I bought my Rollz (second hand) after discovering them through you! I’ve sold it now as I found it too heavy to get in and out of the car by myself and need a wheelchair more often. I now mainly use an electric Quickie Carbon 50R when I’m teaching but then also have Byacre Overland and Ultralight rollators for quick trips. I also have a basic manual chair to be pushed in when I’m really unwell but I really can’t self-propel! My choice of sticks/crutches are Cool Crutches but I do have a light-up Neo-Walk for special occasions!! My inner ableist meant it’s taken me a while to come to terms with using mobility aids but on Tuesday night I was conducting a group on stage at a theatre and actually used my wheelchair which seemed a BIG step! ❤
This was lovely! ❤ I have two Switch Sticks. I typically use both when I’m on transit. The derby handles aren’t the best but I’ve made them work by using them with the handles backwards. I’m taking home my first custom titanium wheelchair at the end of the month! Freedom! My shoulders haven’t been my main issues so I’m ok for now in a manual, especially an ultra light weight one with a low back. So jealous of all the really pretty and functional mobility aids especially walking sticks in the UK. I’m in Toronto Canada. Despite it being such a large city we don’t have an abilities expo here.
I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and trials with different mobility aids. I am a few years into chronic illness journey and a few years into using a cane and power chair to help. More recently I've been side eyeing rollator options. Hearing experiences for people with symptoms similar to mine has helped me understand what to consider for options.
I have had the stick with the blue gel handle . Very comfortable. Unfortunately this year in the heat wave the gel has stated oozing out . I would recommend them however for comfort. I have had mine for years . I have just ordered a Neo Walk with a Snoopy shaped handle .
Great video thanks . I have CRPS ( free to any home) with power chairs there are a few things to look out for . Terrain is the biggest one especially for folding chairs if you are always on perfectly flat surfaces fine but they tend to get to much flex and eventually crack when used in rougher surfaces Local weather conditions is another big one i live in a tropical rainforest and it is stupid hard on everything including electronics, the simplest chairs seem to work the best in this environment Terrain especially off road with mud and loose surfaces take extreme care things turn to custard in the blink of a eye a dedicated all terrain chair comes into its own in off road conditions. For around town sort of stuff i just have a second hand pride go chair it does everything i need it to except stay in it all day but can't complain for the price $300aud plus $80 for new batteries good to go . The only other downside is getting the seat on when i take it off for transport. The chair i use the most is called a Action trackchair the model is Axis . For where i live it is perfect as during the wet season often have to go through deep mud 150mm plus. It does everything well except go inside a pure outdoor chair 1m wide gives incredible stability. It is a pig to load given the width and weight 250kg . For my environment it is perfect. The only other chair the comes close is the magic mobility X8 in a drier environment I would have been my first choice. Both these chairs have a limited range but that can be sorted with the use of a properly mounted generator get it done professionally if going down this path. For me a power chair is a much better choice than a scooter especially in shops, zero turn and nothing between you and the counter. Cheers from Australia
Hi, i have used the breeze 4 scooter, and it is like a tank it will go everywhere but not good for going in shop as it is to big so i use my sticks or my smaller scooter like your videos my border collie used to run 6 miles a day when we used breeze 4 but now he just walk now as he is getting on now so we mack a good mach
This is so so helpful, thank you! I just bought my first wheelchair off a friend who no longer needed it, and it's really helpful in certain situations, but a massive inconvenience in others! I either use my walking stick, which has it's own limitations, or a wheelchair, which has other limitations. I'm yet to find something that makes me feel truly independent, and it can be really overwhelming faced with all the different options out there (and their prices!!). So this definitely helped give me a better idea of where to start :)
Have you had an nhs/social services wheelchair assessment? And/or do you know anybody that has videos about it? I'm waiting for mine, and just interested in what it is like. They've told me they come to my flat and assess that, too. Which will be interesting as I don't find it as accessible as it was sold to me as (it is a council flat, so not much can be done, I fear. But I might get put on the list to swap to a more accessible place). I would really need a powerchair, or some sort of assistance with a manual, but no way can I afford any power ad-ons out of pocket. So I'm not too sure how the whole thing will work. I have a car on Motorbility, so hopefully that could get a hoist fitted. Thanks 😊
Is your council flat owned by either you or the actual council? If so you should 100% be eligable to get your flat made accessible to you. The council aren't allowed to say no (as far as I understand it) and in theory it should all be done for free based on an OT reccomendations but you may need to find somewhere to stay for a while if you need huge changes (although I've absolutely heard of people being put in either a hotel or a care home if they need it for accessibility) so whilst I'm not eligable for an NHS wheelchair and had to buy my own so I can't tell you about the assessment for one. But I do know a tiny bit about adaptions
I *swear* by my FlexyFoot walking stick! It's the oval handle, not-foldable. So stable and comfortable, puts your weight directly down over the stick the same as the ? Handles. The FlexyFoot ferrules I recommend to anyone as they really do improve the stability and comfort of the sticks. The FlexyFoot sticks themselves aren't the most attractive, but I covered mine with hot pink duct tape and stuck some reflectors on it - even though it's hardly haute couture, I get compliments and questions about it all the time. I also used rainbow tie dye duct tape to cover my rollator as that was a weird champagne/beige colour. Easy enough to do, and technically removable unlike spray paint
I am so embarrassed about the thought of using an aid even though I know it would probably benefit me. How did u feel after getting your first mobility aid x
