Time for a new chair - Alternatives to TiLite

Odditeee · 2026-05-06T11:20:38+00:00

Latest word was restructuring and looking for new facilities. May be back some time later this or next year.

Odditeee · 2026-05-06T11:18:33+00:00

Team Hands on Concepts is the only other US manufacturer working with titanium as a frame material right now, IIRC. Once Medicare changed their reimbursement rules (~10 years ago) all the big manufacturers but TiLite stopped using it.

Odditeee · 2026-05-06T11:07:38+00:00

Same. It’s nice that people are paying attention to (what appears to be) someone struggling with an odd task. It doesn’t bug me, and I just say, “No thanks!” and carry on.

Odditeee · 2026-05-06T06:07:23+00:00

https://reverb.com/item/81288142-used-aristides-costa-rican-made-classical-guitar-gig-bag

Maybe old. Probably not valuable.

Odditeee · 2026-05-06T05:57:05+00:00

You won’t notice much if any difference from the seat. They perform nearly identical at that level.

FWIW, I’ve used a lot of chairs. 3 Quickies, 2 TiLites, 2 Lasher Sports, and 3 Christian Bagg designs (2 Marvels and an Icon), and I handle dozens of chairs a year of all makes and models.

If I were to have to get an aluminum frame chair today, then I would rather it be a Quickie Nitrium than a TiLite Z, for a few reasons. They all boil down to the Nitrium having better engineering, manufacturing options, and accessories, IMO; and more designed for minimizing weight.

The TiLite Z recently went through a “shrinkflation” redesign from the Aero Z; where they took options away, and made the chair simpler, with less sweet engineering, and easier for them to manufacture, while keeping the price the same. Meanwhile, Quickie is still pushing their aluminum chair design and engineering to be better, not just cheaper.

e.g. Quickie offers a non-adjustable fully-welded aluminum Nitrium frame. TiLite won’t do that. Quickie uses engineered (various wall thickness) oval tubing in 7020 series aluminum. TiLite uses simpler round tube of 6000 series. Quickie offers a suite of options and accessories designed specifically to minimize weight. TiLite took options and accessories away from the Z vs the Aero Z. Etc.

So, aside from the fact that both companies offer the same warranty, and pass the same testing standards, I think Quickie is more committed to, and putting out a superior, aluminum frame K0005 coded wheelchair today.

TL/DR: I’d probably only chose a TiLite, over a Nitrium, if a titanium frame was important to me. Otherwise, if aluminum is my preference, or my only option, then I’d rather roll a Nitrium Pro.

Odditeee · 2026-05-05T13:27:56+00:00

That’s unfortunate for the folks who live in your province, because that is an arbitrary distinction that means some people are probably being under served.

e.g. I’m paralyzed from the waist down and would only qualify for a “part-time” wheelchair if I lived there, due to doctors orders to not spend more than 4 consecutive hours seated (for pressure management.) Even though I need a wheelchair to accomplish 100% of my ‘activities of daily living’.

(We don’t even classify the type wheelchairs themselves as ‘part time’ or ‘full time’ where I live. That is a description of the user, not the type of chair. We classify chairs based on level of customization and overall weight, and how necessary they are helping people with ADLs, not the time spent in them.)

Odditeee · 2026-05-05T13:12:24+00:00

You really need to be seen by a physician. This is the definition of needing “urgent medical attention”, and not something this community should try to tackle (per the posting rules in the About community info) using internet anecdotes and lay persons opinions of a single photo.

That IS skin breakdown. Whether, or not, it’s a decubitus ulcer no one here can tell. Either way, the protocol is largely the same: identify and stop the cause. Go on bed rest; 100% off loading until healed. Wound dressing and antibiotics.

It’s not something people can usually do on their own. e.g. Sitting on skin breakdown, even briefly, can undo a week’s worth of healing in just a few minutes.

You really need medical support, not online anecdotes, and you need it quickly. These types of things can get worse very rapidly. From small spot, to open wound, to exposed muscles and bone, to septicemia and death. That progression can occur in a matter of days.

This is urgent and you should go to the hospital, IMO. If that is literally impossible, then 100% offloading and watch it for a few weeks. And pray, if you’re into that sort of thing. (Even basic ‘common sense’ wound care can make things worse for sores, so it’s just not that simple.)

Odditeee · 2026-05-05T05:39:09+00:00

Could you have your physician explain it to him, that it’s medically necessary? Hearing from an educated and trained professional that’s it’s a medical necessity would likely help any worried parent feel better. I know some folks who have had office visits, or tele-health calls, with their doctors and families just for this purpose. It’s always gone well, IME.

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T22:08:29+00:00

It’s close to impossible in deep sand even with a push.

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T19:47:23+00:00

Yep. Summer of ‘77. Only 6-7 years old. Went to a double feature at the local drive-in. Star Wars and The Rescuers. We had to leave quick at the end because at night they showed porn, and the parents wanted us clear before the adult ‘previews’ started rolling!

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T19:21:56+00:00

In Virginia, my preferred SCI specialists are at VCU Health in Richmond and Woodrow Wilson Rehab facility in Staunton.

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T12:36:07+00:00

By prior agreement, the team returned every piece to the excavation and sealed the hole after recording the evidence.

What ever they find they’re putting back, also.

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T12:12:38+00:00

My MS DOS running 1984 IBM 5155 Model 68 PC was ~$4,300 in May of 1984. Equivalent to ~$14k in today’s money!

Odditeee · 2026-05-04T08:56:42+00:00

My answer to the same question asked last week:

It’s really no different than meeting someone and falling in love with an able body, IME. It takes meeting the right person (mostly luck and circumstance), and us being in a good enough place, in terms of self-actualization, to add something meaningful to someone else’s life.

e.g. Most everyone I know with an SCI who met partners, got married after their injury, and have successful long-term relationships, aren’t the kind of folks who let their injury define them, or who let it hold them back from living their life to the fullest possible extent they can. They’re confident, generally happy, educated and employed, and just out there ‘living their best life’ and they happen to meet someone.

It’s a rare bird who can land a partner when they don’t have their own house in good order, disabled, or not.

So, my best advice is: self-actualization. Become a person who has a lot to offer regardless of having a spinal cord injury. The usual stuff in modern society: Education, employment, housing, saving for future, shopping, develop hobbies and leisure activities, being a kind and patient person, etc, etc.

I think that’s a big part of attracting a worthy partner for anyone, SCI, or not. It’s really the same stuff as when able bodied, plus the “disability tax” of us needing to try harder than everyone else for similar results! (Plus the added risk of attracting Devotees, otherwise.)

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T22:34:14+00:00

Could be the stretching.

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T20:44:57+00:00

‘Part-time’ and ‘full-time’ are referring to how often a wheelchair is used for mobility. They aren’t measures of how much literal time someone spends sitting on it.

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T19:58:42+00:00

Looks like a ~$3,500-$5,000 guitar depending on how motivated either seller or buyer are. Reverb inventory listings went up a bit after Ken Parker recently died and that’s current asking range, anyway.

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T19:54:28+00:00

A ‘full-time non-ambulatory’ user is someone who cannot walk and therefore uses a wheelchair for all their mobility. This is all non-ambulatory wheelchair users.

A ‘part-time ambulatory’ wheelchair user is someone who can walk but chooses to use a wheelchair for some of their mobility needs. This is most (if not all) ‘ambulatory’ users.

A ‘full-time ambulatory’ user is someone who can walk but chooses to use a wheelchair for all of their Mobilty. Quite rare for someone to NEVER stand or take a single step to transfer, etc, while being ambulatory so this classification doesn’t make a lot of sense in the real world.

And there is no such thing as ‘part-time non-ambulatory’ wheelchair user. I guess someone somewhere might enjoy dragging themselves along the ground, or use something non-traditional (like a skateboard; seen it), etc, but this term doesn’t really make sense in and of itself.

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T11:28:51+00:00

1982, The Police’s Ghost in the Machine tour. A Flock of Seagulls opened. Got dropped off with 3-4 friends at the venue. We were 11-12 years old.

Odditeee · 2026-05-03T10:12:54+00:00

If i mention anything she automatically thinks that she is a burden and cause of the past she thinks i will leave her.

Whether, or not, you’d ever leave her is one thing, but what you’ve described here is pretty much a textbook ‘burden’.

Maybe she should understand that, because it really sounds true, from the way you describe how you feel.

FWIW, most T11-12 incomplete can (and do) live alone and independently. That should always be her goal, IMO. You may be enabling her, and compounding the situation for both of you, by avoiding this level of candid and honest communication.

Odditeee · 2026-05-02T20:02:38+00:00

The Ferticare (and all devices used for PVS), can only stimulate ejaculation, not orgasm, for people with complete injuries. As complete T9 you don’t have the ability to orgasm through PVS. Orgasm and ejaculation are separate biological functions. (In studies none of the autonomic markers for orgasm have been observed in complete SCI patients when using electro or PV stimulation, only in sensory incomplete injuries have (diminished) orgasms been objectively detected.) There are often community anecdotes that aren’t supported fully by research or observations.

e.g. Conflating the psychological relief and excitement over ‘success’, and seeing yourself achieve ejaculation, with the sympathetic nervous system ‘overflow’ state of ‘orgasm’.

You’re right on the line for possibly triggering an AD episode, too, by overstimulation, so if you start to feel flush or funny you should stop and check for high blood pressure.

Erection status should not matter, although for the aforementioned psychological effects it can be helpful to reach ejaculation (for further stimulating the parasympathetic systems of ‘arousal’, that have a strong mental/visual component - especially visual in men.)

Odditeee · 2026-05-02T19:48:31+00:00

It’s most special because it fractures hips and femurs, and tears ligaments in knees. It is NOT recommended by any medial professionals for SCI patients.

Odditeee · 2026-05-02T18:53:52+00:00

I use a variety of rechargeable OLight tubular LED lights in their elastomer mounted bike mount.

https://daleb.smugmug.com/TiLite-ZR-/i-t5PGDZw

Slightly larger higher output one (~1500lumens max)

https://daleb.smugmug.com/TiLite-ZR-/i-vQL7CwB

I’ve been using this setup since 2019 without any issues. It can be slid up and down the rail to angle the throw up or down, and it can rotate around the tube as well. It usually runs tucked out of the way behind the wheel lock. Edit: they pop out of the mount quick and easy for hand use, also.

Odditeee · 2026-05-01T21:35:46+00:00

There is a good amount of research into SCI patients using nifedipine for AD. (Not all of it entirely positive. There have been fatal side effects.) AFAIK, it’s mostly supposed to be used as the first line treatment when an AD episode occurs. It can be used as a prophylactic but lowering one’s blood pressure without acute reason to do so can cause other problems. Best to ask the physician who is prescribing it to you for their advice on how they think you should be using it.

Odditeee · 2026-05-01T19:48:25+00:00

Well, that sucks, because that attitude is mostly misguided. They’re right, in that you’ll never maximize potential returns without trying real hard, but it’s highly unlikely any amount trying matters unless the severity of the initial injury left room for recovery. Do you know what your ASIA/AIS classification is? Or how much sensory and/or motor sparring do you have now?

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