When I go shopping I HAVE to use a shopping cart to help me with walking. When DH and I take the kids some where like the zoo I use the baby stroller, now that the "baby" is turning 4 next month he doesn't stay in the stroller so what am I going to do, just push it with all 7 kids walking, LOL.

I have a cane but I find it doesn't help much and makes my arm/hand hurt. I just can't use a walker. DH is fighting me on the scooter thing, after all I can walk very well most of the time. Also I can't deal with the scooter having the handle bars, my arms can't handle it so I really would have to go to a power wheel chair. When I'm tried I get wobbly and my legs get weak.

My legs are now (at least they have been for the last 10 weeks) partly numb from my waste down all the time.

I don't know what I should do, I NEED my baby stroller, LOL I just can't give it up.DH fought with me the last time we went to the zoo, he told me that Brian (the almost 4 year old "baby") wasn't going to stay in it. I told him I know it but I HAD to use it. He agreed I could take it but I did feel silly pushing a stroller with-out a kid in it the whole time we were there. Brian is almost the same size as his just turned 5 year old brother so he IS getting to big to be in the stroller so I know it looks odd for all the kids to be walking and me walking behind everyone with a baby stroller.

Julie, I'm not sure if by walker you mean just the silvery colored metal things they sell in drugstores or if you are including "Rollators" in that as well.

I'd seriously look at them if I were you. I have one and it has been a blessing when shopping carts are not available, or at certain places that have few handicapped spaces in relation to the size of the parking lot. I sometimes need it just to get to the store....course then I say screw the shopping cart and buy no more than fits in my rollator basketand pouch. .

If you do get one, don't make my mistake and get the 3 wheeled one. They are slightly easier to get around with in small areas, but oh what I'd give for the seat on the regular one. Besides, then I could harness it to dh and go for rides.

If it helps you walk and makes you feel more secure who cares what it looks like or what DH thinks? You can use it to hold sweaters and coats, your purse, packages, or whatever.

If I went somewhere with seven kids I would feel justified doing whatever the heck I wanted if it made things easier on me!!

You know, strike my response, I second herekitty's, and wish I had said it myself.

You already have a Walkaid, you just can't sit on or in it...

Your husband is fighting you on a scooter? What do you mean by that? Is he embarassed that you want a scooter? Or is he trying to get you to use one?

If you can walk, but you need something to hold onto, get a rollator. If you need it, you need it. Your ability to walk without falling down is more important than what you look like to the rest of the world with a rollator. It's nothing to be embarassed about.

It's more embarassing to fall flat on your face in the middle of the zoo than it is to be using a rollator to keep yourself upright.

I've been lucky and am not having problems walking yet, but when I fell down the stairs and injured my knee in january, I was using one of my mom's rollators to get around in my basement on the sore knee. It was so much better than using the crutches the ER gave me or crawling on the floor.

Use the rollators...get an electric scooter if you need one. Of course, if you get an electric scooter, make sure you get a basket or two, because I'm sure all 7 of your munchkins will be having you hold their drinks and jackets and toys for them.

Some zoos actually will rent the electric scooters. My local zoo does. We've rented them to take my mom to the zoo before. Easier than hauling my mom's scooter into the back of my car. (her scooter is one of the huge ones that can be broken down for travel, but even in pieces it's seriously heavy)

He says I don't need one.

I don't want to rent the ones like at the zoo, I can't handle having my arms out to use the handle bar type steering.

They do have chairs like this http://www.scootermobility.com/Power...-12-4-1883.htm that you can use. No big control yoke in front of you. Just a little joystick on one side, with a nice arm rest.

This is probably something that I would use, since I get tendonitis (or is it spasticity?) in my shoulders that would make it uncomfortable for me to use the scooters with handlebars.

So what's his suggestion? What does he propose that you do?

I think there's possibly a few things going on here, and one has to do with psychological dependance on the stroller.

Think about it . . . you've had a stroller in front of you for the last 10 - 12 yrs. I know how dependant I got on it and I only dealt with that on and off for about 5 yrs. Like the huge/handy diaper bag, it becomes a piece of us, like another arm or something.

Since you walk "very well most of the time", an electric wheelchair seems like a drastic expense for the few times you might need it (like going to the zoo, theme parks, etc.). You have 7 children to entertain though, so it's not like you can avoid these outings all the time.

You have a whole baseball-team-sized-family, and some of them (including your husband) are strong enough to push you in a manual chair, for the odd occasions you might need it. That is what we do on those occasions, or I might rent a scooter if one is available.

If it works out that you need to be pushed around a lot more then you are thinking right now, your husband will get tired of that routine pretty quick.

First though, I think it is worthwhile to try to take baby steps in ditching the stroller. I don't know how often you are using it (probably not to pop into the school to pick up the kids, or a few groceries), but maybe on those longer trips where you need to carry more things. Give the kids more responsibility for looking after their own cups and coats, and try to enjoy the freedom of not having that crutch (for as long as you can).

Cherie

That's a very good point, Cherie. I wish I could think of smart, clever responses like yours! I think we should deem you "resident next-best-thing-to-a Neurologist" here on NT!!