Magical mobility aid!? Running out of ideas!

JodyS

Hello, I’m looking for the moon on a stick but realistically any suggestions or ideas would be really helpful. 

I have severe hip pain and honestly not got as far as a definitive diagnosis in 5 years, still waiting for an in person rheumatology appointment after 2.5 years. Regardless of diagnosis I am really struggling to walk and though I can walk it’s agony. 

I’m single, no car (not allowed to drive due to unrelated diabetes) and no local buses, I have to get to work and go shopping and just get out an about. 

Tried crutches but then had frozen shoulder and now that’s eased they are not working really, plus can’t carry anything with them. I have a rollator which works best but doesn’t really help all that much with the pain, and a cane for shorter distances. It’s getting harder and harder to get anywhere. Today I was in so much pain walking to work (about 800m away from home) and I also fell over so I ended up hiding in the toilets sobbing for the first 15 minutes of work.

I’m 37 and unfortunately getting less fit but I need to be more active, and need to be able to do things. While I have seen GP etc previously they are in the just waiting for rheumatology and we can’t do anything stage. There is a physio I can go back to and should probably make another appointment. 

Any magical mobility aid options I haven’t thought of? Everything is so expensive too and then it’s so hard if you don’t know what will work, I don’t claim any benefits to help pay for anything, but I would consider finance if needed as I can’t carry on like this. I can get around the house ok but it’s for outdoors and i also don’t have much, if any storage space at home (despite my colleague insisting I should get a mobility scooter I don’t have space and want to keep active).

Any ideas, direction or suggestions would be fantastic!

Ross_Alumni

Sorry to hear of what you're going through @JodyS, and welcome to the community by the way!

It's a shame that you haven't been able to receive much support or get a diagnosis, you've waited a long time and I imagine it must be quite frustrating. 

I hope that other members will be able to offer their thoughts, but I just wanted to wish you a warm welcome and say that I hope you enjoy taking part here. Feel free to have a browse and get involved wherever you'd like.

Making an appointment with the physio sounds like a good plan, perhaps they would be able to make further suggestions.

chiarieds

Hi @JodyS - & welcome to the community. I'm sorry to read about your hip pain, & how long it's taking to get this looked into. As a long retired physio, I would recommend you do indeed go back to see your physio. They should be able to assess you, & make recommendations that may hasten a rheumatology appointment. They should also be able to assess your mobility, & loan equipment for you to try.

In the meanwhile, & with apologies for perhaps saying something you already know, with regards to using a cane/stick, do you know how to use it correctly? So many people wrongly hold their stick on the affected side. Please see the following for how to use one correctly: https://www.healthandcare.co.uk/blog/how-to-walk-with-a-walking-stick.html

So it's

Hold the stick on your unaffected side.

1. Take a step with the weaker leg and bring the cane forward at the same time. It's important to move the stick and the affected leg forward together.
2. Swing the stronger leg through. The cane should be moved the distance of one average step forward with each move.

I'm with you about elbow crutches in that you can't carry anything much. I use them, & my workaround has been to have a haversack with a strap diagonally across my back.

Again, with crutches it may depend on where you got them from; like sticks, someone such as a physio should assess to ensure they're at the right height. There are different ergonomically designed handles that may also help you better.

Back to sticks, then something like this may be helpful: https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/mobility-aids/walking-sticks/flexyfoot/easy-grip-flexyfoot-walking-stick?sku=Q13519

& do look around this site, as such mobility aids are, I hope, not too expensive,

newborn

Topro Troja rollator (there may be similar) is good to keep you upright, resting your weight on your entire forearm instead of your hands.  The seat and the basket hanging under it are only net, so it folds easily.  
When you have the urge for a sit-down, the height you sit at is fairly high.
I dare say they don't advise you use it as practically a removal van (!) but nobody can arrest you for using bungees to secure as much shopping as you like.  
I don't know where you look for second hand, (and they are dear) but they have nothing really to go wrong.

JodyS

Thanks for the replies, I am pretty confident I am using the aids I have correctly, I had nhs crutches to start but then got better ergonomic ossenberg ones and added flexifoot ferrules which did make a big difference but alas they are just not working as well anymore. My rollator is also a decent one, it’s a rollz flex and again it has been fab and has loads of shopping space or space for my laptop etc but again it’s not helping as much as it did at first. I will try and make another appointment with the physio, he did chase the rheumatology appointment for me but that was only a couple of weeks ago. I just need to be able to get places without breaking down in tears really!

It probably doesn’t help that while it varies it’s been bad the last few weeks and I’m going to Disneyland paris on Monday and no idea really how I’ll manage (though I have an annual pass and go quite often so I do have tricks to normally manage)

janer1967

Personally I would see about hiring a mobility scooter when visiting Disney land 

PumpkinFlower

I understand your views about a Mobility Scooter.  I was reluctant, but finally caved in... and now I LOVE it!  I honestly love my Scooter.  To be able to get out and know I won't be in pain, is amazingly liberating. I am very strict with myself and do home exercises now - where I didn't before - and also don't take it out, if I think I am able to manage (sadly those days are fading fast) - so if you did go that route - my point is - you can still mitagate the using it, Vs lack of activity, on better days, and around your normal routine, to gain activity.  You'd have to be strong and disciplined though.  Additionally my upper body has become stronger and more flexible, in using my Scooter, because I tend to lean into corners, and stretch about a lot to look behind me and so on - so there is that! lol.  I'd not take getting a Scooter off the table entirely, just yet.  I know its a wrench - but it's not about giving in - it's about gaining a less painful existance.