27 replies to this topic

[Cheshire]

Feel free to lay into me if I'm just being whiny.

I'm about to make the attempt to pick up where getting injured interrupted with college. I've been going over there and working with some of the department prof's (going for an associate's in Professional Crafts: Clay) and we built a table for my wheel to be on so I can throw standing (leaving me to be able to sit when I get tired, not get tired sitting!) Throwing standing up is supposed to be better for the back anyway...less hunching over the wheel. Anyway. I've (more or less) gotten things taken care of/set up for fall semester in the craft department building.

My problem is I have some non-major classes I have to take to graduate on time on the other side of campus, plus the library, cafeteria, and such are a bit of a trip. Parking on this campus is tricky business...I've pretty much got guaranteed parking at the clay studio, but anywhere else is a craps shoot early in the morning and impossible after about 9-10am.

I can walk with a cane, but slowly, and am really nervous about using a backpack loaded with books. Also, walking more than short distances makes my pain kick up pretty bad and wears me out.
Anyone have any ideas about how to travel between half a mile to 1 mile without using the car? Should I just suck it up, quit being a whiny brat, and be happy I wasn't injured further?

[wheels5894]

Wheelchair?

[Joed]

A wheelchair or scooter would be the only solution. Since you're attending college, your state Vocational Rehab would likely fund a scooter for you...that's how I got mine while at college.

I was stubborn about getting one at first, but after my first day with a scooter, I was amazed at how much better I felt at the end of a day, mentally and physically.

When you don't have good balance, those heavy backpacks can be dangerous. Mine shifted on me once, and smacked me down like a pro wrestler....ouch! It was then that I decided I'd try out the scooter...and I never regretted it.

Congrats on getting back to school!

[smokymtn memories]

Hi Cheshire, I agree with Joed about trying the scooter. I also can walk with a cane, but tire easily, what you carry can be an issue, and I don't know about you, but I could'nt win any races either. (Could mean late for a class?)

I have to admit I don't know how you'd do time and distance wise with wheel chair. Maybe someone else has some input on that and can let you know. Good luck and hope you enjoy your classes!

[Cheshire]

thanks for the replies!
A wheelchair had crossed my mind, but I just wasn't sure about how other people would take to seeing me get to my destination and then get out of the wheelchair unassisted and walk to my desk or stand at my potter's wheel. That's one of the big reasons I asked here...figured I could shrug off the A/B comments pretty easily, but really didn't want to tick off someone who was a full-time chair user.

Scooter...what is that? I'm about to search the forum for some clues, but unless you're talking about a moped-type thingit, I'm not sure...any brand preferences?

[Alin Steglinski]

Cheshire, on Jul 25 2007, 05:57 PM, said:

thanks for the replies!
A wheelchair had crossed my mind, but I just wasn't sure about how other people would take to seeing me get to my destination and then get out of the wheelchair unassisted and walk to my desk or stand at my potter's wheel. That's one of the big reasons I asked here...figured I could shrug off the A/B comments pretty easily, but really didn't want to tick off someone who was a full-time chair user.

Scooter...what is that? I'm about to search the forum for some clues, but unless you're talking about a moped-type thingit, I'm not sure...any brand preferences?

your function seems to be pretty high level, a handicap scooter would not be needed, i believe that a moped would be good for you, can drive it to college and even drive it on campus!

[Cheshire]

Joed, on Jul 25 2007, 01:26 PM, said:

A wheelchair or scooter would be the only solution. Since you're attending college, your state Vocational Rehab would likely fund a scooter for you...that's how I got mine while at college.
...*snip*...
When you don't have good balance, those heavy backpacks can be dangerous. Mine shifted on me once, and smacked me down like a pro wrestler....ouch! It was then that I decided I'd try out the scooter...and I never regretted it.

Congrats on getting back to school!

The carrying weight is one of my concerns: I'm having to carry anywhere from 5-25 lbs between buildings. I was able to do that before injury, but now I'm lucky to get about 10-20 feet with weight. Balance...yeah. I'm still easily tip-able. (and I'll take your money, too! haha...okay, that was bad.)
I didn't know Voc Rehab funded things like that...I'll check into it. Thanks!

[Alin Steglinski]

Cheshire, on Jul 25 2007, 09:18 PM, said:

Joed, on Jul 25 2007, 01:26 PM, said:

A wheelchair or scooter would be the only solution. Since you're attending college, your state Vocational Rehab would likely fund a scooter for you...that's how I got mine while at college.
...*snip*...
When you don't have good balance, those heavy backpacks can be dangerous. Mine shifted on me once, and smacked me down like a pro wrestler....ouch! It was then that I decided I'd try out the scooter...and I never regretted it.

Congrats on getting back to school!

The carrying weight is one of my concerns: I'm having to carry anywhere from 5-25 lbs between buildings. I was able to do that before injury, but now I'm lucky to get about 10-20 feet with weight. Balance...yeah. I'm still easily tip-able. (and I'll take your money, too! haha...okay, that was bad.)
I didn't know Voc Rehab funded things like that...I'll check into it. Thanks!

good luck, the VR isnt even funding my powerchair i need... 25,000 dollars... GRRRRR DAM YOU VR!!! skrew them im gonna dig up the money from other places.

Edited by Alin Steglinski, 26 July 2007 - 02:22 AM.

[Cheshire]

smokymtn memories, on Jul 25 2007, 02:53 PM, said:

Hi Cheshire, I agree with Joed about trying the scooter. I also can walk with a cane, but tire easily, what you carry can be an issue, and I don't know about you, but I could'nt win any races either. (Could mean late for a class?)

I have to admit I don't know how you'd do time and distance wise with wheel chair. Maybe someone else has some input on that and can let you know. Good luck and hope you enjoy your classes!

Yup...tire easily and move at about a mile an hour unless I'm really mad or spooked, and then I pay for it later. Those are my primary reasons (and carrying weight) for wanting to look into alternatives besides the obvious driving between buildings. My environmental brain says there's got to be a better way than wasting gas and killing my car! If nothing else, I'm toying with the idea of asking the school to let me nick one of the grounds crew's golf carts...but I don't think they'll take kindly to that.


Alin: I'm lucky to be pretty high-level functioning. Here's where I'm at: I figure that info will probably help with my query.
I walk with single-point(?) cane, back/outer half of right leg/pelvis and most of right foot paralyzed: neither sensation nor function. Right foot has foot drop and no balance control. Can walk over varied terrain but use a foot...orthopedic(?) for uneven ground. Walking wears me out completely after about...5 houses? I guess that's 500 ft? I'm really bad with distance, and the NC mountains don't exactly do city blocks. I know my road is about 1/4 mile and I can do about 1/3 of that and back without collapsing, but that's a few yards from my limit. I can stand unassisted for semi-short durations (5-10 min), and can stand leaning on something for about 15. Bladder/bowel is manual.

I...I know I'm lucky to be able to walk as well as I can. I don't want to appear lazy. When I was A/B it infuriated me to watch A/B's ask friends driving by for rides to the top of a hill because they didn't feel like walking the distance, or classmates driving 3 buildings down because they didn't feel like walking...and half the time I walked and got there before them. I want to do what I can...pull my own weight as it were, but friends and family get upset with me when I push too hard and too far...I don't have a sense of how much is too much until I'm on the brink.
Bah...I'm being all emotional and squishy. Ya'll don't want to hear this.

[wheels5894]

You know, Cheshire, I have been thinking about this and I reckon we need to dump some the 'what will other people think' and concentrate on you instead. you seem to me to be in the rather awkward position of being halfway between paraplegic and AB. I say awkward as clearly it is highly frustrating to be able to walk but not enough and not feeling a mobility aid is right either. I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and accept some solutionthat will help you.

the best idea to come out is a mobility scooter. These are fine outside and yet can be used inside a building too. being battery powered it would not waste your energy which is what you need when you get to college. Also choosing the right one will give you carrying capacity for the weight you have to shift about. The key thing is being able to load and unload it from your car.

I would suggest you go and look at some and try them out I am a full time wheelchair user (T6) but had a chance to try one of the scooters out on a visit to a castle near Inverness. I was impressed! 4 mph, no effort and easily enough space for a small box in the area the feet go. Go and look and you will be sold on one.

[smokymtn memories]

I think Wheels has got the right idea Cheshire. Mobiity scooter sounds pretty good to me. My right leg and foot are also the worst, balance stinks. Living in NC has got to be similar to my being near the smokies. Some of the Terrain is almost impossible. Up hill is hard, going down hill is worse! Let us know what you decide on kiddo! Good luck!

[Cheshire]

smokymtn memories, on Jul 26 2007, 10:02 AM, said:

I think Wheels has got the right idea Cheshire. Mobiity scooter sounds pretty good to me. My right leg and foot are also the worst, balance stinks. Living in NC has got to be similar to my being near the smokies. Some of the Terrain is almost impossible. Up hill is hard, going down hill is worse! Let us know what you decide on kiddo! Good luck!

Oddly enough, it's the NC side of the smokies that I'll be in! (just east of Waynesville, NC)

[smokymtn memories]

You're going to be close enough to me to be in spitting distance! Seriously though, I don't go to Gatlinburg anymore because you're either going up or down hill. I get tired from going up and can loose control easy going down. I have trouble controling the momentum. I should probably think about getting a wheel chair. I'm curious how much a mobility scooter would be, the way it was described for use inside or out sounded perfect for you. But, can you take it in a vehicle or would you have to ride it from home? There are a lot of things to find out. How far from the school will you be living?

[Cheshire]

Riding it from home is out of the question: I'm 35 miles on the nose one-way from campus, and the only non-interstate route involved about 15 miles of no-shoulder 55mph country highway. (I bicycle commuted 4 or 5 times pre-injury...decided non-car to school was too risky.)

I've been looking, and need to do some measuring to figure out what kind of inclines I'm faced with. I have no reference point for what different inclines look/feel like when they're in numeric form. Gonna go in the front yard/driveway with some string and a compass to get a visual representation.
I've been poking around online and there seem to be some decent takedown and folding models that will fit in the trunk of my car. The other option would be to get an aftermarket trailer hitch installed and carry the scooter on a hitch-mounted platform of some fashion.

Ah, problem-solving. Gives my brain something to work on so I don't grind gears. I love MacGyver-isms.

[Joed]

Concerning how to get it to campus....you might ask at your college (maybe a disability advocacy department) if they could designate a spot for you to keep your scooter in one of their buildings on campus when you're not using it. They let me park mine near a stair well where there was an electrical outlet handy for charging the batteries.

That way, you don't have to worry about transporting it everyday and it would still be accessible to you if you needed to take it off campus for other jaunts that require a lot of walking too.

[Alin Steglinski]

earlier i mentioned a moped, you said moped wont work, you dont appear to have high level needs i.e tilt recline, specialized seating, full externalized postural support.

so a handicap scooter would be fine in your case...

dont even ask about my case, unless you want to hear about $25,000 powerchair.
if you DO want to read about my case then click the link below
http://www.apparelyz...amp;#entry36983

[hockeydahc]

wow really freaky. i could have almost posted the topic starter myself. Last summer i had to face life again and I took up an evening art class...clay! for the freedom from structured classes. it was a good way to get me back into learnign again. I also have just about the same function as you. I stand and walk with one cane. I actually would suggest teh wheelchair route, only for ease of travel. Get an ultraight folding frame and throw that sucker in teh trunk. That's what I do. and a backpack for the chair works well. I have my first chair at home for evenings after the shoes come off, so my chair never leaves the trunk at home. you wouldnt need to take it out at home if you didnt need it either.

I too was hung up on what people would think. I got over it by looking at my sled hockey teammates. we're all different injuries and abilities. Not all wheelchair users are confined to them, and if you're questioned, thats all that needs be said really. I mostly stick to handbuilding but I like the wheel too. I don;t have the balance to throw standing, so I throw from my chair. I also like having a lap to help carry clay and my pottery.

Are you just gettign started in clay? or are you returning to it. I don;t seem to recall.
I'd be interested inseeing some of your work.

late thought: you throw standing, and probably would use a stool if you needed, rather than a w'c if you had it. I love my footrest, (hinged in the middle) yet it prevents me from getting as close as I'd like. something to think about if it would apply... swing away footrests?? or even leave it off the chair altogether for you.

Edited by hockeydahc, 27 July 2007 - 05:34 AM.

[Tarkus]

I would take a look at the Segway HT.





For information on the Segway and people with disabilities please visit:

www.DRAFT.org


I ride it to the plane door.

Be Big,
Alan

Edited by Tarkus, 28 July 2007 - 09:44 PM.

[wheeliebear75]

What about a disabled students program at the college? Often they may be able to arrange cart services on a lot of campuses for their semi ambulatory students. Using a bag on wheels with a good handle will help you as well. (Sorry if someone already made this suggestion but it was getting hard for me to read all the replies. )

[Cheshire]

Talked to my Voc Rehab guy today: he also suggested a manual wheelchair. Between ya'll suggesting and him, I feel much more comfortable exploring that option. Also going to check with the college's student services about what they can offer.
I might end up going the wheelchair route. The more I think about it...no batteries to die on me, guaranteed comfortable seat (that's a major issue ATM with sacral nerve damage), incline limited only to what I can pull off, easier to transport...sounding pretty good. Now I just have to coordinate between Medicaid, Voc Rehab, and the college. Woot!

I tested the theory of chair use vs. walking about with my cane with a medium-weight load at the local Books-A-Million using their wheelchair. It definately made a difference in fatigue levels and mobility.

Thanks for all the support and suggestions! I love this forum.

[smokymtn memories]

Cheshire - glad to see you're getting it all worked out! Hope you have a good year at school.

[Alin Steglinski]

Cheshire, on Aug 7 2007, 12:25 PM, said:

Talked to my Voc Rehab guy today: he also suggested a manual wheelchair. Between ya'll suggesting and him, I feel much more comfortable exploring that option. Also going to check with the college's student services about what they can offer.
I might end up going the wheelchair route. The more I think about it...no batteries to die on me, guaranteed comfortable seat (that's a major issue ATM with sacral nerve damage), incline limited only to what I can pull off, easier to transport...sounding pretty good. Now I just have to coordinate between Medicaid, Voc Rehab, and the college. Woot!

I tested the theory of chair use vs. walking about with my cane with a medium-weight load at the local Books-A-Million using their wheelchair. It definately made a difference in fatigue levels and mobility.

Thanks for all the support and suggestions! I love this forum.

ok since ur going manual wheelchair try looking at E-motion or Xtenders, they are PAWS (power assist wheels)

[Apparelyzed]

Regarding PAWs, I found this about Xtenders and E-Motion:

With the Xtenders, your rear STF height can be no lower than 18.5". While Xtenders are lighter (35 versus 50 lbs.), there is internal resistance if you push them when they are off. E-motion wheels, on the other hand, roll freely when the power is turned off.

Regards

Simon

[milosh]

i don't think he needs a powerdrive. it's cool for us quads, but not for a semi-para.

as per wheelchair... getthe lightest one you can with as few features/parts as you can. for example, Ti. russ1 got it and it's a great piece of vehicle. ;)

don't care what others will think of it. actually i know plenty of part-time wheelchair users.

[rkzenrage]

I'm really glad you did that.
It was very hard for me to go to a chair from my cane, and to a power chair from my chair... but my Dr., each time, asked "do you want to use it when you need it or need it all the time and never be able to go to the bathroom or get into bed yourself because you never used it?", after that it was a no-brainer.

[Nichole]

I just wanted to say good luck! I'm starting college too this year. I can walk/stand some with my leg braces and a walker, but i will most definitely be using the wheelchair lol. I'm still hoping I wont be too tired from pushing myself around campus! I use one of the tiLite wheelchairs and its great! Its a rigid frame, and i just pop the tires off, fold the back down, and put it in the seat next to me in my car. They are super lite. Have fun with school! I know i'm excited lol. This will be my first year in college.

[hockeydahc]

they are minimally heavier, but I still suggest an ultralight folding frame w/c vs a rigid. I have a (Ti lite) if you're a part time chair user, it may work out better that it folds. just make sure you can get it in the trunk.

[Nichole]

hockeydahc, on Aug 9 2007, 06:16 PM, said:

they are minimally heavier, but I still suggest an ultralight folding frame w/c vs a rigid. I have a (Ti lite) if you're a part time chair user, it may work out better that it folds. just make sure you can get it in the trunk.

Yeah, the folding frames are a lot more convenient when you're trying to get them in and out of a car. The only reason mine fits is because the back folds down.