not sure if i should get a wheelchair?

agreen13

Hi! so for as long as i can remember I have had some problems with walking, my knees hurt and click, same with my hips, my feet turn in and i stumble quite a bit. I don’t think I look obviously disabled from the way I walk however my parents would comment on me walking weird and yell at me to correct it. I haven’t got any sort of diagnosis yet so I’m not sure how I’d go about getting a chair. I currently use a cane sometimes but I still experience pain and sometimes the cane is quite inconvenient as I like to have my hands free

noonebelieves

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/132446/not-sure-if-i-should-get-a-wheelchair

Hi @agreen13,

Hi and Welcome to this lovely and friendly Scope forum. Sorry to hear about your issues.Wheelchair referrals in the NHS can be made by your GP, physiotherapist (if you have one), or any other health professional involved in your care. However, wheelchair services through the NHS have strict criteria, which can vary slightly depending on your area.

Have you had any falls lately? Even if not-Given your symptoms, it might be worth speaking to your GP if you want to discuss re your Knee , as they may consider referring you for further investigations and to specialists such as orthopaedics, a rheumatologist, MSK physiotherapists, or a pain clinic to have your knee assessed. Some GPs, like mine, also perform steroid injections in the knee, which can help with pain and improve mobility.

Have you also considered other mobility aids, like crutches, a Fisher stick, or a 3-wheeled (Delta Walking Frame) or 4-wheeled rollator? You can walk into any local mobility shop and try them out. Especially the 4-wheeled rollators are safe and convenient to use.

That said, there’s also nothing stopping you from privately purchasing a standard wheelchair if you have £100-£200 to spare.

Best wishes to you!

Holly_Scope

Hi @agreen13 and welcome to the community! 🙂

I'm so sorry your parents weren't very supportive to you. @noonebelieves has provided some brilliant advice. I definitely agree that it's worth speaking to your GP for a diagnosis as once you know what the situation is, they may be able to provide some additional or alternative options that might help.

Best wishes,

Jean Eveleigh

As you have some mobility now, it is a personal choice, but if you feel it will give you more independence and the ability to experience more of life, then yes, getting a wheelchair would be beneficial.

You do not have to be sitting in it all the time, you can use it as a walking frame and push it until your legs get tired or start to hurt and then sit in it and wheel around until you feel rested enough to walk again.