Accepting Disability
Hi,
I'm posting in here in the hope that anyone may feel or have felt the same. Over the last 7 years since diagnosis, my MS has progressed (as progressive conditions like MS often do) and my 'good' spells seem much less frequent these days and I'm unable to 'get away' with a lot less than I previously could- not using mobility aids for example. My walking is shocking despite physio, exercises and an FES machine. My physio was blunter with me the last time I saw her and said if I don't use my aids more consistently, I'm doing more harm than good. Due to my terrible gait and alignment, my hips are often so painful and I have upper back pain also caused by terrible walking. All of this can make sleeping difficult.
Despite all of this, I still find is so hard to accept my disability. I'm in much less pain when I use my wheelchair. I am less fatigued, therefore more energised and then I can think more clearly. But I don't use it as much as I should because of I feel like 'people' (whoever see me) will think I've 'given up'. I've thought recently if I needed to go and see someone about these thoughts to try and break them, perhaps a counsellor who specialises in coping and accepting disability?
If you got this far, well done (I'll post your medal). If you're a wheelchair user because of MS, you get double points and I'd love to know how you use your chair, how often for example and how you have found the balance so that you preserve any muscle in your legs.
I'm sure I'll get there one day but I'm desperate to be at peace with this.
Hi I now use a wheelchair when I go to the supermarkets or if I am going to have stand for a long while, some days I find it more difficult than other days but I tell myself I would be missing out going to so many places if I didn't take my wheelchair,at home I use a roller one for inside the house and an other for outside when I take my dogs a walk, I can't use a stick anymore but I find that my posture is much better useing a roller, when I first got a wheelchair it was because me and Husband where taking my Daughter to university in different country if I hadn't tooka wheelchair I would have missed out seeing so many places, I make sure every day I walk using my roller but this morning I want to visit a car boot so I'm taking my wheelchair so I wont miss anything! than this afternoon I am going on my electric trikecycle to visit a local bar life doesn't stop because you need to use a wheelchair sometimes, also what has helped my standing and balance is doing yoga/Pilates everyday and now I don't feel so unstable, Im not always so positive some days I can't believe I have to sometimes use a wheelchair and get upset but I try to look at it has a challenge to do the things I want to do, when I got my wheelchair my physiotherapist thought I should get it electric one but I brought a electric trikecycle instead, just think the wheelchair is just to make things a bit easier
@chloeautmnx I think we all feel like that, I am not in a wheelchair yet, but do struggle and use a wlking cane out side with foot splints and inside tend to furniture walk. I used to be a marathon runner and active within the running community, my MS has robbed me of this and it has and is difficult to accept, but I cannot change what has happened, I can only change my outlook going forwards. One of the ways I look at it is a computer upgrade, except that we dont like the upgrade, but we have no choice so we have to work out how we can tweak our lives to fit, a little here and a little there, till the next one, but also finding things that we still enjoy and take us away to our good places... for me that can be watching sport, using Lego (never too old) and music concerts / dvd etc.... Ref the legs I try to walk at least once a day but not always possible, used to be 3 miles, but that is way to far for me now, so as far as I feel up to and then some exercises, not great, but then I am no more a marathon runner... hope the above helps