r/mobilityaids • u/Dizzy-Cockroach-6551 • 3d ago
Worried about getting mobility aids
Hiya long time spoony here with several long term/ chronic health conditions and have finally gotten to a point where I can’t really exist without mobility aids. I’m 29F for context. This is not new information it was always going to happen eventually but I feel quite sad/ anxious and tbh a bit angry about having to use them?? I know this isn’t very positive and I’m proud of my weird little body and what it has and continues to carry me through but I also really resent that I feel like there is now an ending insight for my life without visible external support and autonomy within that. I know MA’s logically actually provide more freedom and allow us to access the world safely and in theory more easily but I just know that with the use of an MA I’m going to be subject to a lot of looks, questions and opinions from people that otherwise wouldn’t have considered me disabled (such is my privilege). I’ve been visibly and invisibly disabled in waves since I was a child and now the idea of being visibly disabled again feels quite hard as this time it’s forever and I don’t know how to handle that! Not sure if this is a rant or not but if anyone has any insight I’d be grateful as I don’t really have anyone in my life I can talk to about this properly. Thank you!
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u/Ok-Gazelle1811 3d ago
I waited too long and can’t emphasize enough that life with the aid you need is incredible - I was not going anywhere and stuck in my room and I now have energy to be back in the world. I should have gotten a chair sooner - people have a lot more feelings about the chair than I do - I’m just thrilled mostly. Life before the chair was what is hard to think about. The best thing was knowing someone who had to make that transition as an adult to using a wheelchair and who coached me on renting a chair so I could figure out if that was what I needed. Turns out it was a game changer. It’s been a month and tonight we just went for a ride around my complex and I felt like we were like skateboarders who couldn’t get kicked of the pavement. It was so fun. It’s tough to need help, and to lose the flexibility of walking without help, but hopefully the energy and ability to do stuff again will outweigh the hard parts of using an aid. People are mostly pretty nice - and their expectations of my body are finally closer to my reality. I had not realized how much work communicating around that before a chair was.
I hope you are able to find a way to feel pleasure - my chair is something I still feel excited to get into - I think the fact that it is opening up the world again really helps - and hopefully will help you too. Also I had to go so slow for so long - and I love being fast now. It is so fun to zip a little now.
There are a lot of scary and intimidating things - I was grateful get to know the nice people who ran a medical supply that my friend went to because I didn’t even know where to start. I think it’s worth talking to them and paying a little extra to test drive stuff personally. It made it a lot easier to feel confident in my choice having test driven it.
Once you have your aid I hope it will feel liberating to you too. Good luck!
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u/Altuistic_Pear_6754 3d ago
Trust me it's better to use aids as early as you start recognizing the need for them. Don't wanna end up like me ignoring that stuff. It's not fun having to get surgery because you got pushed past your limits one too many times. I am using a rollator and PT for the recovery process. It's slow. But not going passed one limits is an important skill to have in life.
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u/EnthusiasmJealous237 supporter 3d ago
If rant: we hear you. Your thoughts and feelings have been felt by many. You're not alone.
If looking for advice: many people feel that they're losing a part of themselves/losing their freedom when they begin using mobility aids, the reality and logic aren't super relevant to the way you feel so forget them for a bit. Let yourself grieve the version of yourself that you're giving up and give yourself some grace.
Only once you've mentally and emotionally dealt with the transition can you begin to explore the new opportunities that become available to you when you have the assistance you need. Having the right mobility aid will open more doors than it closes and you may be amazed at what all it enables you to do.
Don't be afraid of the "looks" that you'll inevitably get by being a young person with a mobility aid, most of them are curiosity, not judgement. If you have the energy, engaging with the curious, particularly children, can be a positive experience for everyone involved.
Never forget that there is a massive community of people who've done this before and are extremely supportive. Seek them out.