10 replies to this topic

[laurabagpuss]

hello my name is laura im new on here i am disabled i have fibromyalgia it affects my muscles i know its dificult in a wheelchair as i do have one and struggle with it is there anyone that can give me some advice on a good wheelchair for outdoor use i am able to walk also but some days i cant walk for long and have to use my chair i want to be more independant im 30 but because of my disability i cant lift my current chair into my car alone it is a nhs wheelchair which are heavy i wondered if anyone had any advice on which sort of wheelchair i should go for thank you all very much

[Tired of hurting]

Morning I have a Quickie GT w/ power extender rims. I have spasm problems in my arms and legs.I have a Rav 4. My front wheels sit on bumper, and I pivot it in the car. At first it was hard for me. but I have got stronger. Three stops is about all I can do in a day. It gives me great freedom without added pain I love it.. Also has shocks in front wheels so you can jump up curbs. Not 12 inch though. I tried it, and one wheel got up but the other didn't. I grabbed on to th bumper of my car,and a man from a resturant came running out and caught me before I hit the ground. It was a God thing. I haven't tried that again.

[laurabagpuss]

Tired of hurting, on Jan 19 2008, 05:37 PM, said:

Morning I have a Quickie GT w/ power extender rims. I have spasm problems in my arms and legs.I have a Rav 4. My front wheels sit on bumper, and I pivot it in the car. At first it was hard for me. but I have got stronger. Three stops is about all I can do in a day. It gives me great freedom without added pain I love it.. Also has shocks in front wheels so you can jump up curbs. Not 12 inch though. I tried it, and one wheel got up but the other didn't. I grabbed on to th bumper of my car,and a man from a resturant came running out and caught me before I hit the ground. It was a God thing. I haven't tried that again.

thanks for that i will bear that in mind im not looking forward to looking for a wheelchair scared of making the wrong choice

Edited by laurabagpuss, 19 January 2008 - 06:00 PM.

[jules]

Hi Laura

you might be entitled to an NHS chair voucher towards your chair. If you get assessed by your local wheelchair service, they will give you a voucher towards your new chair, the value of which varies. I have just got a voucher from my Wheelchair assesment centre for £1313. It means that you can put extra towards it if you like.

Hope this helps

Jules
x

[laurabagpuss]

jules, on Jan 19 2008, 07:44 PM, said:

Hi Laura

you might be entitled to an NHS chair voucher towards your chair. If you get assessed by your local wheelchair service, they will give you a voucher towards your new chair, the value of which varies. I have just got a voucher from my Wheelchair assesment centre for £1313. It means that you can put extra towards it if you like.

Hope this helps

Jules
x

hi ya yeah i looked into that on my last ot appointment and went to see the wheelchair services they are going to issue me with a voucher for £308.50 for me to get a light weight wheelchair do you know of any good ones that are light to lift and will aid me to get out on my own more?thank you for your help

[Lucydog]

jules, on Jan 19 2008, 07:44 PM, said:

Hi Laura

you might be entitled to an NHS chair voucher towards your chair. If you get assessed by your local wheelchair service, they will give you a voucher towards your new chair, the value of which varies. I have just got a voucher from my Wheelchair assesment centre for £1313. It means that you can put extra towards it if you like.

Hope this helps

Jules
x

Crickey Jules, How did you manage to get so much? Ive never heard of anyone getting more than £600 max!! Well done!

[jules]

Hi Luce

I'm not sure, I got some of it for the chair and a proportion for maintenance, but they let me use the whole lot for the chair then I pay for the maintenance myself, I'm just glad I got it. A good reason for living in Gloucestershire, if you can cope with the floods! We are on a flood warning again, the Severn has already burst it's banks so it's sandbagging time again

Jules
x

[kewlcatkez]

jules, on Jan 21 2008, 11:46 AM, said:

Hi Luce

I'm not sure, I got some of it for the chair and a proportion for maintenance, but they let me use the whole lot for the chair then I pay for the maintenance myself, I'm just glad I got it. A good reason for living in Gloucestershire, if you can cope with the floods! We are on a flood warning again, the Severn has already burst it's banks so it's sandbagging time again

Jules
x

Hiya,

I don't want to jinx things, so I won't say how much just yet ( til my chair is handed to me!) but the w/chair services are giving me more..
This is due to the fact that I dislocate very frequently ( every day multiple) as well as my paralysis. So I therefore HAVE to have the lightest chair possible. Also, they bodged up last time and I got a bad deal...

With regards to the OP's question. It depends on how lightweight you need the chair to be. Lightweight or ultralightweight. The best bet is to go and try out some chairs, see how you can handle them. Your w/chair services should be able to arrange for you to go and try out the chairs they can get hold of and they can arrange for reps chairs too so that you can get an idea of the type of chair you need and whats available. Don't forget to contact Chair manufacturers, not necessarily Mobility businesses as they usually stock one end of the market and not necessarily the lighter chairs etc ( some are geared to Elderly etc). some, most will let you demo the higher end chairs.

For £350 you are looking at a steel chair, so to get an alluminium chair you will have to put money to it and the lighter you want, generally the more money you will spend...right up to the Titanium chairs, where a lot more money will need to be added. Do you use a chair full time? how long will you spend in your chair? these are the questions you will need to consider too.


HTH

Take care,

K

Edited by kewlcatkez, 21 January 2008 - 02:14 PM.

[rkzenrage]

http://www.hoveround...wer-wheelchair/

http://www.usatechgu...w.php?itemid=70

Mine is an older model and still running like new. They are an amazing company, with GREAT local support, even for my used chair... that is right, live support & tech/repair for my used chair.
If I needed a loaner while my was being fixed, which it has never needed in the years of daily abuse, I would have one.
It turns, literally, on a dime. It is the only direct drive chair on the market... that means POWER and TORQUE. Mine goes 7mph top speed, which is far faster than you need it to go (you can set how fast/slow it goes). I too have joint/bone/muscle pain and it is too fast for me on it's fastest setting wide-open. I keep it on a lower setting out in the open.
But, the toggle is graduated so it only goes as fast as you tell it to no matter how fast you have to top speed set.
You are over the center of gravity and drive wheels, which means no tipping over NEARLY as easily as most chairs and getting stuck FAR less.
I cannot rave enough about this chair.
Also, there are more options for the seating, headrest, footing, etc than I could ever go into and they will talk to you about and show you anything you need.
All I can say is I am just happy with this chair.

Edited by rkzenrage, 21 January 2008 - 11:34 PM.

[Tired of hurting]

laurabagpuss, on Jan 19 2008, 11:56 AM, said:

Tired of hurting, on Jan 19 2008, 05:37 PM, said:

Morning I have a Quickie GT w/ power extender rims. I have spasm problems in my arms and legs.I have a Rav 4. My front wheels sit on bumper, and I pivot it in the car. At first it was hard for me. but I have got stronger. Three stops is about all I can do in a day. It gives me great freedom without added pain I love it.. Also has shocks in front wheels so you can jump up curbs. Not 12 inch though. I tried it, and one wheel got up but the other didn't. I grabbed on to th bumper of my car,and a man from a resturant came running out and caught me before I hit the ground. It was a God thing. I haven't tried that again.

thanks for that i will bear that in mind im not looking forward to looking for a wheelchair scared of making the wrong choice

It is awesome 9 hrs of batteries,Jumps up curbs and goes so faster than walkers can't keep up. Roho air seat Jay back rest. It's cozy. My grandkids ride in my lap. They have great balance,and know when you go down hill head back to sift weight. I would zip my Grand daughter in my sweatshirt. Thats how she learned the balance.It makes life worth living..Go to quickie .com usa

[Red Devil 13]

Hi Laura

I have just got my Quickie Ti...and wow what a chair...its light has a great feel. It is pretty pricy but to have the freedom of getting inand out of the car and having that independance...its sooooo worth it. The whole chair only weighs about 8 kilograms and i havent had a days trouble...!!! go to the quickie site and have a look...goodluck and hope you find summing real soon! !!!