I don't know anything about the company or their track record. I was just throwing that out there because, with the all terrain drive wheels and pneumatic casters, I bet the ride is as smooth as it gets
On Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 1:27 PM Lori Michaelson <[email protected]> wrote: > Firstly, my typo in my first e-mail was "I have recently been received by > 2 big companies when something..." when I meant for Dragon Naturally > Speaking to type and for me to say "I have recently been *deceived *by 2 > big companies when something came up...". > > I know exactly what you mean Eric because my backup chair (sitting in my > garage that I can't use because the armrests need to be adjusted when I can > have someone here to do that which isn't happening) is a Permobil Chairman > and it is a front wheel drive chair that I got in 1999 and used it until I > thought I would get a new chair in 2011 and I chose to go with a mid-wheel > drive. It is a catch-22 decision to make on whether the next chair I get > to be a mid-wheel drive or a front wheel drive. Now that I have been used > to the mid-wheel drive and can turn on a dime which is now what I need for > many reasons but, like you said, you feel every bump 3 times but it is much > smoother with pneumatic tires. I know since the ones they put on my chair > while they order the pneumatic ones (whereby they did not tell me they no > longer make them) are solid tires and the ride is so hard. :-( > > Using my Permobil Chairman front-wheel-drive for so many years I did not > know any differently so I used it just fine even with a minivan and my last > two vans have been minivans. It's hard to remember now but I DO remember > riding in the grass and having a much smoother ride with only 4 tires. I > also have terrible neck and upper back pain but it only gets worse when I > get hurt and that is happening more frequently during bed to chair > transfers. > > I have never liked the back to this Permobil M 300 mid-wheel drive either > because it is just a thin cushion whereby my Permobil Chairman had a much > better soft cushion back that came with it. It is in rough shape now but > definitely softer. I know that Roho back seven now available for rehab > power chairs so that is another thing to think about. I sure miss my > husband for all of this. Not only for my love for him but with him being an > engineer he could fix things easily enough so I didn't have to depend on > people who are not familiar with the tools that come with the chairs to > make adjustments, having help sharing the cost of everything and not > needing to pay someone around-the-clock and so much more. It was nice > living in a home also. But now all of that is gone. Life is so much better > when you have someone to share your life with, eat with, etc. etc. etc. > > This is also the first time I have been without family and living on my > own and not getting any support. EVERYTHING is now up to me and being paid > for by me and with everything that has happened to me over the last 3 1/2 > years I am worn out. With severe pain for one reason or another it's hard > to get up every day. > > Anyway, there are so many chairs to choose from and I only have one > insurance so it's going to cost me a lot out of pocket. I also want the > elevating feature because now when I go to my urologist I just used that > instead of how hard it is to get on their little tables. Or if I need to > have an ultrasound or something like that. > > Never heard of the company that was shown with the link you gave to us OR > if they have any locations nearby me. The BIGGEST issue, in my opinion, is > the follow-up need for adjustments that creep up with problems with the > chair and having technicians available for that. > > ~Lori > > > > On Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 10:17 AM Eric Olson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Here's food for thought. I'm a die hard mid wheel drive fan because of >> the maneuverability. However, the down side is you feel every bump 3 >> times. Front casters, drive wheels, rear casters. Permobil makes front >> wheel drive chairs too. You'd only feel bumps twice with that type of >> chair and there's two less wheels to worry about going flat. I talked to >> the rep for this chair and he mentioned that he had a client that had >> terrible neck pain and this was the only chair he could drive because it >> rides so smoothly especially with the all terrain tires. See the picture >> on the right. Anyway, I will always use no flat tires because it takes my >> DME forever to fix anything so I don't want to be sidelined with a flat >> tire. https://www.mobility-usa.com/frontier-v6-wheelchair.html >> >> On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 11:51 PM Lori Michaelson <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> I hope everyone has been having a good or great summer. Not so good for >>> me at all. I have recently been received by 2 big companies want something >>> very important came up with my Permobil M 300 power rehab chair that I got >>> in late 2011. >>> >>> Many of you can probably remember that I acquired a wound because of a >>> doctor and a nurse's negligence that put me in bed the better part of 2 1/2 >>> years. So when I knew what was time for me to get any chair I decided to >>> stay with a Permobil and because my skin was so very very very compromised >>> and would break down going nowhere the least little threshold or bump - it >>> was decided that it would be best for me to go with pneumatic (air) tires. >>> I chose a made wheel drive so it came with 6 tires. >>> >>> This is simply because pneumatic casters offer a smoother ride, with >>> shock absorption capabilities against rough surfaces. And I have found out >>> that they surely do which is great for my skin and health. However, they >>> are and can ultimately go flat, and thus require maintenance. I >>> experienced this a couple years ago and they were replaced. Then, a couple >>> months ago my front right caster went flat. >>> >>> So I went through the motions I did a couple years ago and I was led to >>> believe they were on order. In the meantime solid casters were put on and >>> boy are they terrible when riding over anything but super smooth areas. >>> Thankfully, Tucson offers exactly that but since I am now in an apartment >>> complex with people moving in and out a lot there are simply nails and >>> tacks and screws that maintenance man used to put down new carpeting, etc. >>> etc. etc. When going for walks with my dog I am ALWAYS watching where I am >>> going but I guess there just those times when I am looking and straight >>> that I must have run over or something causing my tire (or tires) to go >>> flat. >>> >>> At the other end of the spectrum, there are smaller, solid casters, which >>> are more effective at moving at speed but offer a less smooth ride. Solid >>> casters are less effective at shock absorption, but last longer because >>> they can’t go flat. These make up the majority of front caster wheels. >>> >>> So after two full months of waiting for a pneumatic front tire to come >>> in and being told that they would keep me updated... that never happened >>> and it was just today (Thursday) that I found out that they do not make >>> pneumatic casters anymore. I had to call and find out the status of my >>> order (for about the 5th time) that a Permobil rep looked into it further >>> trying to find out what, if anything, he could do. He found 2 on eBay and >>> if I order them ($58 total including shipping and handling) he would put >>> them on for me. >>> >>> I know that many of you have or are going through the terrible >>> problem/issue of having skin breakdown and then shearing (skin opening >>> again very easily) because of compromised skin. >>> >>> I must come to the conclusion that over 99.999% of the spinal cord >>> injury population (statistically speaking) is using solid casters. >>> >>> With all the technology out there today and the differing needs we all >>> have (types of cushions, wheelchair additions like lateral supports, types >>> of phones and a million other things) you would think they would still have >>> access to pneumatic tires for the needs of what I just described for >>> myself. And these companies are making billions of dollars from all of us. >>> Not to be funny but their are even so many different kinds of toothpaste, >>> deodorant, etc. so why in the world would they completely discontinue >>> having access to pneumatic casters may I ask. Rather rhetorical question >>> though. >>> >>> Anyone like to share their experiences when it comes to wheelchair tire >>> needs? Now wants. Big difference. >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> ~Lori >>> Coming up on my 40th year of being a quad in the last 3 1/2 years being >>> the worst. >>> >>> -- >>> “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the >>> mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as >>> prayer.” ― Dean Koontz >>> >> > > -- > “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind > and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” > ― Dean Koontz >
