I’ve just been outside to look at my sons new car and despite him helping me, i fell 3 times. i’m not hurt because i know that i’m falling and its a case of landing safely …or like Buzz light year falling with style…but i was having a good day furniture walking and strategically dragging a foot so why does it all change outside, why does brain processing alter when its not the usual for us. We’ve finished my ramp for the new wheelchair so when it arrives next week, i can get it safely into the house. Greg the gardener has built another ramp so it can go over the steps into the conservatory instead of me crawling up the path and up the steps which had become the norm for me.
I think it is the sense of space, indoors we are never far from a chair or door frame etc. but outside there is nowt but space and then more space ohhh there is a wall over there ooops to late I am on the floor.
Thats my reconing on it if it aint that then it’ll be something else
Thanks Don, i think you are right. I’m amazed what a skill walking is. When its gone is such a massive loss. Driving is the same i miss it sooo mch probably more than walking… when I’m in my chair with Frazer we are running! but Driving was my ultimate independence…I could go anywhere …not that i was the most adventurous, Lee did most of the driving in fact the kids still laugh at my driving as it used to be. i think for a good while i was suffering with cognitive difficulties and some double vision so i was a bit of a nervous driver. I cried the most when they said i couldn’t drive anymore. Lee said he knew all along that i wasnt up to it but i truly believed that there would be an adaptation.
Hi, Michelle, I was the same when I couldn’t drive anymore I really missed it.I think it was because I learnt to drive because I could hardly walk more than a few yards, so driving gave me back some much-needed independence.So for that to be taken away is like losing your independence for the 2nd time it stinks.I still miss been able to just get in the car and take myself wherever I want to go.I really miss the freedom it gave me.I was the one who decided NOT to drive anymore I just knew it wasn’t safe to anymore.What hurts the most is you try to find a way round things, only to have the solution also taken away,so it’s a double whammy.
Thanks Jackie, losing my driving has been the saddest thing for me, i think because it meant so much to me. I feel ashamed and stupid for losing it as if i could have done better on the assessment, especially as the reason for not allowing me was worded badly, they said i was not allowed because of a psychological illness…i felt insulted but as i don’t have an official ms label there is not much else they can blame it on. But cognitive failure because of my neurological illness means i’m not safe. I feel particularly sad this morning, Lee was tired and just a throw away comment about having to taxi everyone around and attend all of the parents evenings…more because of special needs children and having to pick Rosanna up (Autistic older daughter) she was home for the weekend, these were all my jobs before go ill…How i wish I was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz…I’d just click my sparkly red shoes together and everything would go back to normal.
Hospitals are ironically the easiest places for me to walk, smooth flat floor, that’s all I need
Outside, there’s lumps and bumps so spasticity & foot-drop are a problem. Horrid paving designs, with sloping surfaces are even worse - if balance wasn’t a big enough challenge, throw in some ataxia and nystagmus and it means I’m often staggering with one eye shut before I tip!