To Wheelchair or not to Wheelchair?

Effie96
Effie96 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Talk about your impairment

I'm 29 and it's becoming increasingly painful and tiring to stand and walk for long.

Last year I started university (very late in life😅) with the help of my rollator. I find myself missing days as I just cant bare standing/walking as much as I need to even with my rollator or my crutches.

I keep backtracking and talking myself out of looking into getting a wheelchair because "I'm being dramatic" or "it's not that bad" and "I can manage, I don't need one" and then finding myself a few days later wishing I had one so I might be able to go into uni that day or that today I could have managed much more/better with a wheelchair 😫

Aside from my internal battle on need i'm also very aware that people are not typically understanding on ambulatory Wheelchair users…

Overall, I'm confused and any advice would be welcome :)

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Comments

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 2,005 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Effie96 😊 I don't use a wheelchair so can't give advice in that regard, but I'd say that you should make the decision that's best for you. Don't talk yourself out of getting one just because you think you're 'being dramatic'. If you need one, you need one! Could it be that you just use it on days where you really need it so it's there as a back-up? That way it'll be easier for you to attend uni.

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Online Community Member Posts: 243 Empowering

    It took me a while to accept I may need a wheelchair and initially when I bought one I would only use it on holiday or where no-one knew me. I'd had a few comments about why I had been using a stick and crutches (Not in a positive way) from people who had known me since childhood and had always known me to be fit and well.
    I did eventually start using a wheelchair locally and then a mobility scooter as that seemed more accepting for someone who could walk short distances.
    I now have a powerchair and love it. Finally I can go out and not need to rely on someone else to push me or put my scooter together. It has really changed my lift. So I'd say if you feel you would benefit from one and it would improve your life, definitely go for it.

  • durhamjaide2001
    durhamjaide2001 Scope Member Posts: 15,186 Championing

    I would highly recommend that you get an electric wheelchair because they give you a lot more independence and freedom especially when you are at Uni. I used to love wizzing around in my electric wheelchair when I was at college.


    As well as this I wouldn't talk yourself out of it. Although lots of people do because they are embarrassed and I would definitely not be embarrassed about using it because at the end of the day you will find that you are able to do twice as much than you would of done without it.

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