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Submitted by Larry from Illinois.
I was released from the hospital after 6 weeks in an ambulance and with a power chair. Originally, as an incomplete C6-7 quad, I needed the power chair. Through personal therapy and sports (rugby and road racing), I was able to switch to a manual chair. My dependencies on various prescriptions was reduced by 75% due to an increase in activity. I approached my insurance company when it was time for a new chair. They insisted the power chair met all my needs!! I was not going to regress due to their unwillingness to cooperate. So I took out a loan and bought my own manual chair.
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
a program of United Spinal Association
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A program of
Be very wary of insurance companies. My biggest problems as far as being a paraplegic, (T10 complete), are with working within the terms of insurance companies. Also, I have found that most insurance companies have contracts with durable medical equipments suppliers and most of the time they will pay double what the equiipment actually costs. These costs are then handed down to us, the injured, who most often cannot afford the extra costs. I also will not use a power chair until I absolutely have to. Eventually I’ll only be able to get around in a power chair and then I’ll wish I could still use the manual chair. Keep strong and make sure you don’t over do it in the manual chair as that will force you into the power chair too soon.
Keep the faith 1 Corinthians 13:13.
This is one of the problems that we’re fighting at NSCIA. You had a six week rehab, which is a bit longer than the national average for a paraplegic (~4 weeks). In that six weeks, you were prescribed a wheelchair based on your acute condition. Unfortunately for you, and what’s fueling our fight, is that you are likely stuck with an inappropriate wheelchair for a period of time based on your insurance coverage, not your current clinical condition.
A wheelchair is a medical device that must be appropriately fitted to each patient’s physical, cognitive and functional condition. Your condition changed… you got stronger and you need a different wheelchair… how dare you. Denying you this wheelchair is acceptable in many people’s minds.
Don’t give up. Join the fight to protect our access to appropriate wheelchairs and equipment that promotes health and functional independence.
Paul Tobin
President, United Spinal Association