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Help! Any Ideas for walking aids x

helenzx6r

Hi every1..
I suffer with OA in both my hips knees and small of my back also in both hands
I also suffer with carpol tunnel and dequervains
I’m at a loss of how to get mobile safely?

I’ve already had a cupple of falls..?
Im unable to use a stick or crutches due to my hands being so weak and painful..((
I really am struggling with everything rite now ?
any advice please.x TIA X

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Comments

Ami2301

Hi @helenzx6r and I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. Have you been assessed by an occupational therapist or been seen by a physiotherapist? Either can help to advise which aids may help you

Cher_Alumni

Hi @helenzx6r

I'm sorry that sounds really difficult. Just to emphasise what @Ami2301 said, if you are under hospital treatment your OA consultant should be able to refer you to an occupational therapist/physio for assessment and aids and adaptations.

Also, some NHS trusts have a Falls Clinic service, that could be something to ask about to see if its available in your area.

How are you now? Please keep us updated.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community, as advised above get a proper consultation but have you tried the crutches with the elbow support so the weight isnt going through your hands but your arms

I use a zimmer frame and a wheeled walker but again they do need some strength through your hands

newborn

Gutter crutches are a good idea . Add shock absorbing ferrules For more serious walking, research forearm support wheeled walkers. The prices go up to absurdity, but cheaper and second hand makes it more reasonable. Topro Troja gives an idea, though they are on the silly price side if new from manufacturers

helenzx6r

Ami2301 said:

Hi @helenzx6r and I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. Have you been assessed by an occupational therapist or been seen by a physiotherapist? Either can help to advise which aids may help you

Hi
I have been waiting fo my assessment since before the lockdown....
i have been diagnosed with the arthritis but was basically told there is nothing the can do as im
to young.!!!
i don’t have a consultant.((
how do I go about getting 1..?
the carpol tunnel and dequervains I’ve had since my twins were babies 21 years ago..( And I’ve had Numerous ops
on both hands?
I also forgot to mention as it’s embarrassing ?
I also suffer with urine Incontinence .? which is seriously getting me down..( another reason why I don’t go out, and can’t get up the stairs quick enough when I’m at home.;((
And the latest to my list of nitemares is I have trigger finger and thumb in my right hand
I have an appointment at the NOC on the 16/09/20 for the trigger finger/thumb
but it seems I’ve been forgotten about with my hips knees hands and back.(( all differant consultants I’ve seen for each thing..!

I really need help as im
popping that many pills ? I Rattle...
I literally have no quality of life at all.((

helenzx6r

janer1967 said:

Hi and welcome to the community, as advised above get a proper consultation but have you tried the crutches with the elbow support so the weight isnt going through your hands but your arms

I use a zimmer frame and a wheeled walker but again they do need some strength through your hands

Hi.x I had thought of those but don’t know how to go about getting any.(
I’m calling my dr Tuesday and demanding that they sort this out, but I have no doubt I will b told I need to b referred again.!

They do their referrals every Friday.!!!
i will also get dr to chase the occupational therapist Up, as I’ve had a few falls the last couple of weeks because I keep looking my balance.((
and it scares me as I live alone.((

helenzx6r

newborn said:

Gutter crutches are a good idea . Add shock absorbing ferrules For more serious walking, research forearm support wheeled walkers. The prices go up to absurdity, but cheaper and second hand makes it more reasonable. Topro Troja gives an idea, though they are on the silly price side if new from manufacturers

Hi.x thanks for the reply.
I will get onto my drs 1st thing after the bank holiday x
2 get me assessed at home ASAP x

poppy123456

HI,

You may find it extremely difficult to get any home assessment for anything at the moment. My local council are still not doing any home visits, infact my council offices are not open to the public and haven't been since lockdown was put in place in March.

janer1967

You can self refer for the OH assessment on the gov uk website just put in care needs assessment and fill in the form

But as poppy said they may not be doing them at present but may be worth getting on the list

poppy123456

Link here for needs assessment. https://www.gov.uk/apply-needs-assessment-social-services Under normal times, it's actually much quicker to refer yourself.

chiarieds

Hi @helenzx6r - You mention trigger finger & thumb; I have a right trigger thumb, & know how painful that can be. I see you have an appointment soon about that, so I thought I'd mention what has helped me enormously. I was unable to wear splints I was given for my osteoarthrosis, as I couldn't do anything wearing them without getting bruises on my forearm; I didn't want steroid injections any more (as I found they were contraindicated with other problems I have), nor surgery.

I use a silver ring splint, worn nearly back to front, allowing just a small amount of movement, & therefore no pain. Please see: http://ringsplintsbyzomile.co.uk/homeabout/ The person that makes them has my disorder (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) & rheumatoid arthritis, so has a great understanding. I bought mine 4 years ago, & paid a little extra for a hammered silver one, which was less than £50 posted out in just a few days. She will however accept orders through the NHS. Just email Zomile about this.

Mine has been in constant use, & is even admired as a piece of jewellery! I'm a (long retired) physio & have given my GP info about them. Also see this from an occupational therapist: https://jboccupationaltherapy.co.uk/ring-splints-by-zomile/

These silver ring splints might be worth looking into before your appointment.

newborn

People perfectly rightly expect n.h.s. to provide the best solution to all health related difficulties, and to do so promptly, free of charge. However, at times, there is a choice to be made. Will you go onlne or go to a mobility shop, (or any other private provider), or will you wait patiently, and possibly in vain, forever?

How much are you willing to beg borrow or steal to save yourself falling, and get freedom and confidence to go out? Some wheelchair lists are effectively barred from new applicants, because of a very limited budget and a ban on having waiting lists more than 2 years long. They don't straight-out tell people, just defer referrals , then defer assessments, then defer placing on the list till the next financial year, meaning only a handful will make it before it closes again. How much are you willing to do your own research, identifying what you want, and researching the cheapest second hand, for instance?

A lot depends on how much you really want the solution, how soon you want it, if you are willing to take whatever n.h.s. provides, (if anything), eventually, or if you want to be in control and have choice. E.g. the shock absorbing ferrules, and, for hand grips, a gel cushioning. These and other 'luxuries ' are vital to prevent further damage, for long term users, but n.h.s. staff won't even tell you they exist (they do have gutter crutches, but very rarely mention that either).

Arm rest rollators are rare, but for many are ideal, because they give more stability than crutches, keep you standing straight, and also give you your own seating, at any moment you choose, and they carry your shopping for you too(!)

For those who want crutches, there is a brilliant American site which is astounding, and they do sell to u.k. Tom somebody....a crutches user himself. Oh, and there is a range of ferrules for different specialised purposes, e.g. ice grip, or spreading grip for more wobbly people, and other options. Never from the n.h.s. though.

For wheelies, there is a lot of info, but the great one used to be, again, a man who was himself a user, and always built his own by cannibalising and customising to his exact needs.

There are loads of things people just don't know, like trikes, electric add on packs, arm bikes, Caterpillar track rough ground wheelchairs, sand and sea ones, tyres for indoors, for gravel and grass, racing chairs with sideways slant wheels, and the vital need for shock absorbing front as well as back wheels, plus shock absorbing cushions, if spine damaged. Or the existence of rising seat electric chairs, or automatic standing up straight chairs, and lying down chairs.

A retiring OT revealed that after an entire career trying to get life improving kit to those who need it, she knew better than to risk even mentioning the existence of what she knew other clients had found out for themselves, and self funded, and found to be brilliant. An example was pure goosedown duvets, ( at the time they cost about £200, ) which was pure magic, not too cool or too hot, and above all not too heavy, allowing certain patients painfree sleep for the first time in years. She dare not mention it. Or anything else except what was in her stockroom of standard issue n.h.s. stuff, so she was pretty much limited to commodes and perching stools and spiked vegetable chopping boards!

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @helenzx6r, how are you doing?

I have seen other people benefit from using Smart Crutches, would this kind of thing help you?

I hope you are able to get an appointment soon and they will be able to advise what the best options would be.