8 replies to this topic

[Gary Anderson]

Hi Simon

You are the only one I can think of who could answer this question. I saw a posting earlier on the board about wheelchairs.

I have friend who is C5/6 complete and is able to propel their own wheelchair. The question they want to ask is this - is it feasible for a C5/6 compelte quad to only use a self propel wheelchair. My mate manages very well without an electric one. HOwver, he is being pressured by his OT to purchase an electric one.

Thanks Simon. If any other quads when to put in their views - feel free.

[In The Wind]

Gary Anderson, on Apr 3 2006, 07:05 AM, said:

Hi Simon

You are the only one I can think of who could answer this question. I saw a posting earlier on the board about wheelchairs.

I have friend who is C5/6 complete and is able to propel their own wheelchair. The question they want to ask is this - is it feasible for a C5/6 compelte quad to only use a self propel wheelchair. My mate manages very well without an electric one. HOwver, he is being pressured by his OT to purchase an electric one.

Thanks Simon. If any other quads when to put in their views - feel free.

Hi,
I use both. I do alot of yard work and I use the electric anytime I need to carry or drag anything. Actually I use the electric pretty much anytime I'm in the yard, the manual chair does not provide a strong or stable enogh base for any sort of work.

The therapist is probably concerned with his shoulders....

[C6-JEN]

Hi simon,
I'm a c6 complete, i use a manual chair daily. I have special wheels called E-motion wheels, which have a little motor in them, when i push, adds a little kick which helps over rough surfaces and long distances (it only takes the slightest touch) I have normal wheels which i use around the house and it is easy to change between them. The only draw back is there quite expensive.
hope u find this useful
jen x

[Apparelyzed]

Hi Gary,

Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been to Sheffield shopping!

I use a manual chair all the time, around the house, in shopping malls (including Meadow Hall at Sheffield), around shops and wherever else I can.

If I go out and I can't push due to uneven surfaces or because I just don't have the strength, then my wife takes over and pushes me.

Now, this may not be suitable for everyone, as some people may want to go places on their own, and that's where an electric chair, or power assisted wheels come in handy.

Myself and my wife have the view that I should use what I have, whilst I can, and continue to use a manual wheelchair. The manual wheelchair is lighter than an electric wheelchair, and easier to take with us when we travel. It fits into the boot of most cars, and can get through most doorways.

I've been using a manual chair for 14 years now, and no doubt there will come a time when my shoulders will wear out, and then I may have to look towards an electric chair.

I figure that if I look after my shoulders, I should have quite a few years left in them yet. If I played sports, then they would wear out sooner, and the most common injury to people in wheelchairs who put alot of stress on their shoulders is a tear in the rotator cuff.

This type of injury is probably what your friends physio's are trying to prevent, as well trying to look after his joints.

I hope that helps.

It may not be the recommended way of doing things, but it works for us!

Regards

Simon.
C5/6

[Jilly]

Hi Gary,
Im not in a chair myself but my darling man is. However I tend to agree with what Simon said - use what you have while you can....I say that if your friend is happy to use a manual chair then he should use one! BUT.... look after your shoulders - definitely! My guy has been in a chair for 18 years and now has arthritis in his shoulders....very painful....He still uses a manual chair and knows that one day he will probably have to change to an electric one - but for now prefers to use the manual.

[Gary Anderson]

Thanks for the replies folks. They were a help - as always.

Simon - I agree! Use what you can while you can. My mate was in the army so is quite strong. So I shall pass on your comments. I had forgotten about Emotion wheels. I have been considering them myself since my accident with my arm not being what it was.

I find now that I am not averse to asking someone to push me when I start to tire.

[Smoothcruz]

Gary Anderson, on Apr 3 2006, 07:05 AM, said:

Hi Simon

You are the only one I can think of who could answer this question. I saw a posting earlier on the board about wheelchairs.

I have friend who is C5/6 complete and is able to propel their own wheelchair. The question they want to ask is this - is it feasible for a C5/6 compelte quad to only use a self propel wheelchair. My mate manages very well without an electric one. HOwver, he is being pressured by his OT to purchase an electric one.

Thanks Simon. If any other quads when to put in their views - feel free.

I had a therapist really pushed me to get a powerchair along with my manual chair, I just traded in my powerchair on a new manual chair. I do just fine without it, I figure if I can get by with out it I am better off. Not being able to walk really takes away from being physically fit, and by pushing a chair I figure kind of evens it out. Now like some of the other people that talk about using a powerchair for yard work and things like that I think that is great, but I choose to try and do everything from my manual chair.

[itsjustme]

I so admire anyone who can live their life in a manual chair because I'm sure that it offers you some independence that I don't have in this electric one. 1" can keep me out of somewhere in this monster chair.

Prior to my paralyzation there was a romantic comedy on TV here in the States called Ed. There was a character on the show who is actually a paraplegic called Eli. Most of the time I listened to the TV while I was doing something else but this one night I actually sat and watched this particular episode that dealt with the issues of everyday life that Eli dealt with from how he got dressed rolling around in the bed every morning to the first time that he was intimate with his new girlfriend. Prophetic huh?

Just a few months later I found myself just like Eli, with those encouraging pictures of him in my head, however reality soon took over. Oh I worked hard in that manual wheelchair and lifted weights to build upper body strength and then spent just as much time in OT as I did in PT trying to undo the damage that I was doing to the arthritic shoulders.

I'm sure that those of you in manual chairs will know when it's time to go to an electric chair. After all, you are the one sitting and propelling, not the therapist.

[Bookjunky]

I am going to agree with the stay as independent pushing as possible within common sense. I am in the chair from ms with dameage to my spinal cord at several spots including C5/6. I handle uncarpeted indoors and flat even outdoors by myself. When I am outside or for long distances I use a power chair.

Actually I just recently moved back into using a manual chair indoors because I wanted/needed to increase my activity level.