What were your family responses to your use of a walker?

My mom just told me she doesn't want me to use a walker too soon.

She wanted to know how I was going to push a shopping cart if I was pushing a walker.

I know she is overwhelmed by all of this. If I am pushing a cart I don't need the walker to hang onto.

I do need a place to sit and rest at times so the walker with the seat will be nice.

I am not sure my mom realizes that just because you need a walker at one time does not mean you'll always need it.

But then again no one knows for sure. My mom means well. She is worried and does not know how to handle this.

I have a walker and I do use it when I need to. Nobody has ever said anything to me about it, but then I don't have many family members who've actually seen me use it. Certainly not a sister who lives a long way from me, or a parent... who are both in Heaven.

If anything, I do get some strange looks sometimes, but I'm hoping they're out of compassion rather than pity.The looks don't worry me anymore, but I did feel self conscious at first.

Maybe you could explain to your family how tired you get when you're out, and that having the walker just gives you that chance to rest briefly so you can go on. I know I've used the seat when I've felt exhausted and sometimes that happens in a very short time when I'm out.

I don't use my walker very often because I'm still fairly mobile, but I do use my cane all the time. The walker I reserve for days when I seem to lack energy.

Good luck, but I daresay it's difficult for your mother who's older than you, to understand why you would need a walker when you "look so well"! She may also think that by resorting to the walker, you are giving in to the disease. Maybe it's something you should talk about with her.

Immediate family seem to have a tough time believing anything could possibly be wrong - when I first starting using a cane my uncle said that he was sure I could walk through the fields at the farm without the cane if I just decided to - that would have been impossible and about 15 years ago my mother said - just walk Karen - that was after 20 years of MS and a cane - now they're gone and I am at the 35 year point - I would think that they all would rather that I used a cane and you a walker if that kept us from falling !!

i think when my friends and family saw me using a cane they felt like i felt.
a little awkward.
but as i con't to use it, and at times my rollator, i got more comfortable.
same with using the electric cart in the grocery store.

another thing that might help your mom is to read some basic information about MS, say from the NMSS. as i educated my friends and family they better understood the disease and my sx's.

Wow! I feel like you've copied something right out of my very own playbook!! LOL Some of my family members expressed the same thing, "don't give in to the walker too soon". And what it boils down to is this, if you feel better with it, more comfortable, you need it. It's hard I know, I always battle with second guessing myself. And you are right, you may not always need the walker. When I shop, the cart is enough support for me to make it through the store. Now there are other times, like when I go to the mall and know I will be doing a lot of walking I use my rollator. When I go places that I'm only doing very little walking from point A to point B I'll just use my cane. The important thing is that you are comfortable. Take care!

Sounds like you have some family/friends that are worried more then MS educated. I've said this before to others you just should let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't do because of MS. Thats a decsion(sp) that you and you alone should make. Instead try and educate said folks....

Ditto Charlie W.

And slskckjebw, keep in mind that it is your decision and disease, not thiers.

Yep I agree with the other folks! It is your disease and your choice.

When I go into a grocery store or department store I don't need my walker but when I am somewhere else such as mall or doctors etc I use my 3 wheel walker called a winney walker.

I don't care what people think. I feel more secure and more in control behind my walker.

Do what you NEED to do!

I use a rollator sometimes. My two sons started calling it B**** and it became very funny at times when they would address my bright red rollator that way.

It would be, "look out, B****", or "move over, B****".

I really appreciated that they made me laugh about it.

Many years ago, when I began using a cane, my mom said "I see lots of young people at the mall with canes". I thought that was precious, even though it was an exaggeration. I know she was just trying to make me feel better because I was so embarrassed at first using a cane.

Now, I am fortunate to have a service dog. My family is in love with him, and a little bit in awe of him. But, even with Monty on my left side, I still have to use either a walker or a forearm crutch to ambulate.

I use either fore-arm crutches, or a rollater walker. More often I prefer to use the walker. I have the rollater type with the four wheels, brakes, and the padded seat with the storage compartment under it.

I really feel more comfortable with the walker. It's not about giving in to this disease, it's about conserving energy. Plus, I can't walk without some sort of assistive device.

If you would feel more stable with a walker, or crutches, go for it. Better than falling and hurting yourself.