37 replies to this topic

[kate]

Zammo, on Jul 16 2008, 09:07 AM, said:

Don't think I'll bother with handles again.

One used to be able to get a chair with removable handles if that's of any use for the future.

[jetski]

On the road of life I have had quite a different experience regarding OTHERS. First, I seem to be invisible, because I have never had anyone come up to me to speak to me or ask if I need help or ask me whats wrong. I guess physically I don't look like the approachable type. In many ways you folks are very fortunate. Its tough being invisible.

I have had several occasion when someone was waiting on me and made comments about my disability. Part of my disability is that both of my hands do not work. In other words, I can't do anything with any of my fingers. No thumbs, no little fingers, nothing.

I was in a coffee shop once about to have a cup of coffee. I pick up a cup using both hands. I politely asked the waitress if she would tear off the top of those little creamer they use to keep milk in.

She complained, and told me that if I really tried I could do it myself and proceeded to tear one off for me, demonstrating how it was done. I never said anything in return, but my friend told her off.

Another time I was trying to take some money from my wallet and give it to this man. Of course I fumbled and fumbled, finally apologizing for being so slow. The man only remarked to me that if I put my mind to it, I wouldn't have any problems. Again, I just walked away.

I am going to write an article about wheelchairs and people in the new topic. Look for it, I think you might enjoy it if you have read this far.
jetski

[sits2much]

hahahah I take my handles on and off and it pisses my family off cause they always want to push me but instead I just laugh and bolt ahead of them yelling back if it wern't for those damn legs of yours you could be up here with me hahahaha.

[Emily C]

sits2much, on Jul 17 2008, 01:35 AM, said:

hahahah I take my handles on and off and it pisses my family off cause they always want to push me but instead I just laugh and bolt ahead of them yelling back if it wern't for those damn legs of yours you could be up here with me hahahaha.

Thanks for making me smile!!! HA!!!

[Hapahowlee]

jetski, on Jul 16 2008, 09:08 AM, said:

She complained, and told me that if I really tried I could do it myself and proceeded to tear one off for me, demonstrating how it was done. I never said anything in return, but my friend told her off.

Another time I was trying to take some money from my wallet and give it to this man. Of course I fumbled and fumbled, finally apologizing for being so slow. The man only remarked to me that if I put my mind to it, I wouldn't have any problems. Again, I just walked away.

Some people are not just ignorant but stupid too. Did these people think you were Uri Gellar? I'm sure you could bend a bunch of silverware too while your getting your fingers to work. That's terrible.

[City Girl]

I wasn't even going to get push handles as my trial chair did not have them but the men in my life (father, husband, son) all insisted that I get them. It's the only time I let them push me around. hehe.

I really like the ones I have as they are these telescopic handles which can be very easily removed as well as, raised or lowered for height adjustment. I leave them on all the time but just keep them lowered. If my men want to push me, they can adjust them.

As I am walking more and more now, however, I have been using them to hook my forearm crutches onto my wheelchair, so if I wheel to work or otherwise, I can bring my crutches with me.

I was wheeling up a hill a few weeks back headed to a city street festival and I guy came up to me and offered to push me, so I thought, "What the heck?" He ended up joining my friends and I for the evening and paid for my all my drinks. I always say, "Leverage what you've got." smile.

[kewlcatkez]

Hiya all,

Long time no see, ( I suppose thats what I get for living inland!! groan!) lol, good to see some familiar names still.

Emily, as you know, along with my paralysis I have a Genetic disorder = multiple daily dislocations. Due to this there are times I NEED to have push handles. Thank fully, these times are less now that I have a Titanium chair....believe it or not, with my old alu chair I couldn't push the chair even on the level without major dislocations. With the Titanium chair, I still subluxate and dislocate pushing, but this is less so on the flat..
Anyway, cutting to the chase, I have the relatively new Quickie A rgon Ti (a GTI in the US, Canada etc) and opted for the fold down push handles. Sunrise Medical describe them as:

"Fold down push handles - 4024
Fold these push handles down with the click of a
button for ease when storing or transporting the
chair. "

Please see page 9 of the online brochure: Accessories booklet- push handles, pg 9

They have worked out well for me as I dislike the fact that on my old chair, many folks would literally push me out of the way (using the higher handles) in say ASDA ( supermarket) etc. The fold down handles can hardly be seen, don't catch on things and are easier when getting my chair into the car.

If anyone wants I can take a pic and send it to show my chair? Oh one point though is that the fold down handles can only be on the backrest height FROM 32.5cm which is 12.5 inches ish. ( and above) standard back. This works out well for me as I have my back height at that anyway.

Oh and I have tried to add a pic of my chair to see if you can get an idea of the push handles/ back height etc and the whole set up with them. Bear in mind its a pic of my chair as new (had just added frame protection -lycra strips!) so is with the foam cushion it came with,not mine, CoG is altered &I have just this past week altered my back rest angle some, to help my posture/back pain from my dislocations there, and interestingly this makes the handles in a better position if and when they are used.

Hope this helps someone..

K

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Edited by kewlcatkez, 18 July 2008 - 08:45 PM.

[monkeyman]

Hi K, nice looking chair, how you finding the Argon? I looked at it last week and might be tempted?

Back to the matter at hand... i was in PC World queuing at the checkout, i finally paid for my item and was placing my card back in my wallet when i felt myself rolling forward? Looking round there was a guy in his late 40's who had decided to give me a gentle push so that he could get to the checkout (i was obviously taken far too much time).
I turned round and asked him what he thought he was doing and he said he was just helping me to move out the way, "thats what they're there for" referring to my push handles! I flipped at this and told him they are not there for him to use! and how would he like it if someone came up to him and pushed him!

Not very well it seemed as a security guard who witnessed the whole incident kindly showed the gently to the door LOL

I had another incident rolling up a steep hill (i no longer had push handles fitted). It was fairly tough going and this guy came running up behind me and started doing a sort of dance? Hopping left then right and looking over my shoulder. I stopped and asked if he was OK to which he replied "what do you want me to grab so i can push?".
"Nothing mate, i can manage thanks". He nodded but continued to follow me up the entire hill just in case some push handles miraculously appeared i presumed? Although a little annoying he meant well which is more then can be said for the first idiot.

Thats just a couple of my experiences - main thing is for me if i really need a hand then i'm not afraid to ask, and to stop all those opportunistic pushers i no longer have push handles fitted to my chairs, it confuses them!

Cheers, Steve