Before the chair I had forearm crutches for 2 years(?) then a walker,then a power chair (a manual before that)

Forearm crutches were great. A P/T I went to taught me when going on stairs the good (foot first) go up, the bad (foot first) down. She taught me how to use stuff before I needed it so I'd be prepared. Turned out that was good, I was prepared and didn't have to figure stuff out.