Re: OT:Power wheelchairs

[Guest guest]

I think I should clarify that Im not asking how to finance it. I know Im going to have to pay for it myself . What I want to know is does anyone recommend any particular MODEL or brand???

Nola

[low dose naltrexone] OT:Power wheelchairs

Thanks to Rae mentioning it, I thought I'd bring iit up again. I am being selfish here but am hoping to hear fromothers who have got power chairs. I need one now.....no insurance, no physical therapist to advise or help,am on my own. Anyone have any advice or recommendatiions?

Nola

[Guest guest]

I've probably said enough today, but I urge you to talk to your local MS Society to see if they maintain a donation storage locker; then it's a matter of making sure you get a w/c that fits your height/weight. Look for one 6-wheelers (not an old-style 4 wheeler due to its too-wide turning radius) where the larger wheels are under the center weight of the chair, with smaller wheels in front and back, which offer the best maneuverability and tight turning radius on a dime, which you'll need if you need to use it inside your house. If you intend to be in it for hours each day, you might look for a recline capability, so that you can take the weight off your bum for awhile and recline, dispersing the weight onto your back. If you do this, you'll need a headrest and foot leggings to rest your head and feet on while you're reclining, otherwise a flat foot plate will be fine while you're sitting normally. Lastly, after you've chosen a chair, I strongly suggest you find out who your local wheelchair supplier is (ask at your hospital's rehab dept), and call them to see if you can have one of their tech's visit. Be willing to pay them to adjust the leggings to your particular leg length, to adjust the placement of the back and headrest, etc., to your unique build. I say this because I bought a barely-used Jazzy 1121 wheelchair from a man whose wife had died and no longer needed it; but the wife was 5'2" (whereas I'm 6' tall when standing), which meant that it needed quite a few adjustments to fit me perfectly.

The other thing to mention is power controllers: The old lady who had the chair before me barely used it because "it ran too slow", and she got frustrated with it so didn't use it much. These chairs are very customizable in terms of their speed and how fast they turn, advance forward or reverse. You need the repair technician to program it to behave exactly as you would like it to -- in my case, FAST!, with a top speed of 7mph when I'm on a straightaway heading out shopping.

Rae

From: low dose naltrexone [mailto:low dose naltrexone ] On Behalf Of oothappamSent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 7:31 PMlow dose naltrexone Subject: [low dose naltrexone] OT:Power wheelchairs

Thanks to Rae mentioning it, I thought I'd bring iit up again. I am being selfish here but am hoping to hear fromothers who have got power chairs. I need one now.....no insurance, no physical therapist to advise or help,am on my own. Anyone have any advice or recommendatiions?

Nola

[Guest guest]

WOW! Rae thanks this is all GREAT advice! I needed to know all those things!! I will check all t hese things out. Thanks sooo much!

Nola

RE: [low dose naltrexone] OT:Power wheelchairs

I've probably said enough today, but I urge you to talk to your local MS Society to see if they maintain a donation storage locker; then it's a matter of making sure you get a w/c that fits your height/weight. Look for one 6-wheelers (not an old-style 4 wheeler due to its too-wide turning radius) where the larger wheels are under the center weight of the chair, with smaller wheels in front and back, which offer the best maneuverability and tight turning radius on a dime, which you'll need if you need to use it inside your house. If you intend to be in it for hours each day, you might look for a recline capability, so that you can take the weight off your bum for awhile and recline, dispersing the weight onto your back. If you do this, you'll need a headrest and foot leggings to rest your head and feet on while you're reclining, otherwise a flat foot plate will be fine while you're sitting normally. Lastly, after you've chosen a chair, I strongly suggest you find out who your local wheelchair supplier is (ask at your hospital's rehab dept), and call them to see if you can have one of their tech's visit. Be willing to pay them to adjust the leggings to your particular leg length, to adjust the placement of the back and headrest, etc., to your unique build. I say this because I bought a barely-used Jazzy 1121 wheelchair from a man whose wife had died and no longer needed it; but the wife was 5'2" (whereas I'm 6' tall when standing), which meant that it needed quite a few adjustments to fit me perfectly.

The other thing to mention is power controllers: The old lady who had the chair before me barely used it because "it ran too slow", and she got frustrated with it so didn't use it much. These chairs are very customizable in terms of their speed and how fast they turn, advance forward or reverse. You need the repair technician to program it to behave exactly as you would like it to -- in my case, FAST!, with a top speed of 7mph when I'm on a straightaway heading out shopping.

Rae

From: low dose naltrexone [mailto:low dose naltrexone ] On Behalf Of oothappamSent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 7:31 PMlow dose naltrexone Subject: [low dose naltrexone] OT:Power wheelchairs

Thanks to Rae mentioning it, I thought I'd bring iit up again. I am being selfish here but am hoping to hear fromothers who have got power chairs. I need one now.....no insurance, no physical therapist to advise or help,am on my own. Anyone have any advice or recommendatiions?

Nola