in my opinion more like a significant victory. I am forever telling myself "it is not big, clever or funny to fall over so don’t do it you ^*%^& "
Me and my MS regularly have expletive filled conversations.
Keep celebrating the victories.
Mick
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Same here. At least I assume that it is my hiking pole that makes people on pavements - even quite crowded ones - give me such a wide berth…
Alison
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Hi this has happened to me a couple of times my legs have just went from under me and down I go lol I use a crutch for a bit of support now I don’t know what’s worse when it happens the humiliation of kissing the ground or the sympathy you get lol followed by what a shame your so young that makes you feel worse !! I know say it was a sky diving accident lol I have also had the dirty look as if I’m drunk at 1pm but it probably doesn’t help if your legs go like Bambi in marks and Spencer and down I went with my shopping and a bottle of merlot rolling out my shopping bag lol !! I never used to have a glass of wine when I went out but now I do people look at you as if your drunk you might as well have a glass!; lol
I have had ms for 10 years this has happened a few times to me at home and outside without any warning I just ignore people and having a crutch does help it makes people around you more aware you have an illness and not a drunk.person.rolling around marks and spencer lol its not funny when it happens but you have to laugh after its the only way to stay positive xx
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Oh. So it was YOU!
How do you repair Rohan trousers?.
A.
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I’m gonna buy a stick!
That’s a step (ho ho…) in the right direction, right? I mean whether I’ll ever use it or not is another matter, but buying one’s a start on the journey, baby steps as it were!
It’s really pretty and that’s important to me. If I’m going to use an aid for my disease I don’t want it to be some ugly thing that I detest. I have massive issues with the way care paraphernalia looks. I know stuff needs to be of sturdy construction, but it does not have to be UGLY! Makes me feel like a really second rate human because the items made to help us are so very utilitarian in appearance, like we’re not worthy of anything that’s not an eyesore and doesn’t shove our health issues in our face every time we see it.
steps off soap box So yeah, pretty stick it is then!
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After doing a small local poll, I was interested to find out that most people would consider a man to be drunk early in the day and a woman to need help and possibly make enquiries as to her welfare/needs. I was accused of being drunk at 7.30pm on entering an Xmas do, possibly understandable. Due to being stone-cold sober, I realised very quickly that I can wear stilly heals no longer and changed into the sensible flats in my bag. I felt ridiculous, I really didn’t need it confirming. It’s surprising how soon people forget when you have a tantrum and refuse to use the crutch because it’s making your back hurt and annoying you. As it happens, it made me fight harder and not give up at the first set of hurdles. I now know this is going to take big whatsits and my mothers’ inherited stubbornness. Months later, this amuses me. I’m so past caring. We have/may have one of the most unpredictable conditions in existence, we’re not imagining these symptoms - and the lucky ones can ALL kiss my a$@e! We have/may have this - stuff it! WEAR IT WITH PRIDE! This isn’t something preventable - nothing we did made this happen! Oh dear, I found my soapbox again.
Sorry, I just get annoyed with people. No seriously. People that park in disabled spots, on double yellows and actually on pedestrian crossings or the zigzags. It’s rife around these parts and has always irritated the life out of me. Now I get it a bit more, I understand the huge issue for the disabled around here. I understand I may be focusing my general discombobulation with all this into a huge moral indignation, but they’re all just fat and/or lazy! I considered becoming a parking attendant but, my fatigue put a stop to that idea. Don’t think they’d be too happy about a mobility scooter as part of an employee. I would be ruthless but - that would also be detrimental to my blood pressure. Dealing with moral outrage on a daily basis is exhausting, I couldn’t do it for a living for long.
I stand by my view - WEAR IT WITH PRIDE!
mX
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Jellysundae. I love that pretty cane/stick! I’m using a crutch given to me by the physio in hospital when I was admitted with my last relapse. It’s functional and I need it, but it is dull and “sad” looking. I don’t think there is a decorated crutch about, so I’ve just had an idea…sticky backed plastic!! 
Gonna get some today and have a Blue Peter day. Should be easy enough to do. Pink and glittery I think. Oh happy days, I’m so easy to please!
My advice to someone getting a walking stick (or sticks) for the first time is to get one with a handle that is shapes to fit better in your hand - I’m not sure if that’s a good description, I started off with a “normal” walking stick, then moved to one with a moulded handle and the difference was dramatic as it was so much more comfortable.
Derek
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I agree. I have a left-handed stick and it is a godsend. I just had my right knee replaced and the stick is essential. Crutches are good if you feel very unsteady.
I don’t trust my left leg ligaments. They are loose and the knee cap itself is badly damaged thanks to a hyaluronic acid injection. This is my next op.
I think that even when both legs are healed, I’ll still use my left stick. My balance isn’t great and people do notice it and try to help. My right leg will never be normal again*.*
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Hi Poppy
There are in fact quite a lot of makers of relatively pretty crutches. Try Crutches | Walking Sticks | Custom Crutches – Cool Crutches or do a web search for crutches, you’ll find other companies. I have a pair of purple crutches from cool crutches which I used for quite a long time before I graduated to wheelchair / occasional walker.
They tend not to be cheap, but they do last a long time and are a heck of a lot nicer than NHS ones.
Sue
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You can get quite a few different coloured crutches theses days.
I have a pair of spotty ones, another pair of raspberry pink ones and a single shocking pink one. I get lots of (nice) comments from people about them.
A good brand is Switchsticks (or is it stix?) and there is a website called Chic Aid. If you look on eBay and Amazon they have lots of different ones.
I don’t know about sticky back plastic. I don’t think that it would be a good idea because it would wrinkle and bubble trying to put it round a tube.
What might be a better idea is to spray paint it with a specialist metal paint like Hammerite. You can get it in spray tins from your DIY store. Do it outdoors if you can. If it was me, I would take the rubber ferrule off the end if I could (they are cheap to replace - eBay again) and definitely wrap the plastic bits like the handle and cuff in lots of cling film before painting as this will stop the paint splashing all over everywhere. Hang the stick from a clothes line whilst you spray it or prop it against something so it is nice and even and doesn’t stick to things whilst it dries.
And next week on “Blue Peter for the disabled” Bob shows you how to make a beautiful origami mobile from all those pointless and annoying letters from the DWP
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Oh brilliant! Thanks for that. I swear if I ever end up with a wheelchair, mine’s gonna have go faster stripes on it.
Hahaha. Love it. Brilliant idea with the spray. Don’t know why I never thought of that. Off to diy store now!
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