Beware the disability-industrial complex

[elizilla]

I am having increasing trouble getting around. When I am on my trike, it is great, I roll around so freely and feel connected to the world. It is a challenge on uneven ground so I can’t go to the backyard, but as long as there is pavement I do great. But when I am walking I can barely take my own dishes to the sink. And as winter sets in I get very nervous about the ice and snow. I fall so easily and every time it is traumatic. So I asked the neurologist about wheelchairs. Maybe the right thing would allow me to do more stuff. Even just to get my own drink, and go to other rooms without thinking about whether it is worth the risk and struggle.

Next thing I know I am talking to a salesman who is ready to order me something. He can get insurance to cover it, will do all the paperwork, I don’t have to do anything but pick a color.

What I really want is some education. I thought I would go to this appointment and they would watch me walk, watch me get in and out of chairs, have me drive around in a power chair, etc, and we would go over the options. Real options not just colors! Instead I have fallen onto a conveyor belt that is feeding me to the disability industrial complex. There is money to be made off of me and they won’t ask me to sweat the details.

I want to know more! I got this guy to tell me the model name at least. I looked it up and I am not convinced it is right for me. And if insurance buys me this I can’t get anything else for five years. I need to become opinionated about this stuff before I let myself get railroaded into an order.

Comments

[sendthewolf]

They haven't met a master farkler before! Good for you, as with _everything_ related to personal health care you have to take charge of it!

medical-industrial complex

[devon]

that sounds like when I went to the Dermatologist for advice about a new kind of bump I'd been getting on my face. 10 minutes later, I'd been prescribed Retin-A, and the assistant (because the MD left them to close the deal) wanted me to sign so their preferred pharmacy could just mail it to my house.

no, thank you, that is not what I wanted.