new chair - arm problems

[alan]

Preface - for the past I-can't-remember-how-many years, my equipment provider has replaced the armrests on my power chairs with swing-aways like on my manual chair, which allowed me to get close to tables and desks for eating, typing, etc.

On my new TDX-3, there's no way to install that kind of armrest, so I have desk-length armrests. Thus, I can't get as close to desks and tables with it. Obviously, everyone but me with a power chair has lived with armrests like these - how do you manage? I'm struggling even more than normally to type, and had the same trouble eating.

[SCI_OTR]

In order to know more about the type of desk-length armrests used on your TDX3 it would be helpful to know what your seat depth is and whether you have power tilt, power recline, or both.

[KiwiJenn]

Hi

On the TDXs chairs with the Formula or Tarsy powered seating, the armrests are flip back. They do not swing away or lift complety out, from the frame.

I actually had desk length armpads on my chair, but have gone to full length for more arm support. I can still get close to desks and tables. Because the TDX is a CWD, getting close to tables is meant to be easier than it is when using a RWD chair.

Do you have a quad link Retractable Arm? that you joystick controller sits on. If you don't then this can make getting close to desks and tables a little bit more harder. The Quad Link can swing out to the side enabling you to drive closer to the table or desk.

I sometimes use the corner of the table as I can get closer

Hope that helps.
Jenn

Originally Posted by alan

Preface - for the past I-can't-remember-how-many years, my equipment provider has replaced the armrests on my power chairs with swing-aways like on my manual chair, which allowed me to get close to tables and desks for eating, typing, etc.

On my new TDX-3, there's no way to install that kind of armrest, so I have desk-length armrests. Thus, I can't get as close to desks and tables with it. Obviously, everyone but me with a power chair has lived with armrests like these - how do you manage? I'm struggling even more than normally to type, and had the same trouble eating.

[alan]

I have power tilt. Not sure if the joystick is on a retractable arm - it does push away, and winds up alongside the armrest.

[SCI_OTR]

Invacare uses a longer desk length armrest on Formula TDX's with the 20-22" seat depth package than they do on the 16-19 deep package. The distance between the vertical posts is the same, but the "J" shaped portion at the front is longer. Since I have not heard any complaints about the 16-19" desk-length armrests, I'm wondering whether you may have the longer style. If you have a TDX with the 20-22 depth package, you could switch to the shorter armrests without having to make any significant adjustments. Feel free to send me a private message with your TDX3's serial number and I would be happy to look up your specs to see if this might be the case and send you the part numbers.

[alan]

I believe my chair is the 16-19 inch depth package, as it is set at 17 inches depth for me.

I miss the swingaways. <sniff>

[SCI_OTR]

If it is set at 17", the "J" portion of their desk arms will definitely stick out farther. If there is gap between the edge of the seat pan and the back of your knee is more than 2", your back posts (and therefore the armrests) could be moved further back on the seat pan.

If this is not possible, and you find that you are unable to adapt to your current armrests, you might ask Invacare or your DME how much shorter the "J" is for the armrest used on a TDX3 with a (12"-16" W x 12"-18" D) ADJASBA seat. The 12-18, 16-19, and 20-22 depth ranges all have the same part numbers for the upper arm assembly, so I am assuming they would be interchangeable.

The part numbers for the bases used on the 12-18" seat depth range are as follows:

1068585 Arm Base Assembly, Adjustable Height - Right (Black)
1068586 Arm Base Assembly, Adjustable Height - Left (Black)

Hope this helps.

[alan]

I'll speak with my chair guy when he's back from his vacation. Thanks for the ideas.

I feel like I'm miles away from my keyboard, and the bending I'm doing to reach it isn't helping my back.

[alan]

Update - haven't gotten anywhere with the armrests, as the chair suddenly died a few weeks back. Needed a new comtroller, and still is at the dealer, as an Invacare rep wanted to see it.

[alan]

Yesterday, my dealer was here to hopefully finish fixing my Invacare TDX3-5 (I call it that because it's a TDX3 with the options of a TDX5. I've had it since December, but have rarely been able to use it because it kept having problems.) I'm in it now, and, as before, cannot get close to desks and tables due to the armrests. On all my previous power chairs, as I said above, the dealer was able to install swing-away armrests from manual chairs, so I could get as close to tables and desks as I wished. Obviously, everyone else with these armrests manages to function with them - my question is how?


SCI_OTR, I passed that info on, but it seems those are the armrests I have.

I sit high in this chair, as I do in my Storm and all previous chairs. I can't use a low profile Roho, because, for some reason, the way I sit in it has some effect on my urinary system, and I'm unable to void. I get the usual cold feeling, and minor sweating, of mild AD, but instead of the urine coming out, the AD gets worse. I get thrown in bed, and the voiding proceeds as normal. No problem sitting on the high profile Rohos - standard, Enhanced, Quattro. Weird.

We're currently looking for a back that can help with my seating posture. I'm going to feel crooked regardless, but we hope I can actually be straighter when seated.