by Burgerman » 04 Feb 2016, 14:37
True. It takes many people some yerars to figure out whats wrong and what could be better and everyone is different.
My problem is that I went from able bodied, 37, and landed up in a hospital paralised. So my perspective is from someone that cannot walk or move at all without wheels. As such its all or nothing.
Manual chairs as used by many paraplegics offer *nothing* over a GOOD compact powerchair. Not width, length, or indoor capability. And they certainly are an unstable base for working from in any form, carrying anything like a bowl of soup. You need both hands. So opening a door to cary something hot that spills is impossible. And outdoors they really are hopeless. Even getting to a pub across the road completelyu exahusted me, and that is a very small hill and a flat surface. And cold, wet tyres/pushrims, tiny casters jamming everywhere makes it a complete nightmare. And god forbid you try carrying 3 pints back from the bar! Terrible life limiting experience. That lasted 2 months once back home after a year in a spinal injuries unit.
And the only GOOD thing is that they are light. So easy to get into a car. But its not easy to get ME into a car... So thats also a bit pointless.
So I made a decision. A large expensive one. To get any real independence back, I NEEDED a good powerchair, as good as possible and as compact as possible. And that means I NEEDED a van to get in, and drive from a wheelchair. And that means I needed a decent paved driveway with space. And sxo on. These are all parts of the puzzle. They are all essential and work together. And since I cant walk that means at least one extra back up powerchair. Now I can get in, drive, go where I want. And dont actually need the van for local trips, because anything you normally drive to, like a pub or shopping centre I just use the powerchair. Its easier and by the time you park a car and wait in traffic its just as fast. With the advantage that I have yet to be stopped for being drunk in charge of a wheelchair.
So a big expensive plan to regain my independence. I did the same at my house, with walls, gardens, everything made accessible, open areas, doors that bash out of the way in both directions, tons of space by removing walls etc. And low maintainance etc for the future, lights and heat that turn on and off as needed automatically, black tiles and carpets and wet room floors so tyres dont mark, level access entrances, wide doors, etc. At some point you need to make a big plan andc figure out where to start. Preferably before you start wasting money modifying houses in the wrong place, or buying wrong equipment only to start over.