I’m interested in your experiences and opinions as to when you felt the time was right to start using a wheel chair/power chair or a mobility scooter. I’ve just given up driving due to visual impairment caused by ms. I also have a problem with my right leg. The further I walk the more and more it drags until I can barely lift my leg, then my right arm starts going stiff and numb to the point its difficult to get my keys out of my purse and unlock the door. I’m using a rollator with a seat to walk about currently.
Any time is the best time. As in any time it would make your life easier, any time it would leave you feeling like you have more energy for the important things in life. Speaking from personal experience, accepting that compromising would make my life easier and more enjoyable, did just that
Just to add, I use a chair, power chair, and a scooter. I can still walk to the car with two walking sticks, about 5 metres, mainly coz I am too stubborn to give in. Confession time, I use the scooter to get to and from the pub, mostly but I have the wheelchair in an automatic roof box in my car so it is dropped at the drivers door when I need it, which is every day. My advice would be, start using them now, your life will be a lot easier.
Hi. A couple of years ago I was at physio rehab when they asked if I had a powered wheelchair. I replied ‘no I’m not giving up I want to walk for as long as I can’. At this point the very wise physio told me to not think of it as giving up but rather as increasing my options as to how I get around. How right she was. I walked, and still do, using a rollator but some days I wanted to cry it was so hard, and it’s pretty pointless punishing yourself like that. I’ve had Hercules the power chair for a while now, and You know what? It’s ok. I think that you need to push to keep walking and I make a conscious effort to do it as much as I can but I stopped driving in October so without Hercules I’d be stuck at home a lot which would make me very miserable. Using the chair will mean you can use you precious energy for other things. Using mine helps to manage my fatigue. If I use the chair to go out I have more energy to shower, dress etc and it makes a huge difference. I have a local small supermarket that’s a cheap taxi ride away so I try every week to go and walk as well as I can to do some food shopping and I walk around my home and have an exercise routine my physio helped me devise just ot keep me as mobile as possible but other than that it’s me and Hercules. I’ve even got good at going on the bus! I totally get why you may feel some reluctance but it really can improve your quality of life. You do sound as if you’re really struggling. All the best Dawn
Allo Black green eyes. Yeh, this poser often causes the posee nightmares! Some folk refuse to even consider going into a wheelie. They struggle on, having hardly any social life, maybe staying in bed, becoming more and more isolated. BUT…I am a champion of the wheelie! I extol the many benefits . Before I made the leap (as if!) from zimmer, walking stick etc…I was falling daily…some falls were quite spectacular and shouldve made front page news...but they didnt! Oh I did hurt! Just getting from the bed to the loo was a minefield...no obstacles as they were banned from the house...just me and my unresponsive legs and feet. I fell over nowt! I began using Shopmobility and re-discovered the joys of retail therapy! I could actually stay out for more than an hour! So I bought my own scooter and hubby transported it in his estate car. Then, after yet another set of falls, I decided to bite the bullet.....a series of wheelchairs have been on adventures with me. Ive now been a full timer for about 18 years and yeh, it`s limiting, but I don’t get those bumps and grazes now! I had tried as hard and as long as poss…but when your legs pack up and the nerves are damaged beyond repair, you have the choice to make and only you can do it! Best wishes, Bouds xx
I started using a chair in 2014. After some years of using sticks when out. I was able to walk less and less in distance and time. Shopping was a struggle - 3 shops in a flat town centre and I was wiped out. Going round an exhibition or museum? Unheard of. Standing waiting for a bus, agonising. So I got a chair and soon after a power pack to convert it to electric. Soon I was going further and faster than I had in TEN YEARS!! The day my son said “slow down mom”, I sat and laffed my head off. Now I have an off road and can explore parts of my town NEVER been to - woods, hills, fields. Truly - hire one for a holiday or a week and see the difference.
Just to add… I managed to obtain a second hand (all terrain scooter) from that site beginning wth e… It’s great for getting out with dog. Weather permitting of course! I’ve been there done the cane, three wheeler, rollater & scooter even worn the t-shirt! Now I can just about transfer to my wheelchair. It took me a long time to accept and adjust to the physical reality that I needed some extra mobility help. What has to be…has to be.
I have had a hate / love of each walking aid, and I have usually understood and accepted the benefits later than I could have. (Being a stubborn bone headed idiot - ego and misplaced pride have a lot to answer for) I am still not a fan of being pushed in a wheelchair, but it does mean that I can share more time with my wife. I have recently been lucky enough to get a small scooter that enables me to do loads more stuff that would otherwise be impossible. There is usually a silver lining to be had if you think about it. Good luck Mick
sounds like me. I have a wheelchair (electric) and a scooter. I cant use the first in my flat as its too tiny but i am determined to keep on my feet as long as i can and push myself to walk every day but it gets hard, but its only around my tiny flat and to the bin area.
I use my scooter to take the dog out. I love that.
I wish i had the confidence to go out on my own in a taxi with my wheelchair, but where i live there is only one taxi who will take a wheelchair.
I get frightened i will be stuck thats my problem. I have bought a new SOS watch from a company. you can get anyone even if your out and about, but only just got it. with the weather being so awful i havent really gone out much.
I use my electric wheelchair just a bit at moment to let the dog stretch her legs, and went outside the other day from my sheltered accommodation and the stupid thing got stuck on a bit of grass which was overgrowing the edge of the path. I started to panic but a resident saw me and helped me out.
my town is horrible with pavements they have canvers and holes.
i wish i wasnt such a scardey cat maybe its partly my age now nearly 70 i dont know. but i used to be strong.
probably loosing my husband who used to take me everywhere has taken away my confidence. I just wish i had some of yours. xxxxxx
Hi blackgreeneyes, i started to use one when i went across to my park which is just opposite my house for the usual walk with doglet and suddenly just could not walk. My legs went stiff and horrible and i couldnt get home. i was lucky there was a bench handy so sat down and rang hubby who was at work.
He did come and get me. gosh that was a long time back now and i have been using a scooter ever since to go out with dog, or i used to use one in shops supermarkets etc. I eventually bought a fab folding all terrain wheelchair which is really light and folds easy.
Havent been out in ages to shops i have to say, i dont feel well with my PPMS, and everytime i went out it was taking days to recover.
BUT its great fun having a scooter and the dog loves it, as she can have a really good walk.
Hi. Confidence is a bugger. I’m on my own so I do have to push myself to do things but the thing with me is I hate being stuck in. I’ve got an infection at the mo so I’m not well even by my usual standards so I’m having to stop in and rest which I driving me mental. I do worry like you about getting stuck but I always take my charger and phone with me and generally people are really great at helping if you need it. it must be hard after losing you husband especially as he was such a big help to you. Maybe try thinking of somewhere local you’d like to go, a cafe, park, library etc. Take a book with you just in case you feel like a spare part on your own then at least you can read it if you feel like the odd one out, or is there a dog friendly cafe near you? I go loads of places on my own and generally somebody will have a chat. Then see how that goes and maybe you’ll start to feel a bit more confident. MS can be such an isolating disease but if you find somewhere you like it might help you venture out more xxxx