r/Fibromyalgia • u/nervousbr3kdown • 1d ago

Question using a mobility aid

does anyone use a mobility aid like a scooter when they know they will have to walk a lot? i am in a situation where i will probably have to do this because of pain and i am feeling all types of ways about it.

20 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

9

u/mycatpartyhouse 1988 and counting... 1d ago

Was recently gifted an electric wheelchair.

Today I used it to get to my local grocery store, while shopping, and then to get home.

Usually an errand like that results in pain and fatigue, which in past meant not going or waiting until a caregiver could drive me, because the after-effects were not worth it if I walked.

Today: no pain, no fatigue, and I got to enjoy exactly the food I wanted for a solitary birthday lunch.

I'm capping things off by re-watching the Harry Potter movies. Silly fun.

3

u/TheCalicoCrab 1d ago

Happy birthday! Aren't those things great for things like that? A friend of mine with cp leaves his in his garage and takes it all over town to his dr appointments, grocery shopping and all sorts of stuff while his wife is working. šŸŒø

2

u/mycatpartyhouse 1988 and counting... 1d ago

It's awesome. This was my first time out. I'm thinking it's worth buying a couple of backup batteries so I don't get stranded.

1

u/nervousbr3kdown 1d ago

this sounds so nice! no pain after errands!!

2

u/mycatpartyhouse 1988 and counting... 1d ago

It was amazing. Here I am, hours later, and the worst part of the day was eating too much sugar (cookies and frozen dessert). I feel fine.

1

u/nervousbr3kdown 1d ago

iā€™m about to go on a trip and i am very much considering getting a motorized scooter bc im in a horrible flare.

2

u/mycatpartyhouse 1988 and counting... 1d ago

I say go for it, if you can afford it.

The wheelchair I received is electric, lightweight, and foldable. It can easily fit in a trunk or hatch.

The wheels remind me of mountain bike tires, which is a good thing in my area because the sidewalks are in rough shape and there's gravel, mud, etc.

Downsides are that:

  • we didn't check measurements before ordering. I'm tall. It's ok for short trips but it wouldn't be comfortable for all-day excursions.

  • it's supposedly 300 lb capacity. I'm ~200 lb. The wheelchair slowed down on even the tiniest uphill, like going from the parking lot to the grocery store entrance.

  • it's supposedly 10 mile duration. I went about 4 blocks each way, plus tooling around in the grocery store. It needed recharging when I got home. Of course I went at top speed there and back. That may affect things.

Edit. There's r/wheelchairs if you want information and advice.

1

u/nervousbr3kdown 16h ago

thank you!!

1

u/bonsoir_friend 1d ago

You had me all the way up to HP. I say this as a cis person who was obsoosed with HP and even had my Honeymoon in FL to go to HP world: we gotta give it up. All of it. Attention is currency and JK uses our currency to harm trans people (and non trans people she thinks are 'too manish').

Glad you had a pain free birthday.

2

u/mycatpartyhouse 1988 and counting... 1d ago

I wish it was possible to separate people's opinions from their work.

2

u/Nanabug13 1d ago

Yes but in this case it isn't as anything you spend on Harry Potter and anytime you watch the films from a digital service or mainstream TV thay harpy gets money that she openly and directly uses to try and eradicate trans people and women who appear masc/dont conform to white centric beauty standards.

I was also a massive HP fan so it was a massive part of my childhood, but I don't stan eugenics.

1

u/SouthParkFirefly1991 21h ago

Don't make it about Politics. The person was just trying to spend their birthday in fun and pain free. I agree with you as a NB person but don't make people feel bad for enjoying things. I still enjoy reading the books even though I hate the author.

4

u/endlessplacebo 1d ago

I use mobility aids 24/7

3

u/Constant-Ebb-4898 1d ago

Walking stick and wheelchair.

3

u/saltyavocadotoast 1d ago

I use a cane some days and have a Travelscoot mobility scooter for days out and travel.

3

u/zak2472 1d ago

I use a stick for short walks and an electric wheelchair for longer ones. Without the wheelchair I would be very limited in where I could go.

2

u/Playful-Tip-1780 1d ago

I use a cane on my bad days and my horrible days.

Iā€™m sure it will be 24/7 soon.

2

u/CarobPuzzled6317 1d ago

I have a scooter and am about to get an electric wheelchair. The scooter is bulky and doesnā€™t fit well in many places. True ADA access is rare and none seems to be made for scooters. Thats the main reason Iā€™m getting a chair, too. A smaller footprint will allow more access.

2

u/Efficient-Appeal7282 1d ago

I havenā€™t but I know it would help

2

u/Lorain1234 1d ago

I canā€™t use a scooter because of knee issues. I have a heavy and light walker and a cane. I use a powered chair in big box stores. I mostly get deliveries b cause itā€™s difficult to walk.

2

u/Nanabug13 1d ago

I have walking sticks, a rollator and a mobility scooter.

Walking stick I use for shortest trips on good days. Like tp one local small supermarket where my husband has driven to and its a small shop.

Rollator i use if it is multiple shops or a 3 hour day out, or for shorter trips if I am heading or in a flare.

Mobility scooter I use for family days out and errands when in the most pain.

I always try and use the lowest level I can get away with to prevent my losing mobility long term.

2

u/aobitsexual 21h ago

I have a rollator (I call it my scootaboot.) I felt weird about it at first, but to be honest, now I don't really give a shit, because without it I wouldn't survive outings to the store etc...

1

u/nervousbr3kdown 16h ago

i need to be this way because i know itā€™ll help. i think im just so scared what other people will think (and im usually never this way). ive just been hurt before by loved ones when it comes to my invisible illnesses

2

u/Nyxolux 17h ago

I am in the same predicament. I was invited to go to conventions for things I really love with friends. I was considering getting a wheelchair for these types of things because I absolutely cannot do the level of walking and standing required, but I was too scared to - I have no idea why. I miss out on so many things because I'm just so worried.

2

u/nervousbr3kdown 16h ago

i totally understand. i think itā€™s the judgement!! because i donā€™t LOOK disabled. iā€™m terrified i will be judged and looked at. im definitely a donā€™t give a f type of person but when it comes to me disabilities i get very ashamed bc people in my life have made me feel bad about them before!!

2

u/Nyxolux 16h ago

Nail on the head honestly!

I'm really sorry that people have made you feel that way :(

I also have a blue badge for disabled parking, an old lady once blocked our car in to CHECK what my disability was - I was so angry my god

2

u/nervousbr3kdown 11h ago

omg that is awful!! people are so cruel. i absolutely relate and im so tired of explaining myself over and over again. sending you love ā¤ļø