[Lee]

I am able to walk but not very well and progressively loosing the use of my legs slowly over the last 2-3 years. I have no stigma attached to chairs at all but would not use one since i have use of my legs. I have various probs caused due to an internal spinal tumour. One effect is very poor circulation in my lower half. I often fall injuring my ankles and of late my toes. I have fallen recently nearly ripping two of my toes off my right foot. The skin just tore like tissue paper, snapped the tendens and were a right mess. Anyway evertime i hurt my ankles falling, etc the wife would have to push me around on a computer chair and because of my nerve damage it registers pain and wont let me use my legs at all, stupid eh. My toes evetually healed (2 months later) and i fell and twisted my ankle. Sorted that out and fell again rippping my toes open again. Yes, you can guess, the wife and myslef are getting sick. I have now fallen rippping my toes open very badly 4 times in 2 months and twisted my ankle twice in the same time so i had borrowed a friends spare chair. It has changed my life. For the last 3 years i couldnt help around the house much which used to really frustrate me and i couldnt even make my own food or drinks and carry them around. Now using the chair i can cook, clean, hover up, do nearly everything and im so happy because i can do stuff people hate, lol. I should of used a chair years ago but didnt. Although i am loosing use of my legs it has given me more freedom and the wife when out doesnt worry about me falling and hurting myself. I have been given a Quickie GPV for free in good nick but it could benefit from a new back cover. Doesn anyone know if you can get spare covers for them?

cheers lee

This post has been edited by Lee: 14 January 2007 - 04:22 PM

[SCI_OTR]

I am an incomplete C6-7 who has walked with an AFO ever since I came out of spinal shock in 1982. I am an OT, and never used a chair until I became a seating specialist for an SCI Center in a VA hospital. After a year of walking back and forth from my clinic to the unit and elsewhere, my left foot would rotuinely swell and become bruised, I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot, and my back was killing me because there was no place to sit once I made it to a patient's room. I was exhausted at the end of the day. One day, a the family of a veteran who had passed away brought back his Quickie GPV Competition. It was in pretty poor shape and would have been thrown away, but I cleaned it up and found some new wheels, tires, and brakes. I initially did this with the thought of having another loaner chair available in our department. I began using it regularly because of my plantar fasciitis, and discovered I could get places more quickly, had somewhere to sit when I got there, and learned a lot about how to set up a wheelchair for optimum efficiency. After a few weeks, co-workers would ask me why I was using a wheelchair. I simply replied "Why not?".

I can still walk moderate distances in the community and within my home, but I am looking at getting a chair of my own sometime in the future for when I go to Medtrade, auto shows, amusement parks, and other places where alot of standing can be expected. In a sense, "giving in" may actually mean that I will be able to be ambulatory for a longer period of time because my joints and muscles are not wearing out as quickly.

[PigSnack]

I walk with an AFO as well and I have a similar problem with my feet. They swell, get blisters, and infected nails, etc. Im not sure why this is happening. Maybe my improper gait puts more force on my feet as they land??? I've also been considering a chair to be able to do things I avoid now. I pretty much avoid leaving the house at all right now unless I *have* too.

[jane]

I too can walk for short distances using crutches , however i tire so easily and then i start falling. i use my chair for long things like shopping, and i have started using it at work on a youth club night - i find it means i don't get as tired and can do my job better. in fact, i got a puncture last week and couldn't fix it so had to walk all night - i was so exhausted and in agony for the next 2 days.

my ot says it is not giving in, but managing my condition better to use the chair.

i too have poor circulation especially in my left side

[Hotrodgimp]

Wow! You people have touched on a subject that has been bugging me more and more. I have neurological sarcoid that has left me with spinal cord damage so I suffer from partial paralysis and spasticity in my legs. I currently walk with forearm crutches and an AFO with a lot of difficulty. My neurologist has been hellbent on me getting a chair and I have been hellbent on staying out of one. I guess I have this feeling that if I give in I am giving up and god knows I can be as stubborn as anyone, but I have always felt that there is a fine line between stubborn and stupid. Am I crossing that line? I believe in the use it or lose it philosophy and have worked hard to try and maintain what I have left, but walking distances is becoming more and more difficult. Fortunately I have good upper body strength which helps a lot and I do not fall very often, but going to stores and car shows is becoming more of a struggle for me and my wife. I feel as though I have accepted my disability but I am having a lot of trouble with the chair issue. My hot rod is my passion and I am fearful of the upcoming car show season that I wont be able to get around as well. I am not sure if I accept the chair that I will view it as a sign of weakness or that my disease is beating me. Has anyone else felt this way or am I just being stubborn AND stupid? Jim

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Although I'm not able to walk as of yet, I can appreciate your situation...I too am a big hotrodder, I have a 55 Olds and a 66 Nova SS and am allways going to car shows. What kind of rod do you have? I can see if you were driving a 23'T or a deuce roadster, how it might be a problem bringing your chair.

[Tarkus]

I'm an incomplete para. I have little to no balance due to no use of the toes, weak legs , poor gait etc.

My doctors suggested I use a chair but one PT turned me on to these.



I'm on the right. That's an amputee and a Vietnam vet with a "Agent Orange " issue.

The Segway has changed my outlook.
The downside is that it took some doing to get the acceptance needed to make it work.

for more info:
www.DRAFT.cc

Be Big,
Alan

[Lee]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jan 16 2007, 06:44 PM, said:

Although I'm not able to walk as of yet, I can appreciate your situation...I too am a big hotrodder, I have a 55 Olds and a 66 Nova SS and am allways going to car shows. What kind of rod do you have? I can see if you were driving a 23'T or a deuce roadster, how it might be a problem bringing your chair.

Hi, im also into offroading in a big way and have 2 landrovers. 1 is a 1954n hybrid series one which i built and the other is my daily. Both V8's. I have had a 1956 sit up and beg pop with a rover v8, 2 mk1 Zephyrs which were going to be 351w but got rid since my health was going down hill. I bought a 107e prefect with just a 2.0L in but realised that was no good so i bought a 1956 300e thames van (so i can get my scooter in it) which is going to run a rover v8 since the price of 302, 351w/c or silly money in uk. My mates have 100e's, 103e, mk1 cortinas, 300e vans, 32's running a BB. All if them are rodded aswell. Have a look at this link and you will see my van in progress. Its well rotten at the mo, lol.

http://z8.invisionfree.com/thames_300e/ind...hp?showtopic=37

There is another link but for some reason it isnt posting the pics. Not sure why. Also have a look on www.nsra.org.uk Thats one of the main hotrod clubs in the uk as well as www.rodandcustom.co.uk

[Lee]

disabledandbored, on Jan 16 2007, 11:56 AM, said:

Wow! You people have touched on a subject that has been bugging me more and more. I have neurological sarcoid that has left me with spinal cord damage so I suffer from partial paralysis and spasticity in my legs. I currently walk with forearm crutches and an AFO with a lot of difficulty. My neurologist has been hellbent on me getting a chair and I have been hellbent on staying out of one. I guess I have this feeling that if I give in I am giving up and god knows I can be as stubborn as anyone, but I have always felt that there is a fine line between stubborn and stupid. Am I crossing that line? I believe in the use it or lose it philosophy and have worked hard to try and maintain what I have left, but walking distances is becoming more and more difficult. Fortunately I have good upper body strength which helps a lot and I do not fall very often, but going to stores and car shows is becoming more of a struggle for me and my wife. I feel as though I have accepted my disability but I am having a lot of trouble with the chair issue. My hot rod is my passion and I am fearful of the upcoming car show season that I wont be able to get around as well. I am not sure if I accept the chair that I will view it as a sign of weakness or that my disease is beating me. Has anyone else felt this way or am I just being stubborn AND stupid? Jim

I walk with crutches and an afo. Honest i felt 100% same as you and eventually i thought im gona have to give in if i wanted to carry on with the car shows, landrover shows etc. I bought a mobility scooter and "gave in" and yes felt different asthough everyone was watching laughing at me but inb the end i thought its there bloody problem, not mine. Babys use a pushchair because they cant walk, i use a scooter or chair because i cant. Honest, its the best thing ive done. Its given me more freedom and instead of saying, i cant go there cause i cant walk that far and miss out, i can go further than my friends and have somewere to store my beer while they are carrying them around with them getting warm, lol. Go for it mate you wont regret it and its gives you a better quality of life.

[Hotrodgimp]

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jan 16 2007, 01:44 PM, said:

Although I'm not able to walk as of yet, I can appreciate your situation...I too am a big hotrodder, I have a 55 Olds and a 66 Nova SS and am allways going to car shows. What kind of rod do you have? I can see if you were driving a 23'T or a deuce roadster, how it might be a problem bringing your chair.

Funny you should ask! Up until 2001 I did have a T-bucket, but back then I was walking with a cane. As you know a T-bucket has about as much storage space as a Harley Davidson so I had a fold up cane which worked ok but as my condition progressed I was struggling more and more to get in and out of the car so I now have a 31 Ford 5-window coupe. Even though it isn't big it is nice to have doors,a trunk and a roof. I mentioned the roof because of after getting caught in several thunderstorms with the T. Thank god I have an awesome understanding wife with a great sense of humor!!! Last year I was considering selling the 31 because I was struggling to drive it but instead I installed hand controls and was able to fall in love with my car again. My trunk isnt as big as a Nova or Olds but I have heard about "travel chairs" and fold up scooters which I will look into. I guess I am going to have to swallow my pride and look at a chair the same way as I do my crutches, as much as I may hate them they are my best friends because I can go nowhere without them. Besides I suppose I could always "pimp out" a chair or scooter. We are making plans to go to the Goodguys show in Pennsylvania in May as spectators and this might be a good place to try out a chair. Thanks Jim

[livestrong]

disabledandbored, on Jan 17 2007, 02:40 PM, said:

Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO), on Jan 16 2007, 01:44 PM, said:

Although I'm not able to walk as of yet, I can appreciate your situation...I too am a big hotrodder, I have a 55 Olds and a 66 Nova SS and am allways going to car shows. What kind of rod do you have? I can see if you were driving a 23'T or a deuce roadster, how it might be a problem bringing your chair.

Funny you should ask! Up until 2001 I did have a T-bucket, but back then I was walking with a cane. As you know a T-bucket has about as much storage space as a Harley Davidson so I had a fold up cane which worked ok but as my condition progressed I was struggling more and more to get in and out of the car so I now have a 31 Ford 5-window coupe. Even though it isn't big it is nice to have doors,a trunk and a roof. I mentioned the roof because of after getting caught in several thunderstorms with the T. Thank god I have an awesome understanding wife with a great sense of humor!!! Last year I was considering selling the 31 because I was struggling to drive it but instead I installed hand controls and was able to fall in love with my car again. My trunk isnt as big as a Nova or Olds but I have heard about "travel chairs" and fold up scooters which I will look into. I guess I am going to have to swallow my pride and look at a chair the same way as I do my crutches, as much as I may hate them they are my best friends because I can go nowhere without them. Besides I suppose I could always "pimp out" a chair or scooter. We are making plans to go to the Goodguys show in Pennsylvania in May as spectators and this might be a good place to try out a chair. Thanks Jim

Hello. Iam so happy of all those who are getting the chances to walk,Ia t12/l1,I can walk very short distaces with underarm cructhes.I do have braces as well,Iam detrmind to work as hard as i can in pt,The paral bars are very hard but i will walk again