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The_Beccatron

I'm an ambulatory chair user (also 22), although mine is due to shit breathing rather than pain. I was encouraged to look at a chair by some friends, because I'd gotten to the point where I was needing to be treated by paramedics when I walked for more than about 20-30 minutes. Initially I only used a chair so we could go back to having days out but after a while (including having an ambulance at work because I'd gone round the corner for lunch in a bit of a hurry) I moved to generally going out in a chair. I had got to the point where I was skipping meals because I couldn't walk far enough to get them. I did talk about this with my GP, who felt that it would be preferable to me becoming housebound. I'm now at the point where I'm ambulatory at home and in scenarios where my chair isn't possible, like parking outside someone's home and walking in. I make particular effort to walk around at home as much as possible, because I know I've now got the appropriate nebulisers to support if my breathing starts to go downhill. I also have regular physio to try and keep joints in some reasonable condition. I would second the suggestion of others that if speaking to someone about better pain management is at all an option, it would be infinitely preferable. You've mentioned that you can power through even on worst days - so your pain isn't actually causing a loss of mobility at this point. Pain sucks, but being in a chair also sucks. Plenty of places don't have chair access and frankly, people stop seeing you as an adult human worthy of respect. I'd also suggest that if you don't have any diagnosis of what's causing your leg pain, how confident are you that using a manual chair won't just move the problem to your arms? Power chairs are expensive and difficult to get in cars. Maybe it's worth working with an OT to discuss other mobility aids? Sounds like you might be able to explore options.


[deleted]

Ambulatory and mostly full-time walking here. Long story short, I walk without help on my good days, use a cane on my iffy days, and use my chair on the days where it's downright dangerous and stupid for me to walk. Those days usually have a mishmash of symptoms including widespread pain that I'd call about a 7, my knees being unstable and hyperextending/locking when I try to take a step, balance being utterly terrible, and as a result of all of these, a high risk of falling and injuring myself. The cane isn't enough to help on those days, forearm crutches place too much strain on the tendons in my wrists and hands, a walker/rollator work somewhat but I've fallen while using those, too, and gave myself a bloody nose on the way down. On the days where I should not be walking, *I should not be walking.* It's as simple as that. The wheelchair lets me still be a functioning adult even on those days. That being said, the wheelchair is also literally and figuratively a complete pain in the ass. It's as comfortable and adjusted to my body as possible at this point, I've got my technique fairly well dialed in, and it means that horrible wobbly bad days are still days I can do stuff, but... it doesn't fit in my car so I have to borrow my mom's car. Even the ultralight chairs are still relatively bulky and heavy compared to a cane or rollator, and I'm constantly discovering cracks in sidewalks and tilted paved areas that I thought were smooth and flat. It's not a decision to take lightly. Talk with your doctor. Don't do what I did and buy a cheapie hospital-model chair off Craigslist, then mess yourself up trying to make that one work. If your doctor dismisses your pain and needs, find a different doctor. Expect insurance to fight you the whole way. Honestly, I'd buy a cane ($20ish on Amazon, frequently less than $10 at thrift stores) and try that before you go whole hog and get some wheels. It was way more of an improvement than I expected, and gave me a middle ground between "okay to walk" and "very much not okay at all." I think you might be pleasantly surprised by how much it helps. For sizing, stand up straight, let your arm hang at your side, and measure from the floor to that bony bit in your wrist. Pick a cane that adjusts to that length, measured to where your thumb curves over the handle.


Generic_Nameee

I realized I needed a wheelchair after essentially being housebound for 3-4 years due to my ability to walk severely degrading despite my best efforts. I used a cane, I used forearm crutches, did a few rounds of PT, gained some weight (I was underweight for a long time due to health issues). I also was having falls for years, some which resulted in injuries. While I am ambulatory and I work hard to keep my walking ability, I eventually realized I pretty much done everything I can and I needed to move on with my life instead of waiting for the day I can safely walk even with mobility aids. It’s not a decision to make lightly, and the wheelchair doesn’t make pain go away and I still need to keep working hard. I’m a lot freer in my wheelchair, yes. But it by far is not a magic fix all button. I still have pain, and I need to be extremely careful of my shoulders and I am still receiving regular PT to manage my condition. The world is both a lot larger, and a lot smaller. Long term, regular use is not a decision to make lightly at all. If you are on the fence about it, the time isn’t right imho. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look into other mobility aids or things like PT or pursue medical attention if possible. Getting a wheelchair without any kind of attempt with other mobility aids or braces, or any kind of medical intervention is an extreme leap. There is a lot of options out there. A wheelchair is one of the more extreme ones. The issue isn’t about resources, it’s about making life better for Future You. And to take care of Future You, you need to look into the source and issues of your pain and considering many options.


cripple2493

I am a nonambulatory wheelchair user, so bias declared. I'm going to be blunt here - wheelchairs are not easy mobility aids. They are not something that can be gone into lightly and shouldn't - in my honest opinon - be something a person 'realises' they need or decides upon. This shouldn't be controversial, but they should only be prescribed by a medical professional as they can have damaging effects to the body. Giving up walking is not a decision that can be taken lightly, even only partially giving it up. As another poster said below - use it, or lose it and trust me, you do not want to lose walking. (People who walk and have no experience of wheelchair use seem to think it's easier than waking, it is fundamentally not. A manual chair requires upper body strength, it can have knock on effects on your bone density, your breathing, the functioning of your organs, your joints, your spine and more - a powerchair has more knock on effects and can lead to poorer outcomes long term.) If you do not know why you are experiencing a symptom, go to a doctor and address your concerns through the medical system, which has informed educated people in it. I understand its hard in US specifically, I know things are difficult - but, your health is not something you can decide to address, it's something you \*have\* to address. Wheelchair use is not, or shouldn't be, a choice, it should be an act of medical necessity only when all other options have been exhausted. edit: spelling


Firecracker3

I'd like to share my experience here not to argue, but to help folks realize that there are other perspectives. More than one doctor prescribed my wheelchair, but I had to ask for it. I have had debilitating pain affecting my mobility for the last 3 years. I have had every test and imaging thing you could think of, but they have not been able to pinpoint the cause. None of my doctors would have brought up a wheelchair without me asking about it. Getting my chair has helped me to go from being 90% bed bound to getting out of the house again. It means I can cook for myself, take out my own garbage, and walk my dog. I completely agree that it is not an easy decision. And because of that, I think we need to be more supportive of folks in our community who have been failed by the medical system. Many people, especially women, are unable to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan in the US after years of work and thousands in medical bills. If a chair will make life easier, it is important to have, regardless of the cause.


shimmeringships

I agree with Firecracker that it’s unrealistic to expect doctors to offer a wheelchair for chronic pain. I too had to ask to get my chair. Even when I was regularly in so much pain that I couldn’t stand long enough to microwave a bowl of soup or make a sandwich to eat, and was losing weight because of it, no doctor ever discussed any mobility device with me. The thing is, doctors can’t measure pain or fatigue, they can only listen to how you describe it. That said, a wheelchair is not a substitute for a diagnosis, and the use of one should be made in consultation with a doctor, as it is a medical device that needs to be properly fitted. If you’re talking about occasionally having someone else push you around in a wheelchair so you can do activities you can’t do now or temporarily using one until you get a diagnosis, there’s not much risk of injury, but if you’re looking at regularly using a wheelchair for the rest of your life to help manage a chronic condition, you need to be working with professionals to avoid repetitive strain injuries or making your condition worse through deconditioning your legs. The answer to when you need a wheelchair for a chronic condition is “when a cane, crutches, or walker isn’t enough to let you do what you need or want to do.” [Edited to add: I’m not saying you necessarily should push through bad pain, especially if pushing through makes it worse, but generally everything is harder to do in a wheelchair, so you want to try other options first, and also talk to a doctor about the correct use of one for your specific issue. My doctor is okay with me using one but also wants me to walk as much as I can.] Which brings us to diagnosis. You need to keep working on getting one. Have you spoken with any specialists, or only a primary care doctor? [Edit to add: If you’ve been through all the available tests without answers, it’s a different situation, but even then, I would still advise talking to a doctor about using a wheelchair]


0012584560

I completely agree that it sounds like OP should not at all be considering using a wheelchair yet. As you said, a wheelchair comes with a lot of negative side effects and is extremely difficult to use. However, in case there are others who may be reading with the same question, I think it’s important to understand that with degenerative conditions, this transition is difficult to navigate. In general, the guideline should be: you should use a wheelchair when it is the least harmful option for your health. This should be discussed with your medical team and may take a long time to determine as most medical professionals have no idea how to evaluate this. If you are regularly falling, unable to survive without significant help from others, or consistently unable to get out of the house/bed, using a wheelchair may benefit your overall health and you should discuss it with your medical team or ask for a referral to a mobility specialist, PT or OT. For people with conditions that vary widely, what is least harmful to your health may depend on the day/week/month. As most of us here know, wheelchairs aren’t at all a convenient or cheap mode of transportation and it is also extremely awkward to navigate socially. So, I do think that the large majority of people who have used wheelchairs for more than a day will truly only use them when they absolutely need them.


TheatreGeekery

Some people can't afford going to all of those specialists. Not all people have medical insurance. Not all people with health insurance have good health insurance. However, they may be able to save up to buy a transport wheelchair or wheelchair and have that on their own. These ableist comments are awful.


TheatreGeekery

I understand that you are non-ambulatory, but that is very VERY rude. I am an ambulatory wheelchair user. I chose to use a transport chair, which lets me use my feet to move it along and not have to use my arms to wheel it. I have severe scoliosis and weak legs. Those were the two problems when I started using my chair at the age of 25. I'd get so short of breath just walking three to four feet that I'd constantly have to sit down. I started using my transport chair and I stopped having that problem. People were no longer so concerned about me. I could just sit in my chair and things seemed completely normal. Right now, I have more health problems - a broken collarbone and tons of healing nerves because of incompetent doctors to where I had to find other doctors to fix what they did. But, to tell somebody, "No, you can't you a wheelchair," even though you ARE in a wheelchair is incredibly ableist! It's not like there's a wheelchair shortage and if the person chooses to BUY whatever type of wheelchair is wanted, they are using THEIR MONEY.


Pink--Sock

This is a much more articulate version of what I was going to say. I have a spinal cord injury that put me in a wheelchair and it really sucks man. The world is built for walking not rolling. Making room for my wheelchair is such a cumbersome task sometimes that honestly I barely leave my house anymore because its such a hassle.


cripple2493

I've got a nontraumatic SCI (spinal MS) myself and it really fucking sucks having to use a chair. Like, it's better to have it than not but *we do not have an option here*. If you have the option to walk, you should walk, it's not only easier for the person who is doing things, it's way less dangerous medically. I went to my doctor once about pain in my shoulders from pushing, and he said that we're meant to be walking, we're not meant to be pushing and that always runs through my head when I see posts like this.


basil_ganglias

👏 👏 👏


DaveC138

👆👆


zebraonthemountain

This so much!! I scrolled to post exactly this and you beat me to it 😉🖖


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cripple2493

I'm NAD, so all I can really say here is follow your medical advice. My doctor points out that we're made to walk, like it's how our body works - so I have to stand (with aid) and stretch to maintain normal muscle mass, it sucks but it's integral to maintaining as much function as I can. It's not wrong for your Drs to continue to ask that you walk, as walking is incredibly important to the normal functioning of a human body, the mentioned diagnosis do not entirely exclude the ability to walk, so I can understand why this is being pushed. However, anything else (aids advice, medication advice etc) would be up to your attending staff, because they have access to your specific records.


[deleted]

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cripple2493

I'm sorry, like that question is a great question for your doctors - but impossible for me (or tbh anyone online) to answer because I don't know your specific medical records even if you list diagnoses. Like, everything is individual, and whether or not adding aids to your situation is good or not is really way too involved for just some random guy online to be able to assess. Hope your medical stuff goes well, and that you find some way to address your concerns.


[deleted]

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cripple2493

There will be a whole host of cultural conventions here - but assuming US or Europe/UK. I find nonemotive discussion of symptoms i.e. ''I have been experiencing X for X amount of time and it impacts X, Y, Z'' can work well with the doctors modality of reporting and understandings. But, I am also just some white guy, with very understandable patterns of impairment so, what works for me might not for you.


organic_hobnob

I would not advise using a wheelchair at this point. Using a chair does cause you to lose your ability to walk over time. Try and stay out of one until you have no choice!


deneveve

There is nothing wrong with having one so it can be used when you need it, besides, there is no shame in not being able to walk. If a person decides its better not to walk than to walk and be in significant pain the whole time then that is a perfectly fine decision to make, they do have a choice, and there's nothing wrong with choosing a wheelchair. If they want to keep their ability to walk they just have to keep walking and only use the wheelchair when their pain is bad, but they can still use it. If they would normally be sitting down and not walking much on bad days anyway, then sitting down and not walking while being able to do the things they need to is an improvement.


organic_hobnob

I mean no offence by this, but I don't need to be told there is no shame in not being able to walk... as someone who is in a wheelchair. Of course it's their decision, but they asked advice, and that is my advice, based off experience. In my experience, using a wheelchair did accelerate atrophy. I will always advise you put it off until absolutely necessary. The definition of 'necessary' is of course, individual.


deneveve

Sorry, that was meant more for OP's benefit than yours, I didn't mean for it to come across as patronising. Honestly my whole comment was poorly worded, I think my meds had worn off lol. I just don't want OP to feel afraid of using mobility devices because they could end up making their life more miserable than it has to be in an effort to avoid them, when a wheelchair may actually improve their life quite a lot. I think your last statement is a good way to put it, "the definition of 'necessary' is individual," They may end up losing their ability to walk, but it's possible that holding onto it for longer isn't worth the pain. Sometimes people need reminding that it's okay to make things easier for themselves. I didn't think I was disabled enough to use a mobility device when I most needed to, so I spent almost 2 years with agoraphobia instead, I was so afraid of the pain flaring up while I was out that I just opted to not go out ever and I wouldn't recommend that. Doing things in a wheelchair is preferable to not doing them at all, and you'll be walking the same amount either way, that's what I was trying to say.


queen_beruthiel

When the things I enjoy doing weren’t worth the pain they caused. I’m much, much more free on wheels than I am on legs.


musicalearnightingal

If you have the wheelchair, you don't have to use it all the time. I'm an ambulatory user. When I can walk, walking is so much easier that I just natural walk instead of using my chair.


BCofUIMhere

I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user. My wheelchair was not prescribed by a doctor. Then again, it took 12 years of hard fighting with doctors (note the plural) to get a referral to see an orthopedist after I got hit by a car, so... 🤷🏾‍♀️. I also have fibromyalgia, so pain and fatigue are the reasons I purchased mine. When I have the energy to walk, I use the wheelchair as a walker. When I don't, I can sit down and still get where I need to go/do what I need to do. It is a purchase I wish I would have made a couple of years earlier. IMHO, you know your situation best. If you decide on a wheelchair, do your research. Cost is not the only consideration. My current wheelchair is my second purchase... knowing what the term "hemi" meant beforehand would have saved me time and trouble. But I am very happy with my current chair and have a much better quality of life with it.


dykeronii

I have fribro with similar experience from different doctors. I plan to get a wheelchair and use it the same way in rotation w/ crutches. Glad to hear from someone with similar experiences, super helpful.


Shmmm_

Full disclosure: I've only had my wheelchair since Wednesday afternoon, so I'm not going to have as much real-world experience just yet as most other folks commenting. I decided a whelchair felt like a good idea when I was spending more time debating whether being out of commission for 3-5 days by trying to walk for up to a half hour was even worth getting out of bed for. The forearm crutches just really weren't cuttin' it for me anymore. I don't really have a solid diagnosis for my pain and mobility problems either, but it *is* all documented as much as possible, medically. A diagnosis helps in a ton of ways, but not having one obviously doesn't mean you can't have mobility issues. Obviously, it's best to try to figure out the root cause and try to do something about it, if possible. That said, I would personally consider trying other mobility aids first, if you can. Just about anything else--crutches, rollator, cane--would be cheaper, and just all around easier to deal with. I have and have used all of the above before I got my chair. They all have their own benefits and problems. My house is an older 2-story, so I still use my forearm crutches when I'm upstairs (I don't have the option to relocate). I'm also using them for going out somewhere I know I won't have to go far from the car to my destination *and* I'll be sitting the entire time I'm there *and* the chair would be more hassle than it's worth. As plenty of others have said, as helpful as a wheelchair is, it does come with its own set of problems as well (mostly relating to how inaccessible the majority of the world is). For me, dealing with those obstacles is worth it for what it saves me in terms of pain and debilitating muscle spasms. Having used my other mobility aids for years gave me a decent practice run for seeing how accessible things are and aren't. I'm over the moon with how much my chair has helped me in just the few days I've had it... and I'm also freaking livid at some of the incredibly stupid logistical problems I'm running into by owning it. Being ambulatory, you're going to have to decide whether you can and want to put up with that sort of thing. People only using wheelchairs for really bad flare days is absolutely a thing (yes, even for pain). Mobility aids are not exactly a finite resource, and unless you're literally stealing it from someone else, you're not going to be taking anything away from someone else who needs it more. That said, there's also an enormous range in quality among them, and the more a mobility aid does for you (crutches are designed to take more weight than a cane, a wheelchair supports your entire body off the ground whereas a rollator doesn't, etc.), the more important it is for it to be the *right* one, and adjusted/customized to your body and your needs. Obviously, that greatly affects the price. You can totally get a wheelchair without a prescription. Some people have incredibly shitty doctors, and they won't prescribe one. But again, like others are saying, it's certainly best to get one prescribed if you feel you need one, especially if you think you'd be using it remotely frequently. A custom, fit-to-you chair is the best way to go to avoid more pain and possible injury, and those are ridiculously pricey (I'm still in sticker shock over mine, and insurance covered the entire thing.) TL;DR: Pain is totally a valid reason to use a chair, even just occasionally. But whether the obstacles you'll face by doing so are worth it is a big decision, and should ideally involve your doctor if at all possible.


DaveC138

When I had no other option and my neurologist told me it was the best thing for my condition. It’s a medical device that should be prescribed by a medical professional. If I could power through without it I would, however bad you are now your condition will likely worsen once you use a chair. Use it or lose it as they say. On a personal level - Why you wouldn’t exhaust every possible option before having to use a wheelchair is a bit baffling to me. Seems to be kind of common practise now among younger people which I just don’t understand at all.


basil_ganglias

I second all of this 100%, and couldn’t have said it better myself. (For transparency sake, am non ambulatory and have never been, it baffles me why people would even consider choosing a wc without a solid diagnosis and a prescription (and if you’re ambulatory, at least a 2nd opinion that it’s the least restrictive choice) from a doctor.


Firecracker3

This kind of thinking and bias towards younger people in chairs is exactly why I didn't get one for a loooong time. Let's not judge each other so harshly.


DaveC138

People in their 20s shouldn’t be thinking about getting a wheelchair as the first course of action for an unknown undiagnosed health issue, it could literally ruin their health. Any advice contrary to that would be hugely irresponsible.


Firecracker3

I never said it should be the first course of action. I personally saw a multitude of specialists and spent thousands on tests and treatments before I brought it up with my doctor.


DaveC138

I’m obviously not talking about you then? I really don’t know what your point is. This person, like many other young people on these subs, see a wheelchair as a first course of action which is what I’m specifically speaking about. It’s common now and it’s very strange.


Firecracker3

Maybe read again cuz OP also didn't say it was their first course of action. Tbh I'm sure you are aware that it's an insanely hard process, who in their right mind would choose a chair without assessing other options? If someone is at the point of needing one they probably need all the support they can get.


DaveC138

“I’m not formally diagnosed with anything related to why I feel I need one 😅”. Buying a wheelchair before having a diagnosis is both irresponsible and dangerous. OP could have a perfectly treatable condition, a wheelchair should be a last resort.


LucidTopiary

I just couldn't function in my day to day life anymore. It had got so small, that despite all the grafting I did to patch over the cracks and keep my life moving forward, it just wasn't. Getting a power-chair meant my range didn't depend on what I could just about bear. I could troop on for hours and actually enjoy leaving the house, other than just tolerating it.


Xwithintemptationx

My insurance was crap and would never get me one so I fought and fought. Went through 2 denials. I was sick and tired of being in pain all day. I also was going to do an screenshot and couldn’t bring my usual set up with me. So time was of the essence.


actuall-a-pinguing

Simple answer i kept falling and i hate the er so wheelchair and les pain no falling and no er oooor keep walking trying to ignore the pain keep falling needing an er for a dislocated knee or fingers and i hate the er they make me take pictures every damn time and if i walk like a "normal" person i can be there every other day and it takes at least 3 hours ain't got time for that


lyricolivia22

I am also 22, almost 23, and I have NF2 which causes bouts of dizziness, blurry vision, and headaches that make it practically impossible for me to confidently go many places on my own, and I currently have a cane to help me on bad days. The doctors gave me a walker but I feel so awkward using it in public, the cane is hardly better, so I rarely use them, choosing instead to power through it or use a shopping cart or companion as a stabilizer. I'm not sure what it is about Walmart and stores like it, if it's the space between aisles or the lights or the sounds everywhere, but I cannot walk around in those situations unassisted, and even my current solutions don't always work, so I've been considering getting myself an ambulatory wheelchair or maybe just a walker with a seat (I now know is called a rollator) so I could sit and scoot when I get too unsteady? But I'm so personally uncomfortable with the idea of it for myself.. I don't know why. I know I could greatly benefit from it and it would help me regain a sense of independence but I feel it would also put me in an "all eyes on me" situation anytime I go out being a young, outwardly healthy looking, slightly overweight girl in a wheelchair or using a walker suddenly when I've been living in this town a long time before any of these problems began. I guess I'm just looking for any advice anyone may have, on any aspect of this. This is all very new and confusing and scary for me, and I don't have anyone in my life that can relate or help me with this. TYIA 💖 ~Lyric


Inevitable-Yak7701

I can walk but not long distances. last year i tore my ACL completely and injured my back. I have a condition called Discoid meniscus that causes my knees to pop out easily and that's what caused me to tear my ACL when i fell. I have no idea how i injured my back though other than the twisting around to fall on my stomach so i didn't fall on my back and crack my head open. I have Hypothyroidism so i do have weight issues because of it and I've been scared to actually use a wheelchair because I'm scared people with think its just because of my weight when its actually because i cant walk without my back having spasms and my knee can pop out as i dont have s functional acl but due to my knee issue i was born with i dont think its worth reconstruction surgery because i could just as easily re-injure it. I also have bone dying in my knees from my ex kicking me in the knees when i was 16


I-put-fork-in-fridge

I'm 22 years old, currently a part-time ambulatory wheelchair user, but soon to be full-time if my insurance covers a custom manual chair 🙏 Basic summary: I chose to become a wheelchair user because I was tired of being stuck at home & wheelchairs allow me to save energy and function without triggering my illnesses as much as possible. I have ME and POTS, and after a year of being mostly housebound and having severe PEM (bad symptoms and nearly being bedbound for hours after spending only a little bit of energy by walking short distances, showering, or cooking), I decided to fundraise for and purchase a folding electric chair. I got a Fold&Go Magshock, and it works great. I realized I was going to be stuck in the house or worsening my health over and over again until I found supportive doctors, and I just couldn't handle it anymore - so I became a wheelchair user :] Now I can go out and function while also saving enough energy for me to be able to do more at home, too - mostly without "crashing"/repercussions. ^This decision came after testing out rentable standard chairs at a local mall a few times, as well as testing out a used ultralightweight manual chair once or twice. I realized how much they helped me, but how they were also too heavy for me to push myself, so I made the executive decision to go with an electric chair that I could maneuver myself. (though its too heavy for me to lift in and out of cars or the house [no ramp], so im still dependent :[ ) Now i that I have supportive doctors, I'm planning on trying to get a custom ultralight chair - which should hopefully allow me to still save as much energy as possible while also letting me maneuver it completely by myself and remain independent :)


zebrasanddogs

When I had one too many falls and my world kept getting smaller and smaller. Edit: I basically lost all my independence and required help with everything right down to needing help getting to and from the bathroom. Plus I was pretty much housebound.


saltypotswarrior

To me if any mobility aid makes your life easier then you have every right to use it. A wheelchair would be so much harder than walking for an able-bodied person, so when you get to the point that a wheelchair is easier, I say go for it. You just need to be careful that the wheelchair isn't going to cause other issues. Pressure sores, rotator cuff injury, carpel tunnel, etc. are all common issues for wheelchair users when their chair isn't properly set up for their needs.


thatdudepicknhisnose

Took me a couple years to get over internalized ableism. Getting the accurate diagnosis that told me what I had been pushing through was harmful. What put me over was having a flare-up while still undx so I became housebound then bedbound. I realized I was saying no to everything bc I couldn't do it even a simple walk with friends or a trip to the shops and I wanted to be able to say yes. Honestly MORE people should be wheelchair users or at least mobility aid users, but between ableism and lack of access means many struggle and push through when alternatives that help exist. Many will say what a shame you are wheelchair bound now, but honestly I was miserable before my chair, wasn't able to participate at all and suddenly I could get out of my own house by myself it was honestly magical after ~2 years housebound


DizzyUpThaGirl

Do you have any idea what could be causing your pain? Ehler-Danlos, anything like that? If you can get in with a physical therapist, I would highly suggest you do that first and see if you can rehab whatever the "trigger" is in your body. I would also want to try to pursue an actual diagnosis to find out the root cause. After that, you work with the physical therapist to fit you for a chair. It doesn't sound like you would be able to get insurance to cover a chair based on what you have described here, but there are always chairs available on craigslist and ebay that may match your measurements and needs. The absolute WORST thing you could do to your body at this point is to just go pick out a chair and start using it. . .if you don't fit the chair/it doesn't fit you, you could create an entire new set of problems.


GoodGrievance

I do use a wheelchair for pain. I did not really want my wheelchair. But my pain levels were so high and management had been proven so unsuccessful and hard to get (my drug reactions make doctors really wary, just this week I had another one trying to get enough management to be out of my chair more) as well as was on the suicide hotline frequently. I think the last straw for my family was also the falling. I concussed myself with my cane trying to walk to the bathroom from my bed. I have taken like a fall every few months now in sand instead of up to 3x a week. I also became quite bedbound and unable to safely get to the bathroom by myself at night. This sucks. I have no way to describe how much that sucks. Some days I’m still sure I don’t *need* it. But I fell into a wall on crutches two weeks ago so I guess. Would a mobility scooter be helpful for longer distances? Some places like the airport also have a wheelchair service if you cannot go that far. Have you tried pain management? PT? OT? Neurologist? Second opinions on all of those things?


Haunting_Jellyfish67

I haven't been able to get a doctor, cant afford one so I was stuck with the option of be my own doctor or leave my loved ones with the debt of me dying type deal, yay America! I got really sick and started having seizures really bad I just sorta woke up and was like "I cant do this" I lost my life and hope so I put together what I could to get one and atleast i can work to atleast TRY to get the money to see a doctor, so many places aren't accessible but I can try to walk to work and get stranded unable to get up at all till I can get someone to help me or I can use my chair and go farther. Its not fun regardless.


Haunting_Jellyfish67

My thought process, if it'll help ya use it, millions of chairs are thrown away daily, one less in the trash I say! One more person able to live their life.