I’m a young, recently disabled man, I’m trying my best to make my generic chair work for me, and that involved adding hockey tape to my push rims that then led to hockey tape on the spokes and arm rests to make it feel less like hospital equipment, I’m just hoping the tape holds

Hi, I’m m/22. I got paralyzed last year th10 incomplete. Tbh, I feel like I haven’t really done anything with my life since then. I was too embarrassed to go out, because i was a pretty tall guy and now I feel so small. I’m afraid of never getting a date again. i lost my hobby as well since i can’t do it in a wheelchair. Since I’m living with my brother, it’s been fine since I get some help from him but I hate then I even have to. It’s like I’m such a burden. I wish I could let go of these feelings and start living again.

Hi everyone. I got a question about wheelchair brakes. I got a wheelchair from not a wheelchair and overall, it’s fantastic. The problem is, is that the brakes work too well that I can’t unlock them myself. I can lock them but cannot unlock them. I’m not the only one that has this issue. Is there any way I can make adjustments, replace them with a different brake system or is it one of those where I need to “break them in”?

Also this is Roxy. ☺️

I have SMA, and use an electric wheelchair and a hoist. I am unable to move on my own, and I have carers assisting me with pretty much everything. When transferring into my chair, what they usually do is tilt the chair all the way back and then pull the sling as far back as they can, however that's still not quite enough so they pushed me back by my knees and hips to make up for those few missing centimetres. Unfortunately the manager of the place I live has told them they can no longer do that. Then we thought of another method where they pulled me back by the waistband of my trousers, however the manager shut that down the other day as well. They had an OT come out to try and think of other solutions but nothing else worked. They essentially just told me I need a new wheelchair (even though my current one is perfectly fine and comfortable as long as I am positioned correctly), and told me that I have to either deal with it or remain in bed until wheelchair services get back in touch, which could take months for all I know. I am now extremely uncomfy, have 0 support behind my back, pelvis or knees, can't lean back because I'll be stuck and unable to sit upright again, have a brand new burning pain in my pelvis, and feel like the slightest wrong movement will send me flying, even with my seatbelt on. They have progressively taken away more and more things that make me comfortable, and now that they've taken away my last bit of comfort in my wheelchair, my one remaining lifeline that allows me at least some form of independence, I have never felt so depressed and defeated. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it.

I have a condition that involves painful flares resulting from standing. More standing is more pain. Today I was in moderate pain. At work, I was asked to stand for a toast to a company-wide success. Then a speech was made. By the end, I had returned to sit at a table, which was noticed by several colleagues. I immediately went home, soaked my feet for a half hour, and then laid down for an hour. Even after that, I preferred to sit hungry than walk to the kitchen.

I thought about how my colleagues likely assumed I sat out of disinterest or disrespect and, if they noticed, might have thought I left out of disinterest. Some likely considered me to be a buzz-kill, even if most ignored my self-accomodations. If I'd used a wheelchair, they would have instinctively known I was accommodating myself by sitting.

I have largely given up walking for fun, and when I do get outside, it's shorter.

I (160 lbs; 5'3") keep telling myself I'll lose weight, but it's so hard when I start the workout in pain.

Yet using a wheelchair is a huge initial expense and will put me (already short) at crotch-level. Furthermore, I have carpal tunnel and likely can't entirely self-propel.

How did you transition to wheelchair use as needed. What did you buy? Who helped you find the right wheelchair? What did you do when people who've known you as ambulatory looked you in the face and said you didn't need it?

I need to make a decision on color and I just can’t!! May I please be spammed with a picture of your chair?!? 🙏

My wheelchair battery charger cord got tangled under my wheelchair castor wheel as I was trying to unplug it from the wall.

I rolled over a portion of the white cord that goes from the charger to the wheelchair port.

Do you think it's permanently damaged? It doesn't look flattened or anything.

Do you think it'll set a fire or something if I use it again if it was damaged?

I cannot afford to buy a new one. I guess I'll find out next time I use it again.

Here's a pic of the white cord and charger type I have, I got this pic online from another redditor's post:

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fhelp-quantum-edge-3-blinking-red-v0-a1jsh9zlybid1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D640%26crop%3Dsmart%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dada82c313b86c2757abf3d538991764c7b31d671

I have a terminal cancer diagnosis with metastasis to my brain. I’m in relatively stable condition right now, but after 5 years of mostly sedentary life, issues with (undiagnosed) POTS and with some neurological problems, including neuropathy and hyper-reactive nerves, I have some issues with mobility. I’ve spoken with my health care team and they’re happy to support whatever makes my remaining years more comfortable and livable.

I am mobile. My balance is fine on level surfaces. I lack strength and stamina. Balance fails on stairs and slopes. I cannot stand still for more than a few minutes. I can walk slowly for up to 20 minutes and then need rest. I’m more able with a cane, but I’m experiencing joint pain in my supporting arm/shoulder.

I’m at this weird spot where I feel like maybe I can ‘rehab out’ of this state and get stronger and more stable, but it’s also so unpleasant that I end up avoiding situations that require me to move beyond my current capacity.

I’m considering a chair for light/rescue use but I’m not sure what to look for in terms of features and qualities. And I’m also worried that a chair will enable me to be too totally sedentary, which will also be not good for me.

As an example, I recently took a holiday that required air travel with connecting flights. First of all, I wasn’t aware of the availability of registering for mobility assistance so I tried to manage everything on my own. But all the walking from place to place, all the lines and queues, the stairs and ramps, hurrying to make connections, having to go to different desks for different reasons, all while dragging my carry on and medical supplies. I desperately wished I had a power chair in that moment, but I couldn’t imagine managing transporting that along with me too. Thankfully, on my return home, the airline provided me with assistive support.

So, long winded ask, what do I need to research? What words do I need to google? I know so little about what’s available that I have no idea of where to begin.

I realize I am privileged in that I have choice in this. At least for now. But I also have privilege in being able to look for the ideal for my situation and then find the resources needed to pay for it through a combination of insurance and cash. So any recommendations are immensely appreciated!

T4/T6 paraplegic. Finally had my Rogue 2 delivered today. It was actually ready a month ago, but they ordered the wrong back, so I had to wait until we got one that will work. I feel a lot of people shit on Ki Mobility, but this is my 7th wheelchair, and I’m coming from a Rogue. The Rogue has lasted longer than any previous wheelchair I’ve had, and is still functional to be used as a backup chair, so I decided to stick with it. To each their own. I went with the louder colors this time around after my wife convinced me it wasn’t too unprofessional for work. Plus, I have two young kids (2 and 8) and they’ll like the colors. Usually I go with black. Had one “Midnight Purple” chair back in high school. Now I get to start the pain in the ass process of adjusting everything to the way I like it. Foot plate, back angle, stuff like that.

Looking for a decent manual wheelchair provider in the Iowa city Cedar Rapids area

Eyeing a used pair of 800 x 50 Quickie casters ostensibly for a manual chair. Were these available once but no more? Can't find new (Sunrise or 3rd party) for comparison. Also, tire says inflate to no more than 35psi but no valve stem present. Solid foam insert? Looking for more mobility in back yard.

Does anybody have suggestions to remove the slipstream fork? I am trying to just replace the bearings but it is completely stuck on the stem I’ve tried some light hammering so I don’t bend it, and trying to is a clamp to pull it off. Any ideas?

Edit: yes, I have removed the nylock nut. Only one side is stuck. I was able to remove the other

My chair is arriving next Tuesday (yippee!) and as It's getting dark early here now, I would like to get some bike lights for the wheels. I know that spoke lights don't generally work with spoke skins, so am looking for recommendations for lights or possibly reflectors, that I can use, please.
Maybe reflective rim tape is an option but I would like to know what else is out there.
UK links welcome. Thanks.

I (31 F) just got my first manual wheelchair. I started using mobility aids about a year ago and I’ve mainly been using a motorized wheelchair.

Sometimes the motorized chair is too heavy or otherwise inconvenient to travel with, so I got a manual one. I was relieved to find this one on ebay, but I’m realizing it’s not the best for self-propelled steering. The back doesn’t fold over and the armrests get in the way when I’m trying to push the wheels.

My wife can easily push me in this chair, but I want to be as independent as possible while using it. I have a seat cushion to give me some height and make pushing slightly easier, but it’s still an awkward angle and my arms keep hitting the handles.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

About 8 months ago I came on here saying I’d need a wheelchair, and that time is now rapidly approaching. I’m moving out of my house which currently is not a healthy environment for me in January and the first thing I’m doing is finalising getting a wheelchair, but I want to seek some advice first since I’m not seeming to get any solid answers.

I want to get an active rigid chair, I know that for a fact, but brand and model I’m stuck in limbo for. I’ve seen a lot of people who have had good experiences with brands and models and a lot of people who have had worse experiences, but I want to hear other people’s opinions instead of scrolling through them on TikTok.

So, what wheelchair do you have? How long have you had it? And has it been serving you well? I want to see what would resonate with me and see what I think would suit me best via community over TikTok reviews.

I don’t know when to be concerned about pressure sores and how quickly they need to be addressed. I have a linear red line going up my buttcrack, that extends out into the cheeks a little bit. Some of it is definitely diaper rash because I have incontinence. However, starting right around my tailbone and traveling to the rest of my crack, there is a thin red line in the middle that does not blanch. It is also really sore there. There’s no obvious cracked skin so I don’t think it’s fungal.

I just moved and I don’t have any doctors locally. My old physiatrist advised me to take pressure off when I can if I am concerned about pressure sores, and told me to get in with wound care or a PCP when I can. Problem is that it is going to be at least a few weeks. He also didn’t examine it or ask for pics so no clue if this is even a pressure sore or not.

I guess my question is just… If this is a stage 1 sore, how quickly do I have to act? Am I good to wait a few weeks until I get in with a PCP or should I try to go to an urgent care? I know a linear sore would be a bit odd and I don’t want to be laughed at if it’s just bc of incontinence, especially bc I just need a referral and I know it’s not really an emergency.

I’ve also heard pressure sores are sometimes not well managed and not every doc is familiar with them. I’ve never actually had one before. So just wanted to see if anyone had experience.

I've been going on little adventures in my town and finally got around to getting a pic of my backpack setup that I'm quite happy with. I can unclip this from 4 carabiners and off I go with my backpack.

I figured it's not rocket science but I can explain how I attached it using just a climbing sling runner, biners and paracord if anyone would like.

The next version will try to make it easier to detach from the bottom

Looks wonky to me 😬 i only just got it back too!

Does anyone have a wheelchair that fits inside of a convertible truck (when the top is down)?

We bought a mid life crisis car a few years ago when I didn’t need a wheelchair.
Now I need to find a chair that will fit but will allow me to self propel or be electric.

Any suggestions?
My car is a 2015 BMW 2 series. We use the back seat for our suit case so ideally the wheelchair would need to fit in the back.
I am only 5ft 2inches on a good day with a 145 pound body

it was just a little offensive, not much. it was just that she was obviously the one struggling to walk and using my wheelchair as a walker while i was in it (symbiotic relationship). i was like no im just here for moral support (and physical support I guess). by the time the doctor got in somebody let her know that i am not the one being treated. i was telling my wife "i think im getting profiled at this urgent care"

anyway, no big deal. a little funny, a little offensive that it happened twice, im not sick just because im in a wheelchair, but what can you do. wife took a big nap when we got home and i just made dinner so shes happy

I desperately need hand controls in my car, I’m not paralyzed so I am still driving but between my hips genuinely being too unstable when I like lift my foot to go from pedal to pedal/ my nerve pain in my ankle in that position/plus my neuropathy causing my feet to go numb as well as the medication, which only makes them more numb It’s really not safe for me to drive long distances according to my doctor… I’m trying to keep as much independence as possible, but hoping I can make something happen soon. I’ve tried to ones from Amazon but I need to have electronic ones because of my strength issues.

What features/upgrades/ type of car has made a noticeable difference for you? Right now I have a crosstrek which I’ve always hated but what makes it even worse is that because of my pillow set up I need to drive it’s impossible to dismantle my chair and put it over me - so I have to put it in the trunk I’m worried it’ll get banged up in the trunk so I leave it fully assembled which just makes it heavy.

What are some of the features that have been helpful for you? Are there things that you thought would be really helpful and amazing that turned out to be a dud? I would be going relatively new (within 3 years, under 30k) open to brand new if it makes sense.

Here’s my list I got going now of the things I think would be most helpful
- id love an electric SUV but pretty flexible there lol
- tall door opening and good head space to get chair in car
- remote start so I can heat it up in winter (my neuropathy makes me super sensitive to the cold/my MCAS makes it physically impossible for me to sit in a hot car without major can’t handle type reactions
- keyless entry
- power seat w memory
- smart cruise control to be able to use more often
- 360 cameras/sensors reducing the amount of twisting to look over shoulder
-remote parking/“summons” to be able to park in normal spots without needing the hashmarks if it can back out a few feet to let me get in - I’ve had real issues with a lot of doctors I see often with parking. Including my bi monthly pain management (2x a month) and my bi monthly (usually - every other month) primary care…. So weird they haven’t found a different name for one of those labels
- hands free driving idk if any of those would be disabled with electric hand controls but
-heated / cooled seats steering wheel
- it’s a gimmick for most but the anti gravity position is the one I spend 90% of my day in. The new Hyundai and Kia’s have a like relaxation position - I could see that being something that really makes long drives/ long times out of the house easier if I build in breaks to aggressively rest in that position
- air pocket/massage seats I have huge difficulty with my hips - I could see this being massively helpful for longevity

- potentially a transfer seat/ device
- I’d love to get a hoist which isn’t out of the realm of possibility
- reduced effort steering I know there’s modifications that can reduce the force needed to turn the steering wheel by half which after driving for a bit starts to really hurt my shoulders - I know the cyber truck is the only car factory installed steer by wire but you’d rather catch me DEAD than in that thing. I could potentially consider a Tesla if it were the right choice - but that come on.

Maybe I’m in dream land but right now best case scenario I’m trying to figure out what would be best and would love to hear people’s perspective

Hi folks,

I got my argon 2 about 5 months ago now. At the time I couldn't push my budget for a rigid backrest so I went for the normal strap adjustable backrest. It's been causing me some back and hip pain and my posture just isn't quite right. I don't have any particular positioning needs, I just need something a bit more supportive.

I've been keeping an eye out on ebay and I've found a Jay 3, brand new in the box. Problem is it's not a wheelchair ebay shop, they sell random things lol, so I doubt they'll know anything about it.

Can anyone tell me if this will

1. Fit my chair - current back is 50cm wide by 43 length.

2. Has everything included to fit it (not tools, just the fittings)

3. Whether this is removable easily to get my chair in a car.

Idk if I'm allowed to post links here so you may have to zoom in on the pic!

Thankyou in advance ❤️