The molding depends allot on the people doing the mold, and how long you sit
in it and if you sit upright while taking the molding. I must admit my
molds aren't 100% perfect, and end up having it carved or more foam added
here in there before its finalized. Given that no other seating options will
work for me, so I don't really have a choice. But I believe that how long
I'm up in my chair, 15hrs a day is a testimony in itself of how well it can
work.



Take care,

Cody Namesnik

_____

From: dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of tjm42
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 11:31 AM
To: dmdpioneers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DMD Pioneers] new wheelchair issues



Yes, I tried the "pindot" (sp) seating system. At least twice with bad
results.. The original molding was so off every time that it was useless.
They never gave support in the right places while molding... maybe my
breathing issues at the time did not help. If you aren't
----- Original Message -----
From: Cody Namesniik
To: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:17 PM
Subject: RE: [DMD Pioneers] new wheelchair issues

Tom, I have severe scoliosis (spine is a S shape), the only why I can sit
up, is with a custom molded back made to fit my back. I'm on my third mold.
14yrs.

Not sure if your familiar with the molding process, but they sit you in this
big bean bags in model chair, and then adjust you in the bean bag to where
your all supported. Then they use a compressor to suck all the air out of
the bag holding your shape when you get out. They pour a cast of your
contours they just got of you and then send it out to be made. They make it
out of a foam rubber like, takes about a month. They when it returns, you
can try it out. If not just right, they can take away or add to, till
you're comfortable.. It works great and well worth it.

My whole chair and seating met Medicare guidelines. I'm only on state
Medicaid, no other secondary insurances. Just took doctors letter of
necessity and my Medicaid provider approved it.

My chair all together cost Medicaid $16k (retail $26k)

Permobil C300 base alone cost $5,536.00

Seat Elevator $2,260.00

Tilt package $5,896.00

Vent Tray $1200.00

ASL mini proportional joystick $1300.00

Plus custom seating molding on top of it

List prices here http://tinyurl. <http://tinyurl.com/odv2n> com/odv2n

Invacare TDX and Ranger X range from $5k - $9k

Look here http://tinyurl. <http://tinyurl.com/yl5qkr> com/yl5qkr

Take care,

Cody Namesnik

_____

From: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
[mailto:dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com]
On
Behalf Of tjm42
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 7:45 PM
To: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DMD Pioneers] new wheelchair issues

Cody, my supplier wanted to just basically duplicate what I have so that we
would not be reinventing the wheel. As far as seating, controls are
concerned. We had to stay within the Medicare limits, that limited which
model of chair from Invacare.. The storm series was out of range.. Not sure
about TDX . But I think it was the most expensive.

I use a scanner control for driving the chair. my scoliosis makes seating
very difficult.. We tried all kinds of specialized seating in the past but
never got anything to work except several small pillows stuffed next to me.
Prior to my current chair, which is eight years old, I had an old E&J for 20
years.... There was an attempt at a new chair sometime in there that was
given up on. We stole parts from it to keep the old one going.

There must be hundreds of abandoned wheelchairs around that were barely
used.. I have one on my carport and it came out of a friends storage unit..
It was used about eight hours. I was told. probably worth $20,000... but it
is six years old already, making it hard to find parts for and, besides, you
can't get funding for a used wheelchair..

It looks like I am going to have to hold the hand of the DME to get the
thing finished. I had to do the same with the current chair.. My father
actually fabricated parts to hold all the modules and the headdrest, straps
and displays and hand switch.. Maybe we should charge them labor..

Yes,. I guess a new wheelchair cannot help but be an ordeal when you have
special needs..

Tom
e
----- Original Message -----
From: Cody Namesniik
To: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 7:08 PM
Subject: RE: [DMD Pioneers] new wheelchair issues

Tom, I just got new chair last week. It took a year and half to get it
ordered, first time the guy submitted my order without the doc's letter,
then 4 months later the supplier was giving me the run around. Then found
out the supplier went bankrupt, so that order was dropped. I had to order a
new chair from another supplier, that took 4 months to get the chair, and
month for the custom molded back.

After the 1st order was dropped, I did some research and came across a new
Permobil model chair that was competitive in price to Invacare and Quickie
models of the same caliber. From a Engineering stand point I choose Permobil
for its superior weight distribution with their new vent tray, made Permobil
outstanding in my mind.

After having this Permobil C300 for about a week and a half, I think it's
the best wheelchair I ever had. Suspension is great, this newly designed
vent tray doesn't stick out as far as others and is stable.

Ranger X is a older line of chair, The Invacare TDX line is their newest
flagship chair, that accommodates all your rehab seating needs. Has fairly
decent vent tray. Quickie has few new designs similar to Invacare.

Those of you not familiar w/ Permobil's chairs, their front wheel drive. I
must it took me three days how to drive a front wheel driven chair,
navigation is much like a fork-lift.

Tom, what kind of issues are you having that is overwhelming your supplier?
Seating, controls, vent tray, or mechanical? Let us know here in the group
and maybe we can help resolve or suggest ways on how get things right...

Getting new chair is not exactly a walk in the park, dealing with
Medicaid/medicare, insurances and suppliers, but definitely a 3 ring circus,
but then the end result is well worth the effort..

Take care,

Cody Namesnik

_____

From: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
[mailto:dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com]
On
Behalf Of tjm42
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 4:16 PM
To: dmdpioneers@ <mailto:dmdpioneers%40yahoogroups.com> yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DMD Pioneers] new wheelchair issues

Has anyone gotten a new wheelchair lately?. I have an Invacare arrow storm
that I started using in 1998.. It was ordered and took over six months to
get where I could use it after a whole lot of customizing.. We had to do a
lot of the work ourselves...

I ordered a new chair in March and I still don't have it.. The company is
overwhelmed by the Project... the new chair is another Invacare but a Ranger
X model.. When you have added the ventilator tray it really gets ugly.

What are your experiences ?
--
Tom

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

__________ NOD32 1957 (20070104) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset. <http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com> com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.5/616 - Release Date: 1/4/2007
1:34 PM

.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

__________ NOD32 1957 (20070104) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.6/617 - Release Date: 1/5/2007
11:11 AM

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



__________ NOD32 1958 (20070105) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]