Becoming physically disabled...should I get a wheelchair?

Question

Hi. I am 25 years old. I am legally blind with very little usable vision, but the blindness does not affect my life much anymore, thanks to learning the proper techniques and having the right tools to live a full life.

However, I am having more and more trouble moving around. Take today for example. I worke up at 9:30am after sleeping very poorly after 4am (I slept well from 10pm to 4pm, though). From 9:30am till 12:30pm, I tried to muster the strength to sit up, but was unable. I finally called my boyfriend into the room, and he helped me sit up and take a pain killer and get something to eat. About 1pm, I was finally able to muster enough strength to walk the 20 setps to the bathroom, and then back to my room to sit in my armchair to get on the computer. Since then, I have been unable to get up from the armchair but for a handful of times. I feel so trapped in my body!

My condition is thus far undiagnosed, though I have been trying for a diagnosis for 7 years now (since 2003). The symptoms include pain in the muscles and joints, particularly the knees, hips, thigh muscles, back, shoulder muscles, and neck...also shooting pains at times up and down my arms, legs, and back. Other symptoms include very poor balance, my knees give out under me sometimes, severe headaches, and a constant feeling of fatigue. I rarely get to do all the things I want to, and even sitting here and typing is starting to hurt my fingers, wrists, and elbows.

My physical condition is slowly deteriorating, and it has been suggest to me by several counselors and my doctor that I should consider getting a motorized wheelchair such as the Hoveround for part-time wheelchair use. I just don't know...I'm so young, and I don't want to give up my mobility. I've been told that once I start using a wheelchair, I will no longer have reason to force my body to work, and I will have to use the chair more and more, and my body will jsut deteriorate further until I have to be in the wheelchair all the time. Is this true? If so, would having a physical therapist help prevent this? What else can be done to prevent this, if I do start using a wheelchair?

Should I get a wheelchair or should I hold off and use a walker or other mobility tool? I already use a support cane, and have used crutches in the past (though the crutches only made my arms cramp up, no matter how much adjusting was done). I have only used a wheelchair in the mall thus far, and it made me feel very dependent on my boyfriend, who pushed me, as it was a manual and I don't have the strength to push myself.

Help! Any ideas what to do?

etal00 · Accepted Answer

Use what ever tools that will help you.  You can have both a walker and a scooter or electric wheelchair.  Use them when you need to.  It doesn't mean you have to stop fighting.

I'm not a doctor so I can't even begin to guess what's going on with you.  Could be as simple as changing your diet.  A physical therapist, message therapist, chiropractor, even an acupuncturist might be some things to try.  I know of a man who had his best success with an acupuncturist for some of his ailments (poor circulation in one leg and backaches).  He had tried the others first, but had better results with the acupuncturist.  

If you do get a scooter or electric wheelchair, and you're looking to get a new car, check if the dealer participates in a program that will reimburse for installing mobility equipment in the car.  A lot of them will reimburse up to $1,000.

It's a lot easier to drive a nail with a hammer than your fist.  Just never give up.

insane one · Answer

You have an auto immune disease such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or maybe Lupus. They are very hard to detect and could take years. I am the same way but lean towards MS. We both have the same symptoms. Does yours come and go or do they remain all the time? Go on the net to WebMD.com. You can read about both types of MS and Lupus. Try taking an MRI on the brain to see if you have liaison's. The eyesight is from your optic nerves going bad. You can read about this on the net also.

Try to walk as much as possible and use the therapist when you can. They can teach you new exercises to do which will help your mobility. Only go to the wheelchair when needed. It helps during the bad fatigue moments. You will know when you won't need it.

Take care and let your boyfriend know everything going on so he can help!

Anonymous · Answer

Well, I'll tell you this, I am a libra sun, with a libra mars and when I get angry, I become extremely physically violent..And that is not what you would expect from a libra...I guess it's the unstableness of my cancer moon. The cancers I have known tend to get pretty wild when angry. With that...I think that Taurus can become quite violent if you push them towards the edge.

Teddy&#39;s Mom Chiliswoman · Answer

If you wear out your body walking, a wheelchair won't do you much good - you'll be too worn out to get out of bed. But if you preserve you abilities by not wearing yourself out - when you want to walk you can walk. 

I got a scooter when I discovered I wasn't doing the things I loved because I was too tired. First I used it only for long distances.  Fifteen years later I use it most of the time, but when I want to walk a relatively short distance I can. A longer distance I can do, but the next day I am in agony and in bed the next day. 

Preserve what you have. Don't listen to people who say you will lose your ability. And don't buy a Hoverround - it is not the best wheelchair for the price. I have an Amigo Go Go - it is lightweight, moves quickly, breaks down so it can go into a car trunk - and reasonably priced.

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Becoming physically disabled...should I get a wheelchair?

4 Answers