Thank you for looking

I wouldn’t normally ask for charity/help from family and friends, but I just can’t see another solution to this, so I’d be grateful for any contribution you can spare. )

THE REASON I AM ASKING IN THE 1ST PLACE?

NHS Scotland kindly fitted me with my wheelchair Oct '16 and I am incredibly grateful for it. It enables me to sit for longer periods in a reclined position, as it is difficult for me sitting at 90°. It is difficult for me to walk for long and therefore it enables me to go out with my sister, Lynn (who can push me...within reason! Lol). As I can walk for short distances, it is not applicable for NHS Scotland to supply a powered wheelchair to me, which I completely understand, as there are so many people more disadvantaged than me and NHS budget can only stretch so far!

However, it does leave me unable to be independent, to get out in the countryside on my own etc.

The e-motion wheels are too quick for the seller's disability and are only 1 year old.

NEW £4,153.35 = E-MOTION WHEELS £3,901.38 NEW (EX VAT) fit to wheelchair + ANTI TIPPERS WITH JACK-UP FUNCTION £252

MY DEAL £1,350 = E-MOTION WHEELS £850 + ANTI TIPPERS WITH JACK-UP FUNCTION £252 + FIT BRACKET TO EXISTING WHEELCHAIR £200.

MY FINANCES / BENEFITS

I've changed from DLA to PIP & receive £56 a week & £200 a month mobility allowance ( for a car, but now I’ve moveď to the The Borders & share a cottage with sister, Lynn, I share her car & pay towards its upkeep, plus pay her back for my move up here. Now (Aug '17), PIP have stopped Lynn’s payments after ' is no longer entitled to it' - we're .

WHY BUY E-MOTION WHEELS? – BELIEVE ME, IVE DONE MY RESEARCH!

It costs £4k + for a ‘normal’ electric powered wheelchair, they are big, incredibly heavy & you need a specialised adapted car.

E-MOTION BENEFITS

• I can move around without someone else pushing me. I am currently at a disadvantage with my reclined wheelchair, as you need to be leaning forwards to give you momentum to propel you forwards

• The load on muscles and joints is relieved. Only minimal force is required to drive the chair.

• Exceptionally low noise level

• Let’s you go downhill: its power assistance boosts the braking pulse, so that driving down a steep slope is not only safe but also a relaxing experience.

• State-of-the-art battery technology.

• The integrated lithium battery, in the wheelhub, lasts longer than conventional battery typesintenance free with no memory effect

• Ideal for out and about. Apart from driving performance, there is handling convenience and easy transport which will add to the enjoyment of outings or holidays. The e-motion wheels can be dismantled from the wheelchair and stowed away in the boot of a car in a matter of seconds. Alternatively, any folding wheelchair (like mine) can still be folded even with e-motion attached, thus saving space.

• The battery charger supplied with e-motion adapts automatically to any mains voltage from 100 to 240 V, an immense advantage for travelling (If part of the journey involves flying, the batteries can also be disconnected from the wheel and carried separately.

MY BACK STORY.....excuse the pun! (if you don’t know)

• How it started - There is no way of knowing exactly how or why my back pain began, but I used to be healthy, slim and fit, dancing, aerobics, cycling and I was 8 stone lighter. I even trained and became an aerobics teacher for a short period when my job became redundant from my main career in Advertising Agencies and Design Agencies. I have lost 3 or so stone in weight twice and now dieting again as it depresses me aswell as depression from my pain.

• In my formative years, I played netball for 3 teams including Greater Manchester Under 21s at 16 years of age. Now, not only can I not dance and exercise, but any physical movement pains me and general day to day tasks at home take me a long time to carry out. I have been used to managing my pain and I have been to Pain Management programmes. This helped me to listen more to my body and focus on my pain instead of carrying on regardless. Any task I now breakdown into 5 to 10 minute intervals and change position from standing to sitting and lying.

• My diagnosis, which is taken from a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Consultant in Pain Management and Anaesthesia, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Highly Specialist Physiotherapist, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Specialist Occupational Therapist and two GPS: I have chronic lower back pain with multi level disc degeneration between L1 to L5 with degeneration of some of the posterior facet joints of the lumbar spine with narrowing of the left lateral recess at L4/5 possibly resulting in some irritation of the left L5 nerve root. The pain is in the lower back, radiates up and down the spine and also into the gluteal muscles and down both legs with shooting pains up the back with sporadic and random shooting pains all over the torso, arms and lower limbs together with more widespread myalgia. All movements in the lumbar spine are grossly restricted which increases the pain in my back. I also have a hyperlordotic lumbar spine (excessive inward curvature of the lower spine which is dramatically accentuated. This is common in dancers.) Also joint hypermobility syndrome (This means you can move some or all of your joints more than most people can. A minority of people with hypermobile joints experience pain or other symptoms, which is called joint hypermobility syndrome. Some people may have symptoms such as joint or muscle pain and may find that their joints are prone to injury or even dislocation. The main factors that play a part are: genetics, gender, age, ethnic background, training/exercise and many people with Down’s syndrome are hypermobile. Mine is not genetics as both my parents and both siblings are not, so it’s more likely from dance and exercise.). The pain is reduced by relaxing and reducing levels of activity and aggravated by activity. I have had multiple investigations in the past and tried everything available to me on NHS including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and I've also tried everything privately with complimentary therapies like reflexology, kinesiology, chiropractor. I tried a TENS machine which helped to a large degree, but due to over use developed an allergic reaction to the skin, developed open sores and when trying to use this again in later years, developed an allergic reaction to the skin again. I periodically research to see if there are any new technological advances with back pain and discovered SCS, Spine Cord Stimulation which in its very basic form is like a tens machine, but is inserted to the body and controlled remotely. However, when my GP referred me to Salford Royal NHS, I was told that SCS, according to HTA by NICE, is for the management of neuropathic pain secondary to failed back surgery syndrome and therefore the evidence is lacking for the management of chronic low back pain which is technically quite hard to target in terms of stimulation. Also, as I had not had any previous surgery, I was therefore not a suitable candidate on this base as well as in the distribution of my pain pattern. In the early years of my back pain, I had seen my GP in Oxford together with The Nuffield Hospital of Orthopaedics , in Oxford where spine fusion operation was offered as a trial, but I refused it and have been told at various hospitals since, that due to me having a multi level problem, this is not possible as it is only usually considered if it is affecting 2 discs in the lumbar region.

• Managing my pain: I am better in the afternoons as I need to have taken 2 lots of medications. All appropriate medications I have now tried so when going to my pain medication reviews, it is more a case of ‘recycling’ medications I have previously used. Although my wheelchair helps, it is still difficult to sit for long periods and I still change position from sitting to standing to lying.

I WON’T DO A SIR BOB GELDOF! lol! However, I will just kindly ask you to donate if you can

THANK YOU