wheelchair tips

ham79

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Getting my wheelchair next week :( anyone got any tips on how to do this ?????
 
C

catherinecherub

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Hi Ham,
Difficult one this.

Bear in mind that someone has to lift it so not too heavy.
Easy folding action.
Comfortable seat and foot rests.
Easy maneuverability.

I am sure others will have some ideas.

How are things with you my friend? Any further forward in sorting your Diabetes team out?

Take care,

Catherine.
 

hanadr

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I had the wrong wheelchair for months. I really needed the self propelled one and I had the one with the push handles only. Decide if you can propel yourself.
Hana
 

jopar

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If your wheelchair is being provided by social services they will ensure that you are given the correct wheelchair..

If you are purchasing it yourself, then the mobility shop will go through with you what your needs are and to match a chair that suits you..

Both we also measure so that the wheelchair isn't too big or too small...

The only time chairs are wrong, is when somebody decides to purchase one themselves, either via mail order etc without any advice from the supplier... Or if the wheelchair is a short-term loan chair where it tends to be 'pot luck' situation with the belive that well, you won't be using for long..
 

phoenix

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Pump
If you aren't getting the wheelchair direct from the NHS, find out about the voucher scheme, or for a powered one the motability schems.
My Mum was just about to get a new wheelchair, (her temporary one was borrowed). Though she sees various docs, nurses and physios on a regular basis no-one suggested this scheme. I found out about it and she got a voucher which covered a large part of the cost. (actually I was furious, our intervention saved a couple of hundred pounds...why had no-one mentioned it?)
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/Equipment/DG_10038381
 

ham79

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Cheers I'm going self propelled the doc wanted me to have a push one but I thought that defeated the purpose of "making life easier" . Been measured up so should get the right thing.

My angel Cherub finally getting to see the pain team but still can't face eating and my legs are getting worse daily (hence the wheels) . But still not giving up good friends and family keep giving me a boot up the backside :D cheers for your words Regards Willie
 

IanD

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I was worried by the thread title. I hope your wheelchair doesn't tip.

Seriously, make sure the foot rests are adequate. Its too easy for your feet to slip off & drag on the path. We've had trouble with our mothers that way. When your feet lose sensitivity, they can easily be injured.
 

ham79

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pain team on thursday woohoo and the wheelchair is awesome I'm a speed demon :twisted:
 

Synonym

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ham79 said:
pain team on thursday woohoo and the wheelchair is awesome I'm a speed demon :twisted:

Congratulations on the wheels! :D 8)
 

ham79

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change the pain team woohoo to boohoo :cry:
Saw them got a tens machine to see if that'll work BUT in her opinion it ain't neuropathy or my diabetes so 9 months down the pan She thinks it's my spine :shock: .
My doctor WRONG my dsn WRONG my "specialist" doc WRONG all the tablets and keeping my bloods higher WRONG I would love to go into a full blown rant and use language that is very appropriate but not for here but I'm numb I don't know what it means until I see the neurologist in 12 weeks :shock: If this is my spine I am taking legal action against everyone even the Icelandic volcano almost a year wasted
I've just had enough
 

Synonym

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Hello again Steve. :)

Have they at least arranged for an MRI on your spine yet? If not, it would be a good idea to get your GP to push for one as I can see an awful lot of wasted time ahead of you in various waiting lists as you go back and forth between departments! :( :roll:
 

ham79

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They have arranged nothing and with the amount of messing around I've already put up won't hold my breath.
just can't believe 6 months of cr*p and if it's my spine what extra damage have I done to it. But at least I know how to use a wheelchair if it does(and probably will) go wrong