[Kitty]

Do you use a mobility aid? What kind and how long have you used it? What are the pros and cons of your particular aid?

[Kitty]

I use a walker/rollator. I've been using it now about four years. My first rollator graduated to the garage and I use it when I go outside or to take the garbage out. The newer one stays in the house with me.

Originally when I started having walking issues I used a cane. They don't provide any assistance to me now. They actually hinder me and make it less safe so into the closet they went.

[Erin524]

Rollator. Keeps me from falling down.

I still have canes, they get used for pulling my walker out of the back of my van. (my mom always pushes my walker all the way over to the other side of the car so her walker has "room".)

I guess my car could be considered a mobility aide, since it's handicap accessible with a ramp. I don't use the ramp that often. A couple of times when it was raining, and I didn't have my parents with me. Didn't want to stand in the rain and get wet while putting the walker away.

Also used the ramp a couple of times when I've found some schmuck parking their car so close to my driver's door that I couldn't even get near it, much less roll a walker up to my car door. (I parked in the handicap spot, able-bodied-moron parked next to me over the line, blocking my driver's door. It's happened more than once)

[NurseNancy]

i mainly use a cane (but not in my house). i have a weak leg and a gait problem so need it for balance.

however, if i'm in a crowd or in a store i use my rollator. i can balance better and walk faster with it. and if i need a break from standing i can sit down. that really comes in handy.

[Starznight]

I'm assistance free inside the house (but only because I know where all the walls and furniture is that I can grab a hold of) I use a cane for short distances like a convenience store or upfront doctor's office.

For everything else (Lowes, Walmart, Publix, definitely the mall) I use a wheelchair primarily, though I have on really good days used just the cane to get around if we only need a few things. I also have a pair of forearm crutches that I use on good days when it seems more a bother to use the chair than to deal with the pain of walking (or sometimes when I just really need to stretch my legs a bit)

I tried a walker a long time ago, but I could never seem to get my gait to match it. I've always had a long stride and an almost tip-toeing walk making it feel like I was simply going to go head first over the little frame. My therapist and I worked at it and worked at it before deciding it just wasn't going to work for me.

So I'm stuck with canes, crutches or chairs.

[TheSleeper]

I have been using quad canes and walkers since late 2005, an electric scooter in 2006, and an electric wheelchair in 2011.

The canes and walkers are from Invacare, and the scooter and electric wheelchair are from Pride.

I also have a manual folding wheelchair from Invacare, I can't use that on my own though, I need a pusher.

[Snoopy]

I bought my first can in the late 1990s in case I had another exacerbation. It sat in the trunk of my car collecting dust as I rarely used it. I did use the cane for an exacerbation in 2001 and then again in 2002. By 2004 I came to the conclusion that I should probably use it more than I did.

I found I didn't like using a cane mainly because it seemed to get in the way of my walking and I had a tendency to kick it. Plus, I never could figure out what side would be better to use it on since gait difficulties is bilateral for me.

In 2008, if my memory is correct, I ended up in PT and during my time there I asked about Trekking Poles as a mobility aid (after talking with someone else with MS). The Physical Therapist said that would be a great alternative for me vs. the cane. She helped me with the proper way of using Trekking Poles as well as determining the correct height.

To this day my preference has been Trekking Poles although I still do not use them on a regular basis.

The pros of Trekking Poles for me are: better balance, improved endurance/distance, easy to use (I don't kick them like I did the cane), good posture and I like the way they look.

For me there is no cons but for someone else a con might be not having a seat like you would with a walker.

I am once again in PT and a couple of the Physical Therapists are now recommending Trekking Poles for some of their patients after talking to me and seeing me use them.

[Grammie 2 3]

I have used a Pride scooter since 2005, got a new one 2013. I need this for distance which includes going down the hall to the elevator to get to the mailbox on the 1st floor
I use a cane inside my condo.
I also use a Bioness L300 along with a cane when I go somewhere that doesn't require a lot of walking.

Linda

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

I found I didn't like using a cane mainly because it seemed to get in the way of my walking and I had a tendency to kick it. Plus, I never could figure out what side would be better to use it on since gait difficulties is bilateral for me.

Me, too, Snoopy! I have a collection of canes.....quad, Hurry-Cane, regular tip cane......none of them are the least bit helpful to me! If anything, they hinder my walking and do absolutely nothing to help my balance.

I just had eight visits from a physical therapist to help with my balance and I now have exercises to do each day.