r/mobilityaids

You won’t want to read this if you get mad when people struggle with using mobility aids.

I walked a lot yesterday and pulled my cane outside at some points. I forgot how much faster I walk with a cane. But that’s really not the point.

The point is that I felt and looked stupid. I have really large breasts so I get fetishised a lot anyway, which I hate. But I feel even more conscious of it when using a mobility aid for some reason because even more creeps approach me. They see the cane and assume I can’t get away.

There were so many tourists staring at me, I think one of them said something to their friend.

I’m 27. People my age do ultramarathons. And here’s me struggling to walk.

It’s ridiculous. It feels ridiculous. I am ridiculous.

I would prefer to walk slowly and not feel like a target than walk fast.

Hi,

I have chronic pain and nerve issues in both my wrists. Where possible I carry my baby in a carrier but sometimes I'm very fatigued or have other pain and need to push them in a stroller. This puts my hands out of action for days after use. I'm ideally looking for something that attaches to the grip of the stroller, like some kind of arm, and reaches up so I can rest my forearms in it and push with my bodyweight rather than holding with my hands and pushing. I've searched around and not found anything yet. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you

I'm strongly considering purchasing one of those as a first wheelchair. My alternative is to go with a power wheelchair covered by insurance. The COMFY GO is out of pocket. It has to fit in my small apartment, and I will be using it primarily for getting around on sidewalks, or going to doctor appointments. Does anyone have any experience with this? Does it hold up, is it a reliable brand, does it get stuck on curb cuts, does it fold easily and truly not take up a lot of space? Anyone's experience is welcome 🤗

So I am seventeen and I have POTS and hEDS. I generally have a pretty good pain tolerance but standing or walking for extended periods of time causes so much discomfort and pain for me that I’ve been considering asking my doctor about a wheelchair. At the moment I sit to do most everything around the house and I find myself more and more often dreading things I used to be excited for because I know how exhausting it will be for my body. The concept of a wheelchair sounds both nice and a little scary and maybe unnecessary like I can walk and I’m choosing not to and it’s such a long process it seems.

Hi folks, I am looking for a good off-road rollator that doesn't weigh too much.

I am a C5 SCI with a c6-c7 discectomy and fusion. I have a lot of balance issues, so I use a rollator and also hiking poles.

But I really really miss walking in the forest or other nature environments.

I do live in San Francisco, but I'm next to the Presidio.

Additionally, because of forearm and hand neuropathy it's hard for me to be on terrain that makes my rollator jiggle.

I have the usual Medline rollator, but its wheels get stuck on things like cracks in the sidewalk, small rocks, etc. A number of years post injury, it's clear I still need some form of rollator. It's time to get serious and kick down for something truly helpful. I'm tired of nearly falling/falling over sidewalk cracks and having my arms rattling over weird walking path pavements. I see there are rollators out there that are specifically for off-roading / difficult terrain. Ones with pneumatic tires that handle uneven surfaces much better than my little Medline ever could.

That said, the other specs I'm looking for are:

a seat

a cloth basket/pouch

Collapsible

Weighs under 20lbs.

A fun color would be nice 🙂

Good braking system

Highly rated

I was even looking into the Trionic rollator (the four-wheel, not two wheel), but there's no place around me to try one out.

Maybe someone on this sub has ideas??

Thanks in advance!

Needs for rollator: I need it to be able to push my mom like a wheelchair.

Still sturdy enough for cobblestone and hard to navigate streets

And it needs to be light weight enough that I can also just carry or push one handed when she gets up to walk (I can lift 20-25 lbs for extended periods or 50lbs for short ones for context).

Situation:

We need something asap for an upcoming medical trip. The wheelchair won't cut it because it's gonna be raining and she doesn't want to be stuck to a chair in a emergency. She can walk a few blocks (maybe 20 minutes TOPS) and climb stairs (max like 2 flights or 1 flight) but her legs will give out if we don't have a mobility aid. :(

We DON'T have time to get anything expensive or custom made and I wasn't aware she didn't want the normal wheel chair until right now.

I'm thinking the helavo 2 in 1 walker wheelchair combo but IDK if it would be okay.

I’ve been in the process of trying to get a motorized wheelchair for 5, almost 6, months. The reason there has been such a huge hold up is the fighting with doctors, I’ve had to switch my care provider 3 different times due to stone walling my calls and refusal of service simply cause they believed I didn’t need it.
In the span of a singular night I had a flair up so bad that I was immobilized for months. Moving hurt and I had to go to the hospital so many times in the span of 2 months that we ended up meeting our yearly out of pocket budget.
I have regained some stability, but I still am unable to walk from my bed to my car or even to the bathroom and back without feeling it in something.
My recent problem has come to a head was when I switched to my recent care provider. He sounded sympathetic and wrote me an in-depth diagnosis document stating that I needed mobility aid (specifically an electric wheelchair) and a lot of physical therapy. During that same appointment he said he would send in a prior authorization for the wheelchair as soon as he can. That was 2 months ago, insurance has had no attempts of a prior authorization being sent in and all I’ve been getting is “We’ll have to ask the doctor and call you back” with absolutely no call back.
I’ve already spoke to my insurance and they have currently opened an investigation on why this process is taking so long with absolutely no result on my providers end. A few days after insurance opened the case I got a message saying they would send the script. They proceeded to send me a paperscript that they had scanned with the word “Electric Scooter” on it. I’m unsure how to proceed with this. The necessary actions will be taken (informing insurance and getting a new pcp) but what can I do about the wheelchair? I’m unable to work a proper job due to me being unable to walk and I’m unable to move around my school due to not having the mobility to do so. I’ve quite literally had to put my life on hold since this flair up and the lack of mobility or care Im getting is hindering it more. If anyone might have anything that might help, it would be much appreciated!

Hi everyone! I’m new to this subreddit but have been using my rollator for about 5 years now.

I’m wondering if anyone has found a product or a diy hack to get an umbrella attached to their walker…

I spend a lot of time waiting outside for my paratransit bus in Washington state and really super hate it when I have to sit on a wet seat or have my hands getting soaked while I hold it. Like, yeah, raincoats help but only so much.

A couple years ago I bought a connector tool thing that was just far too short to use for a walker and I’m only 5’4” (I’m sure it’d be great for a wheelchair, though) and had to return it. I tried a couple different umbrellas with it too and even on the tallest one my hair was getting caught in the metal parts of the umbrella. My budget was quite tight at the time but has loosened up a bit.