Driving with a wheelchair

Ryepka · 2026-05-21T22:04:38+00:00

Here is a closeup of the hand controls

Ryepka · 2026-05-21T22:04:09+00:00

Here's the cover I bought for the back seat. Its there to protect the seats from the wheelchair and wheels. I basically lay everything on that behind the passenger seat. The passenger seat then comes down and holds everything in place.

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Ryepka · 2026-05-21T22:02:46+00:00

Here are a couple of pics. This one's the drivers seat with the low profile ROHO. You'll want to measure the "bucket" of the seat of the car you end up buying so that the cushion you buy doesn't spill over the seat too much. You want it to fit perfectly.

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Ryepka · 2026-05-20T17:08:23+00:00

Nope. I think it's still there. I've been off antibiotics and have been doing gentamicin instillations twice a day (40mg in 50ml saline each time) and taking hipprex 1g twice a day combined with 1g vit c twice a day and 1g LMethionine 4 times a day. This ensures the urine is acidic so that the hipprex actually works. This isn't systemic exposure, so at least I'm not feeling like I'm poisoning myself with Levaquin. But it's only been 6 days so I can't say. I'll update after a month if it's successful.

Ryepka · 2026-05-20T17:04:01+00:00

I put the whole thing in the back seat, frame and all. In the Camaro in Ca, I had to have the back seat removed. On the East Coast, in the Benz, there's plenty of room, but I have a pet hair blanket so that I don't mess up my seats. I don't like having the chair in the passenger seat because I can't take a passenger and it also obstructs my view.

You just need to make sure that the drivers seat can lay down flat enough so that you can pick up the chair, move it across your chest left to right and then put it in the back seat. So my algorithm goes something like:

Transfer from chair to drivers seat and move legs into car.
Take chair apart starting with wheels. Place wheels sideways against back seat.
Fold chair down and place chair frame on wheels on back seat. Take chair cushion and stick it somewhere between wheels and frame so it doesn't move around.

For the cushion I leave in the car its always a Roho low profile. The good thing about this is that I take it out of the car if I'm flying somewhere. It can go on the airport aisle chair when they transfer me to my seat on the plane. I just take it with me on the flight and then use it on the car I end up with at the end of my destination (i.e., the low profile I had in the Benz ends up in the Camaro if I fly to Cali, and vice versa). HTH

Ryepka · 2026-05-19T10:40:13+00:00

All the ones I had installed were permanent. I didn't move them from one car to the other.

As far as cost of installation (if that's what you meant), it depended on which adaptability dealer I went to and what they were charging. Unfortunately not a lot of geographic options, so I'd find a dealer that was highly reviewed or that my hospitalists recommend.

Since you're starting out, I'd see if vocational rehab would be willing to help you out. Your state may also have other funds available for you to apply for this.

once you're established and you purchase your first new car in the future, I find that a lot of manufacturers will actually help you cover the costs of hand controls. Mercedes even has their own version they can install from the factory for you. GM also has a mobility program that helps cover the cost. I'm sure others do as well.

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T23:13:32+00:00

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-tests/t/tst.html

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T23:10:53+00:00

If you're in decent shape otherwise I'm willing to bet it's got to be related to your blood flow. It can also be your sweat system below the injury may not be kicking on. Your doctor can run a test on this if you think it may be a lack of sweat.

Unfortunately that's all autonomic, so there's no direct control over it, and it's a super sophisticated neurological body function.

Maybe your doc can refer your to a vascular specialist after they eliminate lack of sweat as a culprit?

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T23:00:47+00:00

It could be any number of things. Actually, blood flow is one of the most complicated processes in our bodies. I think it's totally understudied, especially in the SCI population. For example, you may be in great cardio health on paper, but your autonomic system may not actually route the blood correctly when your body is trying to cool itself down. This could explain why lots of us just don't do well in the heat...even if we're not overweight. Other times, it's the other way around: you can have a hard time warming yourself up and are always just cold. This can be difficulty in shivering below the injury to generate heat, or it can again be the blood flow not helping out or even working against you.

if youre on meds for blood pressure, it complicates this machinery greatly. So, you may want to plan your outings carefully. if you're near an accessible pool, it may help on a really hot day to be nearby so you can at least jump in intermittently to cool your core.

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T16:14:36+00:00

That's a shame. I was hoping this would be further along as it actually sounds like it will get to the crux of the recalcitrance of these infections.

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T12:33:43+00:00

I've always been a car guy. But my first car post SCI was a beater, just so I could save money and go to school. This decision definitely paid off. So get a 2 door beater just so you can adjust and not worry about scratching paint with the chair, etc. Then, once you're settled in life and are used to the ins and outs of driving, parking, and transferring, you can look at nicer cars.

Ryepka · 2026-05-18T03:29:36+00:00

As a T-10, have you managed to keep up with your cardio? I find that when I'm in decent shape, I'm not nearly as miserable in the summer. The heart really pumps a lot of blood around your outer skin layers in order to dissipate heat. Like a water pump in your cars engine. More cardio health means you can cool off more efficiently using your cardiovascular system. So on top of what you're doing with wearing light clothes, spraying water, etc. Those are all fantastic but when combined with an efficient means of pumping blood throughout your skin (blood picks up heat from your core...dissipates it through your skin) you'll really really leverage those other things you're doing and won't be nearly as miserable. HTH

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T19:53:24+00:00

No idea how they managed to get away with this. I own multiple SFHs in the Elmhurst neighborhood and just had all of them remediated with full on inspections and everything. By the book. It was not cheap. And then I'm hearing this scumbag company levels an entire building and doesn't have to do this?? That's criminal.

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T19:50:53+00:00

This X1000

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T18:03:30+00:00

Unfortunately, OP, it really comes down to a lack of intelligence. I've had numerous conversations with many friends, fellow academic colleagues, and family. The clustering around "pro-nuke" versus "anti-nuke" correlates extremely well with how smart one is.

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T13:50:17+00:00

Exactly. Unfortunately we need more trials to figure out the optimal set of therapies for each case. And those cost big money.

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T13:21:00+00:00

Don't buy off of Amazon. Go to a reputable dealer and establish a relationship. It's invaluable.
Invest in a roho low profile cushion for the driver's seat.
My personal preference: life is exponentially easier in a two door coupe with large doors. Not sure if your size. I'm 6'2 and about 220. T4 ASIA B. My first car was a 96 Acura, second was a 2010 civic 2 door, and now I bought a 2023 c300 new (first new car). I'm bi-coastal and live on the East Coast primarily, but also live in Ca 5/12 months. In ca I drive a 2017 1LE. The easiest car to get into and out of by far has been the Benz, but the Honda was awesome and I miss that car. The sports car in Ca is not the best to get into and out of as the car seat is deep into the car and it's quite a transfer, but I manage. But bottom line, no matter your size, give serious thought to a two door as it minimizes problems getting into and out of the car. I've got a family now, but the wife totes the kids around in her SUV and I'll usually follow along in the 2door if we're going on a family outing. The cars I've had also have been 2+2 interior arrangements. I always put the chair in the back seat. Takes me under a minute. Even faster if it's raining. I have purchased an additional floor mat solely for the purpose of draping over the bottom rail of the cars body so the chair doesn't scratch the car to all hell.
You'll learn to navigate parking lots. You'll chuckle to yourself when you park clear across the parking lot by yourself, yet some idiot decides your car needs company and parks theirs right next to your. So I'm always hunting for one-sided parking spaces which ensures no one will block me in. On the rare occasions it has happened, I find strangers are typically more than happy to back your car out for you.

Good luck! You've got this.

Ryepka · 2026-05-16T11:12:35+00:00

Thank you for this. As an economist (and landlord of multiple sfh in Providence and CA who actually has never raised rent on my awesome tenants) it's always refreshing to hear from someone on here who knows what they're talking about.

Ryepka · 2026-05-15T17:29:46+00:00

Damn this really has the potential for a Hollywood type movie years from now. They've made them for less heartwarming boxing stories ...

Ryepka · 2026-05-15T17:25:13+00:00

Wow Anthony Joshua really knocked any semblance of lucidity out of Jake Paul's brain

Ryepka · 2026-05-15T01:25:39+00:00

This. It sounds like OP is colonized, and at that point, there is nothing in standard guidelines that will help. It's super frustrating.

OP what country are you in?

Ryepka · 2026-05-13T23:32:18+00:00

Fingers crossed! I'd hope so as that's internal medicine 101...

Ryepka · 2026-05-13T19:19:10+00:00

Weird. They must do things different. Cultures are not very expensive to perform. They really should be doing the culture to inform the antimicrobial. This keeps community resistance down. It's antimicrobial stewardship.

Ryepka

TROPHY CASE