[zooyork22]

I'm a 22yr old para. I've beena out of rehab for a month now and I'm still in a Quickee Breezy folding chair. The Medical Supply Company that I have been going through has no experience in young para's or quads, just the elderly. I dont have insurance so that limits my budget. Trying to find a good rigid frame wheelchair for around $2,000. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[hillarymcarter]

My husband got an awesome TI Lite for around the $2000 mark.
I would suggest finding someone who can let you try out a demo for a couple weeks before you commit to buying one. It is also very important to try to anticipate what your future needs will be. My husband was sent home in a huge monster of a chair and it was a nightmare. Keep in mind that you will be getting better balance as you adjust to your injury. I would suggest getting the smallest chair possible and get as few accessories on it as possible. Make sure it will be simple to take off accessories such as armrests. The kicker will be your cushion. That is the most important part of your wheelchair and they can cost up to $850.
I would also suggest getting a couple different people to measure you...if there anyway you can find someone who is more experienced in young quads to measure you? Most places will measure for free. You don't have to use the company that rehab wants you to use....that is what screwed us.

[AHolland]

Most of the larger city centers have hospitals where you can get measured for a chair. It involves going through a process where you get the proper size and all. Here are a few tips for the new person.

If you are covered by insurance, etc. Check into the duration of time when you can expect to get your second chair. You will find your second chair will have a lot of differences to your first chair.

Determine how gressive you think you will be in a chair. Younger people tend to want a chair that will suit their ability to get around. Older people tend towards less agressive chairs.

Get a chair that allows for adjustmments in the dump of the seat. Initially you may be most comfortable in a square sitting position. Later you will probably want to tuck in your legs and have the seat sloped back more.

Get a chair that has a bit of a cant on the tires (4-6 degrees?). A first chair tends to have tires mounted straight up. Sporting chairs have a lot of cant to help reduce the chance of flipping over when moving fast.

I like chairs with removable siderests, arms, etc. It makes transferring out of the chair easy if these things are not there, or are removable.

Get front tires around the 4" size. Smaller front tires are nice for whipping around, but do get stuck on lips, gravel, holes easier. Large tires (6") roll over cracks, rocks, lips easier but get clumsy once you get better in a chair.

Your choice of backrest height and wrap-around will depend on your disability. With time you will probably want a smaller and smaller back. Large backs are comforting at first, but get in the way as your skills go up.

I never use a seat belt, but I do have a seat with a bit of a dump (backwards slant)

I never use anti-tippers. They get in my way around curbs. Some people keep them but turn them up.

I personally like push canes that can be removed or turned in. One more thing that adds weight. Turned in push canes help with pulling your frame into a car, etc. Think of it this way, will you ever push yourself? Once you get better you will probably not want people pushing you around too much. They are optional.

It's nice to have a lot of features, but everything adds up in space or weight and price.

[blynn78]

well was wondering what size chair you would need.. I have a colours Eclipse chair. about 14 inches wide i think will have to double check. But i am selling for about $1,000 if your interested email me Bridgetmorell@yahoo.com

[loolie]

I am 26 and i had a ti lite titanium also well that was until a few days ago until i left it in the yard while i hoped in the car with a friend to go on a ride and someone scooped it up out of my yard...... Im in my big clunker until i get a new one. They are the best though lite weight easy to take apart to just throw beside you in your car or behind you.... I agree i had the removal arm rest on it but after a few months i stopped using them at first i felt naked without them thinking oh i need them it will be to hard to get my pants n without them but its not nothing a little wiggling cant do tippers had those to they didnt last a week dont even know were they are....... I do like my push things though. Not so much for someone to push me well im lazy i should be using my braces if that says anything but they come in handy for me bc alot of friends have steps and its easy for them to pull me up the steps with the push handles if noones there such as a strong male to pick me up so i stick with those.... I personally like those. Days before mine was stolen i was saying i would like a lower back on mine well now i have the chance... I would try some out bc once you get it theres no turning back until your next chair and with my insurance and my medicaid thats every 5 years... You mentioned you dont have insurance.. Having a disability you should try to get on medicaid until you can get insurance. Or have both it helps........ Also were you live to you have a program called vocational rehabilation they paid for my hand gears in my car and before i got pell grant for school they payed for that so they may have some things to offer you...... Also independent living is another program they are coming in to remodel my bathroom for me they do things like that i heard they help with supplies to like standing tables and stuff maybe a wheelchair i dont know never asked about that. See if you have these were you are and if you do they are there to help you...... They have so much to offer to people with disabilities like help fid jobs through voc rehab its assome that they offer these things to help us get on our feet to get back to living a regular life again sometimes we just need a boost.......

[wayne]

zooyork22, on Jan 5 2006, 05:14 AM, said:

I'm a 22yr old para. I've beena out of rehab for a month now and I'm still in a Quickee Breezy folding chair. The Medical Supply Company that I have been going through has no experience in young para's or quads, just the elderly. I dont have insurance so that limits my budget. Trying to find a good rigid frame wheelchair for around $2,000. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I've recently have been in a wheel chair myself. but I've looked around on the net and found a sight to check out spinlife.com just take your time and look around check out their ultra lights

[justravis]

i am about to buy my 3rd Colours Eclipse...i like how it's adjustabilty has enabled me to adjust it to changes in my lifestyle

if u hav to get a quickie, the gpv is comparable

[kanga2433]

The GPV is fine; I am sitting in one as I type, but it is rather BULKY to put into the car etc. I am looking at various chairs to see if I can reduce the bulk and the catilever style frame, (like the Quiickie TI) seems to be a lot eaier to store. I am hoping to get an RGK demo soon of their cantilver frame chair so I'll report back when that has happened.

[justravis]

I have never had a Ti, but users have given me the impression they are overrated.

As far as the bulk of the GPV, the Eclipse is known to be lighter

[Carmen Elizabeth]

I'm an 18 yr. old para and for the last 5 years I've had a Quickie GP. It's been a good chair...but since I'm going to college in the fall, I need a lighter more userfriendly chair. I looked at both a Ti lite and another Quickie, but I decided on a different chair. I'm getting a Kuschall AirLite Pro. Granted, I don't have it yet (insurance nonsense ) but I liked that better than the other chairs I tried. Just thought I'd throw my opinion out there.

Keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin',
Carmen