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Can't do anything.

Kim8

Hello everyone 😊

I have been struggling with my mobility for a couple of years now, but it's got worse over the last 8 months or so,I can't stand for even a minute, and I keep falling over. My knees are like plasticine or overcooked pasta!

I have degenerative disc disease too. I had X Ray's on my knees last week, they said it could take weeks for the results.

In the meantime, my house is an absolute tip,I am so frustrated and ashamed about it. How do other people manage?

I fell over in the kitchen yesterday and had to drag myself into the living room to pull myself up onto the sofa,it took forever. I am 61 for context.

Thank you for reading.

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Kimi87

My Mum has a cleaner/home help who comes in once a week. She pays for this herself.

Have you had a needs assessment?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

They can also sort out any equipment/aids that would help.

Pickle72

Hello Kim8,

Blimey your description of your legs is so accurate!. My mum describes her legs as rubber and mine are too!.
My mum has a cleaner twice a week, I try to do a bit but my husband helps out. Sorry about your fall and how long it took you to struggle to get up. My mum has a falls alarm and if she presses for help two carers come to help her up.
Im in a four story town house which I constantly fall down the stairs. We bought it before I became less mobile with a neurological problem. We are looking to move to a bungalow. Less to look after and no stairs to fall down!.

It is really frustrating not being as mobile and I wish you all the best. A falls alarm may get you the help to get up.

I am 52 now. As we are mentioning ages.

Take care.

NannieAnnx5

Hi Kim

If you conact your local council they can put you in touch with social services and a social worker to get you help.

I had to do this for my mum many years ago as I was unable to give her all the support she needed.

Hope this helps

Bw Ann

Kim8

Thank you, I always assumed social services were just for children 🤦‍♀️ I will ring them tomorrow.

Kim8

Thank you so much for your replies, I had no idea where to turn. It's horrible feeling so helpless.

I will definitely be making some calls tomorrow, I can't carry on like this. Thanks again everyone ❤️

Kim8

Kimmy87

Do you know how much your mum pays for her cleaner/home help? Just so I get a rough idea, thank you

Kimi87

It will vary depending on what part of the country you live in, whether the person is from an agency or independent etc.

Ask locally for recommendations and get a few quotes, but what you want really is the best person rather than the cheapest price 🙂

Kim8

I am East Midlands, I have been ripped off in the past so don't want to make the same mistakes, I don't really know many people here and I have been pretty isolated the last couple of years due to my immobility. Thanks again 😊

Kimi87

You could try a local area group on Facebook or Next Door to ask for recommendations 🙂

birdwatcher

Oh dear Kim, I understand exactly where you're at as I'm in a similar situation to you. Where I am lucky is that my lovely friend helps with a lot of things I can't do now.

Just a couple of things to bear in mind. Please be careful if you hire someone privately. People aren't always as nice and honest as they might seem. Have you got any friends that'd perhaps Hoover and run a duster round for a few quid? Someone you can trust?

And I'm concerned about you falling. Has anyone mentioned an assessment from someone at the falls clinic? Might be worth asking for one. It was the physio who referred me.

Kim8

I managed to get a phone call from my doctor a couple of weeks ago, I have been trying to get an appointment for nearly 2 years! He referred me to the hospital for an X Ray, which I had last week, I haven't spoken to anyone about this and I don't know many people here,I moved from a different part of the country and the few people that I do know, I would be so ashamed for them to see the house. I have always been quite house proud, so it's really getting to me now. I didn't know that there was such a thing as a falls clinic either, so thank you for that 😊

Jellihead

@Kim8

I would get an assessment from local social services. Also contact an organisation such as the Rowan Organisation who have been supporting people with a variety of disabilities for over 30 years, they are based in Coventry so I think they will cover your area. I used them when I lived in Staffs.

They will also be able to suggest home cleaners, though I would wait until you have an assessment as you might be entitled to funding for cleaners from social services.

Good luck.

birdwatcher

Me again Kim. I had another thought. How are you managing to get round the house at the moment? I started with one stick. Time passed, walking got worse. It was suggested ( possibly by physio or falls clinic lady, can't remember which now) I had a stick in each hand. No good to me, how would you carry anything for a start? Think I'd have overbalanced anyway. I ended up with a rollator, if you've not seen one it's like a little four wheeled trolley with an upper and a lower tray on it. It's great! Really stable and I can safely bring, say, a cup of tea from the kitchen to the front room. I wouldn't manage without it.

Another thing I've got is strategically placed chairs. Sounds daft I know! But what it means is I'm never more than 10 steps away from something to sit on. If I feel my legs starting to go I'd sooner head for one of them than hit the floor. Always put them back exactly where you moved em from though! Some time ago I slipped up, I'd pushed one to one side, forgot I'd done it. Until I backed up to sit down! That made my eyes water a bit! But I've not done it again!😁

As for your house being a tip as you put it? Try not to worry. Anyone who visits comes to see you, not your house.

HappyDays62

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/129576/cant-do-anything

Hi there, I can relate to everything you have said ( I can only stand for about 30 seconds) and would agree that there have been some really useful suggestions. Here's a couple more. I think it might be useful for you to get a rollator as this will prevent falls when moving around the house. I got mine a year ago and feel much safer and I haven't had any falls since using it. I also use it when I'm in the kitchen as I can sit on it while preparing food and cooking etc. You can also contact your local council to get an occupational health assessment. They will assess your living space and provide suggestions (and funding) to improve your situation. In terms of cleaners, have a look at Checkatrade as they only endorse reliable people. I use my PIP money for this and it has helped so much to be able to keep the place clean.

Best of luck xxx

Kim8

I have got a stick, but it's not good enough, but l use furniture to help me along,luckily my house is small. I am a tea addict and haven't had a cup of tea for ages because I am scared of falling while carrying it,and the fact that I can't actually carry it and walk at the same time. I rang the local social care place this morning, and an occupational therapist will be coming to see me on March 10th, that is the earliest availability, so the ball is rolling!

I have been looking at rollators and I would love one,unfortunately I can't afford one at the moment ( I am on UC) but I am keeping a look out on Facebook marketplace for a second hand one.

Ouch! I felt your fall when you misplaced your chair! I hope that you were ok?

Thank you so much for all your help and advice, I have felt so alone and this community is so lovely ❤️

Kim8

That sounds amazing!! You should patent it 😉

MCMikey

Regarding your x-rays, I think most places if not all, the x-ray results should be automatically ready these days (as far as I know there's no developing the slides to pin them up in a light box anymore they're all available 'immediately' on computer). So I think the wait may more likely be for the next appointment slot rather than waiting for the x-rays themselves. As such, perhaps telephone - personally I would pose the question that I thought x-rays were available immediately these days? Push non-aggressively for an appointment (or a cancellation) explaining your difficulties and you may get an appointment quicker. If they have one I'd also suggest telephoneing GP/consultant secretaries rather than general admin staff. You may not like doing this as it may feel like essentially jumping the queue, but where needs must. Such calls have worked for me a number of times in the past, and I understand that it may not be very easy when your confidence is shot.

With your knees, if pain allows try and build up your leg muscles, eg. While sitting with your legs at 90 degrees lift your foot off the ground and lift your foot up so your leg is parallel to the ground and back down again (still keeping your foot off the ground) and repeat until you feel your quad ( thigh) muscles tiring. Then do same for the other leg. Build up from however many you can (maybe just 1 or 2) to hopefully get to 10 reps in a week or two's time. 70% of knee stability comes from your leg muscles. Google and look for videos of other strengthening and stretching leg exercises (and gluteal muscles) which you may be able to do. If you do ultimately need an operation on your knee(s) you want your leg muscles to be in the best shape to cope with that and to recover from that. Even though I'm sure like me you have lots and lots of time due to your condition, it is very easy to get despondent and not bother doing such exercises. It may be you can't do some of the exercises, hopefully they'll be a few you can do. You've probably been prescribed exercises in the past and may now take the viewpoint that they're not working as you haven't got 'better' and have stopped doing them. I've been there too. The results may only be some small improvement, or even just to stop the decline of your knee stability further, but it's just a few minutes a day building up to maybe 20 minutes a day.

On your house, pick a corner of the room or a part of the room and try doing that one day and another corner /part another day or later in the day) eventually a room (all the parts you can manage) will be 'done'. I feel a little bit of satisfaction and having been slightly productive, even if compared to a normal person it is minuscule. If you do get a cleaner, you can ask that they just do the bits that you can't do whichever they are. For me I just asked that they do the bath, anything low down or high up, the bits in-between and vacuuming the floor I'm okay with (superlight cordless vacuum cleaner in one hand and on a bad day for me a walking stick in the other).

Re kitchen/making cups of tea, why not arrange to have a kettle also next to where you sit in the living room with all that's needed alongside (bottle(s) of water, tea, coffee etc). Caveat, as this will mean that you're not getting up and moving around as much, do some seated exercises, otherwise long term you'll get progressively weaker, stiffer.

For context I'm 58, spinal problems.

Kim8

Thank you 😊 all really great advice! I will try and do the exercises 🤞🤞

Regarding the X rays, I broke my foot a couple of years ago and was given the results immediately, so it really surprised me that it didn't happen this time. I will try your suggestions.

I am going to get a dining chair into the kitchen and try to make a start on clearing the sides, my back is the problem there,as some movements cause excruciating pain.

I am really grateful for all your advice 😊

kittyruth

Hi, I am new here and have been reading about your having mobility issues. I have unstable knees and orthotics clinic gave me bilateral knee braces because of this and I am hypermobile. I have also been in contact with Action in disability to be assessed for direct payments to have a personal Assistant with the help from my local council. I have assistance to be able to carry out daily tasks, help with my little dog, some cleaning, have also had assessments from occupational therapy via my mental health team and handrails etc… fitted in my home. I have spine trouble and discs if that helps to know and fibromyalgia, and the unstable knees and have had falls and accidents in my home. Can you contact adult social care for Direct payment application for help? Can someone else help you? Referrals can be made by yourself to action on Disability and they can help you if you look online for their information. I found them really great advocates and helped me navigate social service help. I am mid 45 years old

birdwatcher

Sorry Kim. Me again. Very pleased the OT is coming out to you. I suggest you ask her about a rollator, Mediquip might provide one free. Mine was. I did order a catalogue with aids and gadgets etc but some of the prices were frightening. And,cups of tea. What I've got is a travel mug. The lid stops my drink spilling when I'm going from A to B. We need our cups of tea!😁. Can't remember how much it was, but pretty cheap off ebay. You said you're on UC. Do you get PIP too? Worth applying for if not. And it sounds as if you should be entitled to higher rate (LCWRA) if you're not already.

.I don't mean to be nosey or a nuisance but your situation sounds so similar to mine. And I wish I'd known this stuff before I did