Hello all - have sat here deliberating for days as to whether to post - or not but here goes 
I am 54 (v nearly 55) and I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in January 2022. I have a young family, 2 boys aged 2 and 5 so I have very little time to feel sorry for myself. I am part of a new drug being trialled which I have been on for 10 months. I struggle with walking but extremely stubborn and wonât get a stick and suggested straps for my shoes to hold the front of my foot up. The boys pass on regular colds and they knock for six each time but otherwise I am healthy and happy but a little nervous of what lies ahead. Have so many questions and excited to be able to speak with others in the same pickle - my name is Philip x
Hi Philip
Welcome to the group that no one chooses to join, but it is what it is, and we make the most of it.
Lots of lovely people here always willing to offer help or advice where they can.
Pam x
Hi Philip
Welcome (unfortunately) to the club. I was diagnosed with PPMS aged 58 in early '21 and my youngest is 12, so some parallels with your situation.
I was misdiagnosed for perhaps 8 years, so by the time of diagnosis, the condition was well advanced. I know what you mean about the stick but my advice is not to punish yourself for having MS - make it as easy as you can because, sadly, itâs not going away. For us with PPMS, our best hope is Ocrelizumab which only claims to be able to slow down the rate of progression in 70% of cases. So no cure and no halting, just slowing. Sorry, but thatâs tough love.
Nobody else will mind if youâve got a stick (or a wheelchair - I got my electric folding chair 18 months ago). Tell yourself theyâre for âjust in caseâ and then youâll find things you can do with the equipment that you couldnât do without. My kids donât notice or comment on my kit around the house, theyâre too self-absorbed to consider others!
Graeme
2 Likes
Hi and welcome. I agree with Graeme, I didnât like the thought of having a stick either but mt friend told me "pride goes before a fall " and if I fell because I didnât have a stick or other aids how would I get up ? probably have to crawl to something to pull myself up and support meâŚand what would I feel like then?
Iâve got a teenage daughter and I was worried what she or her friends would thinkâŚbut you canât worry what others may be thinking âŚcos they may not be thinking anythingâŚyou just have to do whats right for you, and anything that helps is a bonus.
I was diagnosed 4 yrs ago with SPMS. I now have sticks, FES, foot brace,and a scooter and Iâve just had my 1st cruise holiday which I couldnât have done (or even considered) without my sister and the above. You get used to them.
Ali
My Mum had to use a walking stick (sometimes 2 sticks), has special shoes and other aides. We mostly didnât notice,
If we, or one of our friends asked why she needed the stick etc. she explained simply that some people get wobbly sometimes, but not all the time, like when you spin around and around too much, and that a walking stick helped to stop her from being so wobbly.
It never upset us, Mum was Mum, who sometimes got wobbly and needed a stick to help her balance.