Wishing you the best Katherine! Sorry to hear about the issues, I hope you are back on the Tenere soon.
Disability adaptations for shifter
- Thread starter elizilla
- Start date
I did the same thing elizilla. I have a bad left leg and could no longer shift so I bought a Honda CTX. The transmission is wonderful but I am a big guy and the rest of the package did not work for me. Sadly I sold my S10 and should have worked harder to find a solution. Good luck to you and I hope you figure it out. Life without a Super Tenere is not nearly as fun as life with one!!
Status update:
Back in early March I called the neurologist and requested an orthotics referral. They gave me one but the wheels grind slowly up there, so my appointment isn't until next week.
In the meantime I have had a consultation from a company that makes an interesting device. It is a leg cuff that stimulates those nerves using electrical things like in a TENS unit. She put it on my leg, turned the dial, and presto my foot lifted up in the way I can no longer move it on my own. The other components are a sensor you put in the heel of the shoe, and a brain box that you carry in your pocket like a phone. The sensor detects where you are in your stride, and the brain box tells the stim cuff to make the toe lift appropriately. So with this thing running, I walked normally without my cane for the first time in a year. I even climbed stairs without having to hold the handrail. It feels really weird, but it works pretty well. They tell me that using the stim on the nerves to make my foot move, will strengthen the muscles and stretch the ligaments, which should make it easier to do things with the limited nerve function I have, even when I am not wearing it. And if it allows me to get out and do more athletic things, my overall physical condition will improve and I won't be so darn tired all the time. Also, there's a resting mode for when you are sitting down, that twitches the muscle now and then, which improves circulation and should make my foot less cold. But you have to work up slowly, because those muscles are so completely out of condition. They tell me that the first day, I should only wear it 20 minutes. The neurologist says insurance is unlikely to pay for it, but they will support my attempt to get it covered. I was so impressed that I am going to try it even if I have to pay for it myself. They are shipping it this week and I have a call in to the local consultant, to arrange to have it fitted.
No, I'm not going to try to get it programmed for gear shifting. If I'm going to use electricity and technology to shift gears, I'll install the push button shifter. Much less complicated and more precise, than using an artificial nerve stim to move my foot.
Since I can't wear this electric thing all the time, I am still going to go to the orthotics place and try to get an AFO to wear sometimes as well.
I got the Super10 out, last week. My neighbor installed the lowering links for me but I still could not get my leg over the bike. Everything else in my legs has gotten weak and stiff, cascading off the clumsy foot. I am going to take off the passenger seat and grab rails; that will make it easier. But first I have to figure out what the heck I did with that security wrench that goes with the removable sidecase racks. Can't find that dumb thing anywhere. I sent email to Twisted Throttle asking if they can get me one and they haven't replied. I will call them.
The new NC700X is working out well. I have no trouble climbing on this smaller machine, and the DCT works great. I have had it out several times. It is light and nimble and completely unintimidating. Last weekend I took the bodywork off and worked on getting the accessories wired in. My Flash2Pass, hyperlites, and heated grips are all working great.
Weekend after next I am trailering the Ural down to Tellico Plains. If you're in the neighborhood on your Super10 and you see a red Ural with a Michigan handicapper plate, that's me.
Back in early March I called the neurologist and requested an orthotics referral. They gave me one but the wheels grind slowly up there, so my appointment isn't until next week.
In the meantime I have had a consultation from a company that makes an interesting device. It is a leg cuff that stimulates those nerves using electrical things like in a TENS unit. She put it on my leg, turned the dial, and presto my foot lifted up in the way I can no longer move it on my own. The other components are a sensor you put in the heel of the shoe, and a brain box that you carry in your pocket like a phone. The sensor detects where you are in your stride, and the brain box tells the stim cuff to make the toe lift appropriately. So with this thing running, I walked normally without my cane for the first time in a year. I even climbed stairs without having to hold the handrail. It feels really weird, but it works pretty well. They tell me that using the stim on the nerves to make my foot move, will strengthen the muscles and stretch the ligaments, which should make it easier to do things with the limited nerve function I have, even when I am not wearing it. And if it allows me to get out and do more athletic things, my overall physical condition will improve and I won't be so darn tired all the time. Also, there's a resting mode for when you are sitting down, that twitches the muscle now and then, which improves circulation and should make my foot less cold. But you have to work up slowly, because those muscles are so completely out of condition. They tell me that the first day, I should only wear it 20 minutes. The neurologist says insurance is unlikely to pay for it, but they will support my attempt to get it covered. I was so impressed that I am going to try it even if I have to pay for it myself. They are shipping it this week and I have a call in to the local consultant, to arrange to have it fitted.
No, I'm not going to try to get it programmed for gear shifting. If I'm going to use electricity and technology to shift gears, I'll install the push button shifter. Much less complicated and more precise, than using an artificial nerve stim to move my foot.
Since I can't wear this electric thing all the time, I am still going to go to the orthotics place and try to get an AFO to wear sometimes as well.
I got the Super10 out, last week. My neighbor installed the lowering links for me but I still could not get my leg over the bike. Everything else in my legs has gotten weak and stiff, cascading off the clumsy foot. I am going to take off the passenger seat and grab rails; that will make it easier. But first I have to figure out what the heck I did with that security wrench that goes with the removable sidecase racks. Can't find that dumb thing anywhere. I sent email to Twisted Throttle asking if they can get me one and they haven't replied. I will call them.
The new NC700X is working out well. I have no trouble climbing on this smaller machine, and the DCT works great. I have had it out several times. It is light and nimble and completely unintimidating. Last weekend I took the bodywork off and worked on getting the accessories wired in. My Flash2Pass, hyperlites, and heated grips are all working great.
Weekend after next I am trailering the Ural down to Tellico Plains. If you're in the neighborhood on your Super10 and you see a red Ural with a Michigan handicapper plate, that's me.
Katherine glad progress is being made. Amazing the advances we have now days. Happy to hear the Honda is working for you just a few years ago and we wouldn't even had that option. Have fun in Tellico Plains the Ural will be great there.
Katherine, cheers to your tenacity!
You represent what amazes me about our species.
While there are some of us that fold when facing serious adversity, it's really remarkable to witness the effort a person will make to recover.
Really happy you're making progress. Bet every mile is soaked up on that Honda!
You represent what amazes me about our species.
While there are some of us that fold when facing serious adversity, it's really remarkable to witness the effort a person will make to recover.
Really happy you're making progress. Bet every mile is soaked up on that Honda!
Turns out that you can take the security fasteners out with a big flathead screwdriver. So much for security.
So we removed the grab rails and passenger seat last night. It was snowing outside, I was tired, and the garage is very full, so I didn't attempt to climb on last night. But I think I will be able to now. I still can't shift the gears very well, but maybe that will change when I get my electric stim thing and work those muscles into better condition.
I will get back on this bike, I will...
So we removed the grab rails and passenger seat last night. It was snowing outside, I was tired, and the garage is very full, so I didn't attempt to climb on last night. But I think I will be able to now. I still can't shift the gears very well, but maybe that will change when I get my electric stim thing and work those muscles into better condition.
I will get back on this bike, I will...
I believe you.
Very well said Snake, I share your amazement of homo sapiens.snakebitten said:Katherine, cheers to your tenacity!
You represent what amazes me about our species.
While there are some of us that fold when facing serious adversity, it's really remarkable to witness the effort a person will make to recover.
Really happy you're making progress. Bet every mile is soaked up on that Honda!
Good luck elizilla, I think you inspire many of us. Thanks for sharing this part of your journey with us.