
I shall have to see how sturdy this Invacare T-6 is over the next year or so.

despite the awful name I have a lot of time for Invacare / Topend chairs. They are as light as anything and really do seem to stand up under pressure

I've been in a Ti ZRa for about 2 years now (my first chair.) It seems to work pretty well for me. I think the only thing I would consider changing would be the backrest and go to a more rigid one.

Been in the new Quickie Helium for about a month now. Superb bit of kit, it's as light as the advertising blurb would have you believe and I'd buy it just for the way the brakes work.

Wow, I learned something. Does hitting the ESC key make all flashing stuff stop flashing?

It doesn't appear to work on Safari but it seems to make most moving things stop on Firefox, even the emoticons!

2 nd. Kuschall K4 for me a good workhorse very ajustable so you can fine ajust it for you not the lightest but quite light

As you can see from all the replies, a choice of chair is full of pitfalls
Being a newbie you are bound to fall into at least one
So take your time
Start with a seat cushion, backrest and fixed frame (don't use a crappy GPV for more then a year)
Get experiance, get ability .. then get a chair

What am I on about .. ummmmmmmmmm
I use a JAY Duo seat pan to stop me from sliding forward and out, also to get my hands closer to the wheel spindal
Adjustable backrest because my injury resulted in a double kink caloused spine
Low backrest (I'm sporty, gotta move those shoulder blades)
Fixed frame chair as the folders are to wobbly for me (I'm sporty)
Qickee Argon, Sinergy wheels, (my wheelchair choice)
If your injury can take it - solid tyres

You will find your own solution, and the NHS will throw the basics at you, so learn to arque and find the differant schemes, visit wheelchair warehouses and exhibitions. Give your injury time to heal and settle down.

Do everything the physio advises - twice as hard - exercise like bugery to build yourself up
Get as much strenth as possible in your upperbody - your gonna need it

GOOD LUCK

Doesn't work on my Mac either..

Doesn't work on my Mac either..

Maybe it's not dirty enough
Load it up with some porn

I'm only new too buddy. Had a long trial in a Tilite ZR and like it because it was very rigid and fast. But I chose the Marvel M1 over it. Very adjustable, as light as everything else, and has suspension. I'm 6'2" and have very long limbs, and with the adjustabilty options on it I've been albe to fiddle wiht it and tune it to fit me just right.

Stu

nice

Gosh. Now I feel miserable. The very suggestion...