I have been suffering a relapse for about 5 days now, had a better day yesterday so logged into my work email and it all went down hill from there, today I cant walk again without holding onto things around the house cause the pain in my knees and ankles are so bad. I need to get back to work tomorrow as they are saying they will get in a temporary replacement if I dont. Im considering visiting our local mobility shop to get a walking stick - is this giving up? Does anyone else have any suggestions other than a walking stick that may help? Im thinking it will make me look like an old lady and Im only just 40!
Hi Cheryl
No its not giving up its just helps you.I have used walking sticks since 2008,and found that hard so I bought a rollator as I have ME,I felt the same as you I was only 39 at the time and I do get the odd person that stares at me especially the grannies lol,but if it helps which it does then use it,you'll get used to it in time if you need it for longer periods.
Hope this helps
if it helps then use it.... all tools are useful and a walking stick is as much a tool as hammer or computer..., so no, it is not giving up,- it is empowerment
Thank you so much. I used a wheelchair once to get around Legoland when I was first diagnosed and my children felt embarrassed so I have really tried to resist any other forms of aid but knowing other people use one it helps. Im getting around the house with a broom today - ha ha!!
Thats a really good analogy - thank you. Cant look any worse than a broom I guess but needless to say I have only been as far as the back garden with this!
My youngest was a bit worried at first that her friends would see,but now she doesn't care what they think,and regularly goes shopping with me every Saturday. She says her friends think I look cool using my rollator.cool?not sure about that lol
No, it is not giving up, quite the opposite. As Andrew says, think of it as a tool that gives you empowerment.
I regularly using a shooting stick when I know my energy is low, it gives me stability when walking and something to sit on rather than stand. I soon got over any embarrasment about using a disabled buggy in the supermarket, despite the looks I got from some people. I refer to them as
strategies to enable me to do, rather than give in completely. It was a rather humerous moment in town when a friend I had not seen for a while queried the shooting stick. I told her that it was my strategy for being able to come into town, and she replied "is that what they are called, I have always wondered that". It made me smile for quite a while.
Hi Cheryl,
I don't think itj's giving up to use a walking stick or a walker for that matter. They are just supports for your condition not a statement about the person you are. There's nothing like ME/CFS to make a person feel decades older than their chronilogical age. Buy one you like and use it proudly.
It is amazing how children adjust. They just seemed to accept it was normal to have a useless Father. As I recovered over some ten more years they accepted that without comment too. All boys. Perhaps girls would have minded and commented.
Just do what's best for you, don't worry about anything else. You could always try it and see if it helps.
Hi I'm 37 and I have been using walkind sticks and a Mobility Scooter for the last year and a half. My daughter who is 9 and son who is 6 both accept the sticks and the scooter, in fact my son asked Father Christmas for a mobility scooter for him this Christmas just gone
I did find it hard in public to start with especially in the playground. I took the scooter to the local Brownies first which I help out with and let them have a go so that they could see it is fun. I also wanted them to know that I am the same person on or off the scooter.
The first time in the playground I went early and sat on the bench in the playground with it next to me. It was hard because those same people had seen me win the Mummys race the previous year at the school sports day.
I refuse to use a wooden walking stick ( sorry they make me feel old ). I have 4 sticks in total between the car and the house. In the house those are a silver one and the red one. My two new ones for outside are black and engraved silver from a certain well known internet selling site. They look stylish and modern which helps me feel younger. Silly I know but it makes me feel better!
If I use sticks or a mobility scooter I can go further and smile whilst I'm doing it! The key thing I find is to smile whilst you're using them. People won't give you a funny look if you are smiling at them!
I don't think using a walking stick is your problem. It's going back to work. Doing this, especially in a relapsed state, could lead to your symptoms getting worse. I know how tough it is dealing with money issues and needing to work. But if you make yourself even more ill, you won't be helping your situation. Please be carefull! I pushed myself and am now dealing with painful symptoms I never had before.
Heck, when things get bad, I use a wheelchair. I am 43 years old. People look at my funny when my husband wheels me around and then I get up and help him load the wheelchair into the car. But, pooh, who cares what people think. I believe you should use whatever makes your day easier. You don't get extra points for making your life hard. Take care.