I use a scooter and think that it is really beneficial. I use it at work mainly. I could not use a manual wheelchair because this takes a lot of upper body strength which I do not have. My insurance actually paid for the scooter after several appeals and I was seen by a rehabilitation “wheelchair clinic” to document the need. The one I have is more “portable” than some–it comes apart into four pieces. The total scooter weighs about 105 pounds and when separated, the largerst piece still weighs about 35 pounds which is hard for me, but I can put the scooter in my Honda and take it with me when I need to go out somewhere. I found out that most insurance companies use Medicare rules for approval of a scooter and that you have to say that you are going to use it in your home–assuming you are disabled or retired. My home is two story with a small downstairs–not too useful for a scooter. I refused to lie and said that I was going to use it at work and I think this was part of the reason that it took several appeals. I argued that I needed it to do my job since I work at a very large place and have to go places in the building that are too far for me to walk. My suggestion is to document how far you can walk, emphasize to them (although you would hope they would know) that GBS/CIDP is not like having a person with strong arms and weak legs, but it affects both arms and legs, that it is not that you cannot walk, but rather that you are really limited on how far you can walk, and as well, that walking has risks–falling, excess fatigue that worsens pain requiring more pain medications, etc. The people at the wheelchair clinic said really to emphasize safety as much as possible and why having a scooter might result in less medical problems/costs. They said be sure to tell about the fact that when I am tired, I am more ataxic and have fallen.
I have seen advertisements for as low as about $600 for a scooter. I doubt this is the take-apart kind. The home health care company said that the scooter I got cost a lot more, but if you will have to pay for it or medicare/medicaid pay for it, know that there are ones out there for less and search the internet or shop around. Also know that scooters come in sizes–I have a larger one because I am tall. Some people need a different one because they weigh more than 250 pounds. They also come in three wheel and four wheel varieties.
i rented a scooter to try it out and during the process of applying and appealing for it. Some companies will apply the rent toward the cost if you ask them.
Regarding the Segway, the problems with it are that you have to stand up to ride it and it would be hard for me to do so for long, you cannot really carry anything on it, and personally I would worry about people taking it (permanently or temporarily for a ride) at work when I got off it to work. It is so novel and cool. I know it has a great stablizer system, but I would want to try it to see if I could balance okay on it without falling off!!!
FYI, there is a really cool wheelchair based on the same technology as the Segway–to stablize and balance. It allows one to go up or down stairs, and also to roll on two wheels with the seat raised enough to talk eye to eye to people. I do not remember its name, but I was really impressed and if I won the lottery tomorrow and choose to get an power wheelchair, that was what I might get. In the meantime, I scoot around on my electric sccoter.
WithHope for a cure of these diseases.