Wheelchair help.

dori2o

It's finally here. the need for a wheelchair for trips out which are anything more than a few minutes outside of the house/car has come.

I've borrowed wheelchairs in the past (from family and from hire shops) and I have noticed problems I have with them.

1, I have quite long legs so it is uncomfortable sitting in them as the foot rests are, or don't seem to be designed with long legged people in mind.

2, The seats are very cramped. I'm quite stocky so need a bit of room.

3, they are so damned heavy and bulky. Getting it in and out of the car, especially at any time I maight be on my own is a nightmare, especially as we only have a Punto.

4, Going down hill is very frightening, both self propelling and being pushed. It's especially hard for the person pushing as I'm 18 stone.

So, I need help and advice on which type of chair would be best for me.

I've asked the GP for a referral to the local Wheelchair assessment centre but as ever with any of my requests he's reluctant to do anything and has suggested I speak with the pain Dr when I see him again, in January.

Can anyone suggest a chair or manufacturer who sells a chair that would be suitable considering the problems I have mentioned above.

I'm not concerned bout costs for now as I'm likely to have to get some sort of funding some how, hopefully I might be able to apply to the Charity for Civil Servants for some financial help.

Many Thanks

Chorlie

It's very hard to advise with the information given, but as for your points:-


1, You should be able to lower the foot rest on almost all chairs, whether it will go low enough depends on your height, but I know guys who are 6ft+ who use wheelchairs with out an issue. There are ways around it for example sit on a high cusion to lift you higher or a custom made chair can be made higher to give more leg lenght.

2, Chair come in different seat width standard is about 16", I use a 17", but you can get 18" or again custom made can go as wide as you want, however when you start getting over 18" door width can start to become an issue.

3, The weight of a car depends of what it's made from, if it has arm rests, high back etc, again custom made tend to be lighter but as always the light something the more expensive it is.

4, Downhill isn't easy, it's more finding a way that's right for you, but good gloves, brakes, anti-tip bars & bigger front wheels all help, but a light weight chair is better.


You're best trying to see wheelchair services and they will measure you and tell you what they think is best for you, including cushions etc; if you use a local independent supplier get them to bring several demo chairs and try them, tell them what you like and don't like, a good supplier will find the right chair for you, a bad one will try and sell you what they have in stock. IMHO a local mobility shop isn't the best place to buy a chair from, ok for very cheap chair that are used every so often, but not for every day use chair. You need them to bring demo chairs to you, so you can try them in your environment rather then wheel them around a smooth flat shop floor for a short period of time.

I'm close to 18 stone but have shorter legs, I use a TiLite rigid frame chair, its made from Titanium so is light, but a rigid frame may not be right for you if the chair has to fit in a boot of a car, again a good supplier will bring both types and like you try getting them in / out of your car.

Wheelchair cost from around £200 to £5,000+, so your budget also comes into play, the wrong chair can not only be hard to use & uncomrtable but a very costly mistake, you should view it the same as you would when buying a car.


These have a good selection of different types of chairs....

http://www.gerald-simonds.co.uk/index.php

http://www.epc-wheelchairs.co.uk/

sunnyone

You need to start with the basics, measuring the size seat you need for starters.

A standard wheelchair seat is 18" by 18", all decent wheelchair manafacturers offer a wide range of seat sizers and any decent mobility retailers can measure you to make sure you buy the correct size seat but you must accept that a wider seat means less accessability in shops/buildings as getting around in even a standard size wheelchair is limited.

The correct seat size also helps your second problem, I have longer than average legs so my seat is deeper than it is wide so with correctly adjusted foot plates my legs are very comfortable, with my RDS (as it was when i was DX'ed) any "dragging/heavy leg" type problems caused by incorrectly positioned leg rests causes me increased pain levels.

There are many "light weight" wheelchairs available that are anything but, all light weight means is they are lighter than some wheelchairs and even some of the lightest wheelchairs are not easy to lift because they are uncomfortable shape to lift, the only way to decide what is right for you is to try as many diffrent wheelchairs as possible and try them in the car.

My favorite wheelchair is an very light active user chair, its a rigid frame chair which when I was capeable of self propelling sat on the passenger seat when I was alone, to decide between folding and rigid frame wheelchairs you need to try them and not just for a few minutes round a shop, you need to try them out doors on various surfaces and gradients. If the shop wont allow this go somewhere else because you are going to be sitting in the chair for extended periods so you have to be sure you will be comfortable.

There are so many decsions to make, pop off wheels or not?
Back height?
Cushion type (and even if you buy your own chair you are entitled to a NHS wheelchair cushion assessment, a good, suitable for you cushion is essential and good cushions are VERY expensive, one of mine cost as much as the wheelchair did)?
Swing away leg rests or fixed?
Choice of castors?
Tyre choice?

Where to start really?

Crossed posts with chorlies so sorry for any repitition.

Parva

Can't really add much to the excellent advice given above other than to reiterate what sunnyone mentioned about the cushion. Mine was supplied by my OT and is a Vicair Academy which has 5 pockets in different areas, all of which have what can only be described as air-filled tea bags in them. These can be added / removed from the various compartments until it feels just right. I have to say that my life would be hell without it, indeed I would likely have to spend much of my time in bed.

I had a major op that basically left me minus a leg and much of my hip leaving me with a bum that's no longer totally symmetrical. After sitting just 25 minutes on a pillow or anything else that came to hand I was in agony. Similarly, driving the car was the same, anymore than 25 minutes and I just had to stop. The cushion was an absolute revelation! I use it both in the wheelchair and in the car and am sat on it literally from the moment I get up to the moment I go to bed, I would be totally lost without it. I've tried to get a 2nd one out of the OT for the car permanently (save me carrying it out on crutches) but due to health and safety bull they can't give me one. I mean what's safer, me sat on the cushion driving or driving without it in agony. Ho hum... Definitely going to purchase a 2nd one but at around £400 they don't come cheap!

If you're going to be spending long periods in the wheelchair then a comfortable cushion is absolutely vital, regardless of the expense.

dori2o

topaziem wrote: »

The CSBF has helped many with this type of funding. They are also there to provide the Advance Payment for those who want a Motability Car.

There was some discussion a year or so ago that the cost of a wheelchair V a 'travel' electric scooter is minimal. They now seem to want to pay for an electric model as it has more uses.

Funny you should mention that, I was just coming on here to discuss that very issue.

I was discussing with my wife last night about the ned for a wheelchair and we have come to the conclusion that a scooter may be the best option.

Yes it is bulkier than a wheelchair and I'll still have the problems getting it in and out of a car, but I believe they can be broken down to make it easier to transport?

The house isn't large enough to use a wheelchair in and we don't want the hassle or expense of widening doors which won't be possible anyway in the case of the vestibule.

The only think we may have to look at is a stairlift as I can't continue to go up and down stairs on my backside at times where I am alone, when everyone else is in bed etc.

We think a scooter may be the answer as I mainly need it for when I'm out shopping or to be able to go to the park or on a day out with the kids.

So, many thanks for all the advice so far, but if anyone can advise on scooters that would be great.

Thanks.

luminated

I am glad you are getting some very good advice.

I have been assessed by an OT who feels that at my size (15 stone and six foot tall) there is no realistically priced transportable scooter she could suggest. OK whilst other OT's may not agree it did put a stop on my searching and especially after seeing so many users who look way too top heavy to be on one. b

The best I could find is a Rascal Liteway 6 but new are around £2,000 and they are rarely around second hand.

So meanwhile I am waiting for a proper assessment at the local Hospital during which they will consider a wheelchair with a power pack so my wife CAN push me despite her arthritis.

Good luck in your investigations as it is not easy but great advice on this forum.

GlasweJen

Just as an aside, you can't put a power pack on an NHS issued wheelchair and they don't give out electric wheelchairs unless you are an indoor and outdoor user who can't self propel.

scoped1

Just as an aside, you can't put a power pack on an NHS issued wheelchair and they don't give out electric wheelchairs unless you are an indoor and outdoor user who can't self propel.

I think this is debatable. I know of a guy who can self propel, but gets high end electric wheelchairs from wcs.
He asked for an electric wheelchair, as it is hard to be independent with a manual one.

if you fight for one, you should get it, if you have a reason behind it

GlasweJen

I'm in Scotland where electric wheelchairs are like live haggis. I can self propel, can't stand up or even attempt to walk so I'm an indoor and outdoor user but my cardiologist doesn't want me self propelling and wheelchair services don't give a stuff.

scoped1

A lot of wheelchair services dont give a stuff.
I don't know how different it is in scotland, but it can be like that in england too.
It takes a lot of arguing to get what you need. Which might involve emailing managers, or even further up the chain, your MP, disability advice groups, then looking up Eu law and see if it contravenes any human rights law (which it possibly does if your cardiologist has said not to self propel)

The problem with making it so people have to fight for things they need, is that the most vulnerable in society are unable to fight, so they get left with unsuitable support.

GlasweJen

No I'd probably get left with the bill lol! It turns out when you work full time all those wonderful free services we keep on hearing about (like social work services occupational therapy, social work carers coming in etc) aren't free at all and In some instances don't exist. And I'm not on a high wage by any means, it's barely over national minimum as I'm a trainee.