Overwhelmed
So I was diagnosed earlier this year with MS. It started off with my entire left side of my body being numb and felt like it was bruised all over weird combination I know. Since then I have already started my DMT. I took my maven clad since then I’ve had an extra MRI, which showed no new flareups, but I’ve had increasing issues with lightheadedness dizziness. My left hand shakes a lot. I’ve tried to express to my wife that I want to get a walking stick and she is adamant. I’m not there yet. I don’t need it. I am largely terrified when I’m walking that I’m gonna have a bad dizzy spell and I’m gonna fall. I also struggle with trying to explain to my wife and my significant others how I’m feeling and why I’m feeling the way I am and there are times that it breaks my heart because I feel like all I’m doing is complaining I just don’t know what to do when is an appropriate time to get a walking aid? I’m struggling because I don’t have insurance yet and so I don’t have a PCP and I don’t have a lot of answers for a lot of things and I just wanna know if anybody else has some guidance some opinions through their own battles and if there’s anything I can do to not let my wife down and then let my family down while I battle this.
If you feel it will help you or make you feel more confident being up and mobile then get one! I was having more trouble walking last year and got a trolley, i cant lean on it fully but let me move around shops, “carry” things, and gave me something to support myself a bit when walking in public… was a gamechanger for me feeling more confident leaving the house without worrying so much about being knocked or falling over. Sometimes loved ones can’t understand how we feel, other times they worry for us and don’t want to see us struggle.
I’m the same with head spins and weakness on left hand side. I got myself a walking stick and it really helps with confidence and balance. I don’t use it all the time and it is a collapsible stick so I can put it in my bag if I’m feeling balanced. Using the stick generally makes other people more kind and considerate, they get out of my way and saves me having to weave round people on the high street. My partner and most of my friends have been very supportive of my decision. Give it a go and see how it works for you.