9 replies to this topic

[hurbshankin]

I'll be taking delivery of my Ti-lite in few weeks and was looking for tips on how to make the transition from Power to Manual as smooth as possible. Thanks in advance.

Hurb

[Hapahowlee]

Do you play sports? The reason I am asking is because of the chair you are getting. When I met my husband 17 year ago, he was using a Quickie GP with a rigid back. Five years later, he got another Quickie GP. We moved 1500 miles out West and he was getting a new Van and decided it was time to get a new wheelchair. It takes more than just a prescription from your Dr. now because of all the Medicare claims for people too lazy to walk who are getting scooters. He had to go to a wheelchair clinic and be evaluated by a PT. This PT is basically nuts! There were a lot of similarities between her ex husband and my husband. I always go along with him to appointments just as an extra memory and I sometimes know what he needs more than he does. Anyway, I felt this PT believes all Quads C5, 6 & 7 like my husband and hers should play wheelchair Rugby like her husband does. The Ti Lite is a very light wheelchair. This PT ordered a Ti Lite TA that weighed only 9.9 lbs. A Quickie GP weighs about 40. Now I can see how it is easier to propel a lighter chair, but it also tips very easily. My husband felt more dependent in the Ti-Lite than his Quickie. When he sits in his Quickie, he doesn't use arm rests or belts and he especially takes the anti-tip bars off because they get in the way, usually when I have to bump him up a step. In the last few years my husband lost a lot of weight and therefore, lost a lot of muscle and upper body strength, but he still uses his Quickie GP that he traded after 2 months for the Ti-Lite that was ordered by the PT. This was a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Do you mind me asking how you came to pick the Ti-Lite? Also just wondering why you are going to a manual chair and such a lightweight one in comparison to a remote chair? Everyone has different needs even with the same level of injury. I’m sure you know that. We’ve been dealing with people in the industry that seems to believe all people in wheelchairs can use the same equipment. GRRRRR!

[hurbshankin]

Thanks for the reply. I was injured 11 months ago. The PT at my first rehab center didn't think I would be able to push a manual chair so she set me up with a power chair. I have been using my inv. TDX3 since last October. This past winter I have started to regain some tri-cep function as well as an overall invrease in core strength, nowhere close to where I was pre-accident though. I called the company where I gotmy power chair and told them I was ready to get in a manual chair. They came out and consulted with me and my current PT and started the fitting process. The wheelchair rep, a paraplegic, sells Ti-Lite chairs and convinced me that Ti-Lite are better than the Quickie. I do intend to play sports. We are working on adapting a kayak for me so I can paddle once again. Not sure if I'll do the rugby thing, closest league is a couple hours away. I really wanted a manual chair to help increase core stability/strength as well as a good arm workout. I planned to start around the house, then move to the track @ the local High School, etc...

by the way, how does you're husband transfer himself? I'm a similar level, C5/6. Although I could push a chair a bit, I can't lift myself out of my seat. What technique does he use, does he need help or slide-board?

Hurb

[Hapahowlee]

Good for you for wanting to switch to a manual chair and getting some of your triceps back. My husband absolutely to this day refuses to get a remote wheelchair. This was actually a solution this idiot van conversion sales woman came up with when after the company converted a minivan for my husband, it was discovered he could not get onto the lift they installed. They blamed my hubby by saying he got a wider wheelchair, which was wrong the Ti-Lite TA was the exact width of all his Quickies, 26.5 inches at the bottom. The van conversion company screwed up by putting a child's lift onto a mini van. They wouldn't admit fault and the State who approved $35,000+ for the conversion just bought the van and that's how we got our $27,000+ back for the purchase of the mini van. He now has a full size van that is being converted at this moment. It will have a swivel driver's seat as his current van does.

My husband transfers on his own, without a sliding board. When we had our new home built, we made sure all the doors were 2'8" and all low boy thresholds, tall boy toilets and we bought all new furniture too. When it came to the bed, we just made sure it would be the same height as his wheelchair, so he just lifts up and moves over. Same with the shower. He used to use a transfer shower bench, but with the new home, I told the builders to use sliding glass doors and install a fold down shower bench. He has to be really be careful with his transfers because there is a 3 inch gap in between his wheelchair and the shower bench so he can slide the door closed while taking a shower. Just in case, you may want to get a sliding board for your transfers. You may find that one day your upper body strength will allow you to transfer without it, but good idea to have it on hand. My husband is 23 post injury and we are getting a transfer board. He has lost a lot of weight that includes his muscles and his transfers are taking a little longer than usual. There are times he'll just ask me to help him. I'm working with him to get his strength back. I don't mind helping him, but if I'm not here, I'd feel more comfortable if he was back to where he was.

I hope the Ti-Lite works out for you. My husband loves sports, but isn't interested in getting all beat up by playing them in a wheelchair. I know the Ti-Lite is a couple of thousand dollars more than a Quickie, so the wheelchair company we dealt with probably made a huge profit by switching out chairs for my husband. He just couldn't get used to the Ti-Lite because it made him feel unstable. He always felt as if he was going to flip backwards. He actually almost did when he went to pick up the mini van being converted last year because the OT and conversion co. insisted there be a lockdown system for the unoccupied wheelchair and the anti-tip bars got in the way. So they were taken off. Not a smart idea. With a lightweight chair such as the Ti-Lite, you really do need anti-tip bars or you'll crack your head for sure. All the best to you.

[coolbreeze]

Thanks for the info.

[hurbshankin]

Hapahowlee, Are you in the USA? If so, how did you go about requesting funds for the van?

Thanks,

Hurb

[chefzapp]

It was not the lightness of the chair that caused it to tip. The rear wheels need to be adjusted, this will change the center of gravity. Making the chair way easier to handle and eliminate that easy tipping. When u get ur new chair, make sure the venedor adjusts everything to ur liking. Best way is to just get in push around adjust and keep on till it feels the best to you. It is their job to fit the chair to ur specs. I rolled around in a chair for over 4 months that was not adjusted for me bcuz of a crappy vendor. Many spills later, got it adjusted and cant believe the difference it made. Biggest adjustments are in the dump and rear wheels. Hope all goes well and u like the new manual, take care

[Hapahowlee]

[quote name='chefzapp' date='Jun 3 2008, 09:53 AM' post='61079']
It was not the lightness of the chair that caused it to tip. The rear wheels need to be adjusted, this will change the center of gravity.

I don't know so much about that, we had the rear wheels adjusted as well as other things. It never worked out for my husband, but not everyone is the same. I just wish everyone who honestly needs a wheelchair can get one without any hassles. I don't think that's asking for much, but Medicare does.

[quote name='hurbshankin' post='60859' date='Jun 1 2008, 10:07 AM']
Hapahowlee, Are you in the USA? If so, how did you go about requesting funds for the van?

Thanks,

Hurb
[/quote]
Vocational Rehabilitation! We live in AZ outside of the Phoenix area. We used to live in MO and my husband used Voc Rehab before I came along. They were able to set him up with an agency that provided a cleaning woman. Voc. Rehab in AZ actually helps you with going back to work. Just before we moved to AZ they changed their policy. It used to be to help people get full time jobs and pay for whatever they needed in order to work and their goal was to get the disabled independent from Soc. Sec. funds. The new policy is to assist people who work full or part time and are supplementing their SS funds. So we lucked out. I must have made a hundred phone calls to different agencies. My husband has been driving a 1986 Ford van since 1989. The air conditioner went out a few years later, but he didn't drive that much in the midwest and it didn't bother him, but when we moved to AZ and he began working part time (only 4 miles away) it was still too hot driving this old van. My first call was to Vocational Rehabilitation and it all depends on who you talk to because 98 phone calls later, I finally got in touch with an office closer to where we live and found out this agency helps with the costs of van conversion. We made an appointment to get my husband qualified. They don't care how much money you have or make. If you don't have a job, they will find one for you. Since my husband already had a job, his approval went straight through.

Voc. Rehab has a list of vendors they deal with. OTs to do driving evals and Van conversion companies. My husband had been driving a full size van for 20+ years and expressed a desire to get something smaller. Well too bad we got hooked up with 2 idiot vendors. The OT and Saleswoman for the Van Conv. Co. both told my husband he could get a lift installed on a minivan. Voc. Rehab won't pay for the vehicle, but they will pay for equipment needed. So we paid $27,000+ for the minivan and the conversion quote came to $35,000+ and Voc. Rehab approved it. Only thing, the Conv. Co. put a child's lift on the mini van. It's the only side lift that will fit on a mini van. Neither vendor would take any responsibility for this mistake. I did a bunch of research and Braun the makers of this lift, told me they don't recommend use for an adult and also wouldn't use a side lift on a mini van. After many phone calls and meetings with top State workers and a run past the Governor, the State bought the van from us, we got our $27,000+ and the vendors got a slap on their wrists. I plan to post this story on the Bad Business Bureau Web Site and hopefully will get the attention of the media. Sorry I went off on a tangent here, but this was just last June when everything went wrong and we didn't get our money back until Feb 08. We're getting his new FULL SIZE van converted by a company owned by a Quadriplegic who also has an engineering degree. He's awesome and is "Pimping Out" this van. Should be done by next week.

BTW I just posted an answer regarding payment of a wheelchair. My husband got a new wheelchair last year and of course Medicare only pays 80% of what they feel is "Medically Necessary." So Voc. Rehab picked up the tab on the remainder of this wheelchair b/c my husband can't work without a wheelchair. Call Voc Rehab in your State and keep making calls to everyone you get referred to. I've been with my husband for 17 years and always take care of calls, paperwork, etc. and it takes a lot of time and persistence. Good luck to you. Hope you get everything worked out.

[hurbshankin]

Thanks for the info, I have a meeting with VESID (NY State's VOC/ED) In week or so to get the ball rolling.

Hurb

[Hapahowlee]

hurbshankin, on Jun 4 2008, 10:37 AM, said:

Thanks for the info, I have a meeting with VESID (NY State's VOC/ED) In week or so to get the ball rolling.

Hurb

That's fantastic!!! Good to get the ball rolling ASAP because you never know how long it will take to get yourself approved and funding approved, etc.

This morning, my husband called about how his van was coming along. We went through a Ford dealer who found a van in the color we were looking for in California. We asked for the bare minimum because Voc. Rehab is paying for a lot of the mechanical stuff. So this morning we found out that the driver's seat that is getting a Ricon Swivel base is not working with the Ford installed automatic seat positioning motors. So this is a little set back in our schedule of getting this van by next week. We have to try to find a plain Captain's seat with no motors or try to get Ford or the conversion company to remove all the preinstalled Ford stuff and hope not to shell out any $$. Most of the Ford stuff is not needed because the Ricon is a 6 way swivel base. My hubby is getting really bummed out b/c of the year long mess we went through with the mini van conversion. I just told him, to choose his battles. This can be taken care of and stop getting upset over every little thing.

I wish you all the best and hope it all goes very smoothly.