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We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Hi, my name is Chris AKA wandering_chris!

wandering_chris

Where to begin? Well, at the beginning I suppose! I am 32, living in the East Midlands, I suffer from cerebral palsy and receive care from my Mum and carers. I am a university graduate and have 2 degrees.

I'm very spiritual and receive emotional support from my religious community.

Unfortunately, fortune hasn't been too kind as I had a setback due to sciatica and now my muscles are unconditioned. I'm doing all I can to get on my feet and use a walking frame again but nobody can tell me when I'll recover.

I see my friends, all with jobs, some are fathers... and here am I, no job, living with Mum, feeling like a bum, and I don't know what to do.

I had a job and everything set to go, and this sets me back. I still want to move from Mum, but Mum also has problems of her own and I'm scared to leave her. She says she'll be fine when I move in the next few years, but I'm not so sure.

Please tell me I can make it, I am determined too but it'd be nice to see some examples.

Kind Regards,

Chris

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Comments

Sandy_123

Hi @wandering_chris welcome to the community, sorry to read that you have a set back with sciatica, have the drs refered you to physio for this?
Have you spoke to any one about how you feel like your drs. I'm going to tag @Richard_Scope to see if he can offer any advise.
Well done on your 2 degrees.

chiarieds

Hi @wandering_chris - & welcome to the community. It's great to see you have emotional support from your religious community. Now thinking about the physical side have you asked your GP to refer you for physiotherapy to hopefully aid your walking? I would hope that would literally be your next step to help with your muscle deconditioning.

You seem like a strong person determined to get over this setback, so if you can get some help then things may begin to improve & you can begin to move forward.

I'll also ask @Richard_Scope for his advice & input.

wandering_chris

Sandy_123 said:

Hi @wandering_chris welcome to the community, sorry to read that you have a set back with sciatica, have the drs refered you to physio for this?
Have you spoke to any one about how you feel like your drs. I'm going to tag @Richard_Scope to see if he can offer any advise.
Well done on your 2 degrees.

I probably should add I see a neuro physio weekly and do half an hour of physio daily. - Chris

chiarieds

As a long retired physio (I used to treat babies & children with CP), I'm pleased to read you're seeing a neurophysiotherapist; I do hope this is helping. Kindly let us all know how you get on. My best wishes.

wandering_chris

chiarieds said:

As a long retired physio (I used to treat babies & children with CP), I'm pleased to read you're seeing a neurophysiotherapist; I do hope this is helping. Kindly let us all know how you get on. My best wishes.

it's helping alot but the main thing on my mind is: "When will I get back to using my walking frame?"

wandering_chris

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @wandering_chris I hope you enjoy being part of the Community. Because of your set back it is just taking you a bit longer to get where you want to be. Having studied and obtained 2 degrees you obviously do not give up and this shows your strong character. Sometimes we have to change our plans and take a different route . Just remember you do not have to prove yourself to anyone, you are unique .
My daughter had just started teaching when she became ill and almost overnight was unable to walk from the front door to the end of the drive, she was 24 years old. Suffice to say her life changed and involved lots of hospital appointments but eventually she stabilized and we had our "normal" life. totally different to what we had planned. She used a wheelchair was on 24/7 infusion which we made up each day administered through a line in her neck and she was on oxygen. She entered a North West Art Competition and won she never told them she was ill as she wanted to win on her ability. She also did a second degree. We went out and took whatever we needed with us we still went to the theatre which she loved. She had a couple of good friends but many did not bother anymore. She once said to me I am not unhappy mum I have time now to do things I would not have been able to do if I was well. You can be whatever you want to be just not perhaps in the way you had planned. I hope if you would like you can share your journey with us. Take care.

Thank you for inspiring me, I always wanted to be in media back in the day. Now, I just want to get any job and move out asap once well.

Tori_Scope

Welcome to the community @wandering_chris

It's great to have you with us!

I can see that you've already made another post about moving out, which is great to see.

In terms of looking for jobs, I'm wondering whether you could benefit from accessing one of our employment services. Perhaps you could take a look, and let us know what you think?