[icarus_melt76]

After fighting the idea of an electric chair for years, I gave in. "Good exercise, stay limber"....ya ya. What about all the hassle to get nowhere, comparativly speaking?

After 25 years, my shoulders were physically getting weaker and all the hills, etc. Since using the electric, I've been places and gone distances never imagined by me before that. Shopping is a hoot, cruise every aisle in the store if inclined. Carry a lot and still motor along with ease. Almost 6 years and batteries are still good for about next summer. It's fairly quick...can keep up with most joggers along our lakeshore trail. Have used it to go downtown and back. About 10 miles each way. Takes a while, but time is NOT a problem for me. On a nice day, I feel a new freedom. Just for cruising around town. Even gets much better if you have quiet side streets to use to shorten the journey and get a smooth ride on the pavement (facing traffic).

Transfer back to my QUICKIE2 for home or going somewhere, where pushing a lot doesn't come into play. Anyone else make a change?

[Captain Pike]

Ouch. I am a C-5 complete, and it is very acceptable for me to be in that power chair. However, one of my goals in rehab was to be able to move myself around in a manual chair. It feels great to propel myself. If I wear my gloves and I'm on a flat surface, not on a rug, I can do pretty okay. I guess I got kind of frustrated with little or no progress beyond that (a smooth flat surface) so most days, I'm in my power chair.

But I know it's wrong. I know I'm not making the most of what I have. So I don't have wrist flexion, so I don't have but vaporous triceps, I'm still able to move myself some, and where there is something, can't there be more than something if one works at it?

I'm back living in the small town I grew up in. People I know see me all over town -- buzzing here, buzzing there. Hell, they widened the door at the jewelry store in downtown for me. Matter of fact, just got back from downtown, it was so cold I thought I wasn't going to make it, thought my hand would freeze up at the joystick, and I wouldn't make it home and up my ramp. The able-bodied people in this town would say I'm doing great -- they often do. But the truth is, I'm getting fat and out of shape. My deltoids, etc., ought to be just ripping out of my skin -- I'm grateful that I'm not a C3.

I hear people talking in here a lot about PT, and making the most of what we have. The funny story about nearly falling out of the truck, but TRANSFERRING dammit, not being lowered in and out of our chairs by contraptions -- that's what I know I ought to be working on. But I'm the only mobile quadriplegic in this county as far as I know, so, I can be lulled into thinking I'm doing fine, buzzing around in my power chair, but I need to hear that SCI tough love, urging me to push the envelope. Sometimes, in bed at night, I say to myself "I'm getting in that manual chair tomorrow", but when the morning comes, I've always got some excuse.

One thing is that the manual chair I have is a borrowed Invacare 9000 with foam insulation tubing taped to the propulsion wheel. Maybe I ought to invest in a nice, light weight manual chair. What's good? Anybody know? See, I'm the type of Scrooge where, if I spend money on it, then I'll use it! Isn't that crazy? Oh yeah, one more thing, I talk too much, did I mention that? I'm all intention with very little action, but at least I guess I'm admitting it, do I get points for that?

[Avocado Baby]

I get asked all the time why I haven't got an electric chair, usually when people see me struggling up hills or in the rain and wind, but I'm determined to not to give it until I really have to! I've always been a very stubborn/determined person and see it as a good form of exercise as it keeps my arm muscles strong as well as working out my heart and lungs.

I'm lucky that my lesion level is lumbar so I don't have any problem with the funtion of my arms and am physically able to manual propell myself. I do get alot of pain in my shoulders though and I wonder how long it will be until I do them too much damage and have to 'give in'.

I'm really interested to hear all these experiences too!

[rkzenrage]

Had to, osteo got too bad and the ribs started to break.

[Avocado Baby]

rkzenrage, on Dec 21 2006, 07:42 AM, said:

Had to, osteo got too bad and the ribs started to break.

Yeouch! Poor you! In cases like yours, it is completely understandable.

[LadyPilot]

Captain Pike, on Dec 20 2006, 07:54 PM, said:

But the truth is, I'm getting fat and out of shape.

That's why Im not in any hurry to give up my manual chair. My elbows and wrists ache from time to time but I wear 'TheraP' magnet wraps and they really help ease any aches and pains without analgesia.

[rkzenrage]

Pink Ali, on Dec 22 2006, 04:48 PM, said:

rkzenrage, on Dec 21 2006, 07:42 AM, said:

Had to, osteo got too bad and the ribs started to break.

Yeouch! Poor you! In cases like yours, it is completely understandable.

Sucks. I have had a broken wrist for two months... or what they think is a break.
But, we all have our stuff. I try to focus on my blessings, of which I have many.
There are a lot of cool things about the power-chair.

This post has been edited by rkzenrage: 23 December 2006 - 05:30 PM

[Avocado Baby]

[/quote]

I wear 'TheraP' magnet wraps and they really help ease any aches and pains without analgesia.
[/quote]


What are these? Sounds like they might help me out!

[LadyPilot]

[quote name='Pink Ali' date='Dec 23 2006, 09:27 PM' post='25156']
[/quote]

I wear 'TheraP' magnet wraps and they really help ease any aches and pains without analgesia.
[/quote]


What are these? Sounds like they might help me out!
[/quote]

Check out the link below. They are worth every penny!

[url="http://cnb-host2.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/magnets4health?productID=22&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=32"]Magnetic wrist wrap[/url]
[url="http://cnb-host2.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/magnets4health?productID=21&op=catalogue-product_info-null&prodCategoryID=32"]Magnetic elbow wrap[/url]

[Alin Steglinski]

powerchairs are the only way to go. its the only thing we get to say is cool about our disability

"i have a rolling laz-y-boy recliner. TDX5 with tarsys TR system"

[keeptrukin]

I feel the same as most, I don't want to give up the power of pushing myself. I am a para, but for those long trips out or when I go on vacation I really wish I had a power chair. I get so tired of pushing myself and I sometimes feel bad having someone else push me. I think it's a mind game. It's like an elderly person getting a wheelchair that can use a walker. Once in the wheelchair they soon give up the walker.

If I get my electric chair I plan on putting a limit on how often I use it. But agian thats just me and I have functional arms.
KT