Walking... indoors/outdoors

Rosycheeks

Hey everyone

I wonder if this applys to anyone else because im starting to wonder if this is all in my mind :oops:

I have PA and suffer with my hips, knees, etc at different times. When My knees are bad like they are right now it hurts to walk around indoors and I limp. However if I go outdoors and walk around within a minute the pain is so much worse to the point I sometimes struggle to walk at all and each step I kinda let out a little sob

Do others find it worse walking outside than inside when their knee/hips are bad?

xx

stickywicket

Definitely. Outdoors is always worse because it's uneven so joints, muscles etc have to do more work. Indoors is level. I do find stretches of flat grass (not the tufty kind) easier on the joints than hard pavements but my - rather pathetic - delight is long hospital corridors where I know I'm not going to encounter any humps, bumps or stones and I can stride out without having to keep my head down on the lookout.

Maybe stronger meds would help?

babytiger

Yeah I'm the same. Around the house its a lot easier but go outdoors and its all uneven making it hard and more painful and as for grass that the dog decides to go on,well my poor leg wont even lift so it drags along

smol

I have that problem too. I'm much more mobile in the house (apart from the beggar who keeps moving the doorways that I manage to bump into a lot of the time ) I cant walk very far at all, although I'm much better than I was a year ago, when I was letting out little yelps with each step. I've been doing Pilates exercises (very basic ones) and it has helped no end. That and the shed load of meds :roll:

Folara

Absolutely with you. I think a lot of it is that indoors you feel safe and know the floor is flat and even and if you do fall it will be ok. Outside is a different matter. As you will naturally worry about the uneven ground etc you tense up subconsciously so make everything tight and more painful etc.

Well that's my theory lol

Fols x

elnafinn

Definately, Rosy.

Since beginning to have slight walking problems due to vertebrae touching my spinal cord, although I am not in pain, I find pottering around indoors and out in the garden, no problem. As soon as I start to walk outside, I have to really concentrate and feel "wobbly" and sometimes it is worse than other times. Riding my bicycle is ok and pushing my bike, but unaided, this is when I come a little unstuck these days. :roll: I know I do not need a walking stick as that would definitely mess things up good and proper for me.

Elna x

Puschinka

Exactly the same for me too, Rosy. Indoors not to bad at all,but as soon as I'm outdoors, within seconds of walking, it's a very different story as every step is painful and I feel vey unstable.
When someone comes to visit and they see me pottering about indoors, without my stick, I often think, they must wonder if I'm putting it all on.
Ha! I wish! No, I don't actually.
One really would have to be mad to do that!
Apart from the pain and being forced to take only small and slow steps, holding on to a cane, I hate 'walking' like that, with others seemingly rushing past me.
In fact, everytime I go out I immediately think 'why is everyone in such a rush?'
They're not, they're just walking at a normal pace of course.
I've started to avoid busy places, dread having to cross a busy road, go shopping when I know the supermarket won't be too busy and anywhere there's a queue I just don't bother...
I took a slow walk in a quiet park the other day, sunshine, birds singing and dafffodils everywhere and then a dogwalker came towards me with his beautiful young labrador bouncing all over the place, came running towards me and all I could think was 'please don't jump up at me, don't knock me over'
(he didnt, his owner called him back).
I used to pat every dog that looked friendly and stopped to say hello, now dogs off the lead anywhere make me feel very vulnerable, scared even.
Outdoors is totally different to indoors, you're right.

phoenixoxo

Hi Rosy,

Well, I use my crutches indoors and my powerchair outdoors nowadays, but I do remember my walking problems from before an accident in hospital landed me with a permanent deformity. Even if I was experiencing quite bad hip and knee pain I could feel fairly comfortable inside, but the combination of uneven pavements and worry that someone might send me into the gutter (again) made being outside not the nicest experience!

I did find a bit of relief when I invested in my first pair of shoes from Cosyfeet, though (pink pumps, still my favourites) – have you looked into supportive footwear at all?

Best wishes,
Phoebe

PollySid

Puschinka wrote:

When someone comes to visit and they see me pottering about indoors, without my stick, I often think, they must wonder if I'm putting it all on.

I even began to wonder if I was subconsiously putting it on myself
I am so pleased to hear that so many of you are the same.
Probably it is because indoors is so familiar and the distances are always very short. Outdoors there is that distance stretching out in front of you.
I think I try to walk a bit faster outdoors too, which makes my legs go all over the place.

bubbadog

Hi Rosycheeks, I find that walking indoors with my crutches is easier because the carpet takes the impact and makes the steps less painful. But when your out doors on the uneven ground your using more muscles and joints so is more painful. That's why I usually use my chair for longer journeys. Hope you find some way to make life less painful outdoors.

dreamdaisy

It's all rubbish, wherever you're walking. Indoors it's the stairs that hurt the most, outdoors it's everything. DD

hileena111

Hi Rosy
Yes I find outdoors much more difficult.....I can potter around the house and up and down stairs all day.....{with lots of breaks of course } and i thibk the other thing is that I'm unsteady as well and without thinking inside I put my hand out to steady myself on whtever is close. Outside without and walking aid {rollator} people are dashing about and I think...dont knock me down please. So yes outside is so much worse...thats where the reollator comes into its own

Love
Hileena

Rosycheeks

Thank you all so much for the replys

It helps so much to realise its 'not in my mind'.
I could not understand how I could be in pain walking around indoors but then agony when i walked outside. Everything you have all said makes so much sense.

Thank you all

mwah xxxx

vwkamper

Hi,

Outdoors definatly worse but i do have a walker that i depend on a lot and i can sit whenever i need to now as i upgraded from a three wheeler to a four.
I have osteoarthritis in my lower spine and possibly my right hip.
Standing is my pain, (mostly)

vwkamper.

stickywicket

vwkamper wrote:

Standing is my pain, (mostly)
vwkamper.

Ah, standing is a whole different ballgame. Easier to walk than stand anyday.

hileena111

I totally agree with Sticky and you about standing......much harder.
Thats why I have a 4 wheel rollator with a seat as well

Love
Hileena