Hi Moms, My husband is a C-4 complete. His has tricep strength and is able to move his shoulders. He operates his power chair with a "Zonco Arm". It is a mobility arm that is attached to his wheelchair. With it he can move his arm forwards and backwards and side to side motions. His control looks like a U shaped goal post. I put his hand on the goal post, turn on his chair and he is able to drive. The Zonco arm is about $1700.00. We were able to get it approved by our insurance because it was the only way my husband could operate his chair. It was a much cheaper solution then the sip and puff and I like that it helps keep my husbands strength up.
Here is the info on the arm device. It is called a Zonco Arm. The contact is Andrew - who can be reached at 507-581-6638, [email protected], www.zoncoarm.com. The company address is 819 West 2nd St., Northfield, MN 55057. Good Luck, Kandy - Wife of husband C-4 complete 5/08 ----- Original Message ----- From: Quadius To: Eric W Rudd Cc: [email protected] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 4:07 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair I have to agree Eric. I have gained all kinds of sensation over the last four years and that major return didn't occur until 10 years post. Quadius 14 years post C2 3 Quad On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 6:20 PM, Eric W Rudd <[email protected]> wrote: return can occur anytime. coming from a c5, 12yrs post, who remembers stories from rehab, but has gotten return. 3-5 yrs is BS, maybe that's the 'major return' but i consider being able to 'cause' a spasm then lift my leg to reposition it a major feat ;-D Eric W Rudd [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 3:24 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair Hiya Moms' Return can occur anytime during a period of 3-5 years, depending on the level of injury, medical ability, patient attitude, physical therapy, attitude, physical therapy, attitude and foods. Some joystick handles have been modified using 1/4-3/8 pvc, elbows, and tee to create a handle like a "goal post" which replaces the ball based handle. Some technology is more expensive then its worth, depending on any return you husband experiences. Amino Acid powders should be part of your husband diet. They are consider the body's building blocks. Weight Lifters and Body Builders use them to help heal muscles between workouts. You husband has one wheelchair and if that should break because of abuse.... he has nothing to fall back on. Keep the kids from running into things and causing damage. (with kindness) Startec, is a head mount system, for operating an electric chair. ALSO, get your husband on this computer! (lol) Have you jointed the SCI Group in your area? Best Wishes In a message dated 4/17/2009 2:48:38 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Cyndi Davis <[email protected]> wrote: From: Cyndi Davis <[email protected]> Subject: mobility - driving your own power chair To: [email protected] Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:30 PM Hi! How do you all drive your power chairs? My husband is a c5,6 quad, 1 yr. post. He has limited use of some shoulder muscles, but not enough control of his arm to work the joystick on his power chair. A friend suggested getting some kind of head control: sip & puff, chin control or head control. When we had the OT do an evaluation, she said he should get enough use back to drive with his arm. She suggested a "T" shaped joystick. We just saw a "U" shaped piece on another quad's joystick (someone made his 29 yrs ago). He sets his wrist in the opening and goes where he wants to. The children and I drive my husband around for now (our 2yr. old boy loves driving his Dad's chair - but he runs into everything! so I don't allow him to. He only drives when my back is turned!). It would be nice for my husband to have some independance. Any suggestions? Thanks! [email protected] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! -- Quadius C2-3 incomplete 13 years post injury
