FINDING IT HARD I GOT TO HAVE A WALKING AID AT 32

parry
parry Member Posts: 14
edited 7. Jun 2013, 06:36 in Living with Arthritis archive
HI ALL
i am karen i am 32 years old and just been told i need a walking aid i am finding it hard to come around to has i am a young mother and only been married to my hubby over a year. got to go this friday for a balance test and the aid i know it mind sound stupid i also got other heath problems i feel so alone and upset any one else been like me i would be grateful for any advice how to cope. thanks :(

Comments

  • kentishlady
    kentishlady Member Posts: 809
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen. Am so sorry to hear that you have to have a walking aid at such a young age and can fully understand how you must feel. It must have been a shock to you and your husband. I feel the same and am considerably (much!) older than you and hate the idea of having to have an aid to help me walk. Partly it is because I don't want to give in to my OA mobility problems and I suppose part of it is vanity, although I hate to admit it.

    You haven't mentioned what your health problems are. I do hope you will get on ok at your appointment later in the week. Please let us know how you get on.

    We are all here to help and support you in any way we can, and I am sure others will be along soon with some advice for you.

    I am sure, with your husband's support you will find yourself able to cope. There are others on the forum in your age group who I am sure will lend their support.

    Beryl
  • gemmapetken
    gemmapetken Member Posts: 263
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    I'm 32 this year and use crutches and a walking stick
    I also have wrist supports. All of which make me feel older before my time!
    I know its hard but if these things make you able to function and do stuff with your kids its got to be done. I felt I grieved for the woman I was and the mother I wanted to be! My lo is 19 months and I a having a terrible time with flare ups but I wouldn't change a thing.
    I hope the aid helps you and means you can be independent and a mummy!
    Gxx
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    It must be hard at such a young age to have to use walking aids.

    Don't think of it as giving into OA {or whatever it is you have}
    Think of it as a coping mechanism .....letting you do so much more than you could do without it.

    I have a 4 wheel rollator with a seat, fantastic although I fought with myself before giving in.
    I have crutches from when I had a fractured pelvis and SI joint......I use those if I'm going up to our village for any length of time......I can manage steps with them and every blinkin' shop here has steps...even the coffee ones :lol:
    I also have a scooter which gets used occasionally when we are somewhere that is very hilly and very large. {Poss somewhere on holiday}

    I pimped my crutches....if you have to use them why be boring :lol:
    My stick is a "switch stick" once again why have a boring black one :lol:

    Love
    Hileena
  • DebbieT
    DebbieT Member Posts: 1,033
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    My hubby became disabled in 2002 aged 34. He felt humiliated as he was young but also he was an active guy b4 hand, he was a builder & a cricketer. I honestly couldn't wrap my head around his reluctance, from my point of view I thought that anything that would help him to be stable & break less bones was a great thing & allowed me to worry less than I did!!

    I have since been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis & Fibromyalgia. I've had to use crutches myself since 2010 which I found very hard to except but I honestly couldn't walk 10 metres without my hips & back seizing up. I've had a massive arthritis flare over the past 6 wks & I've had to resort to a 3 wheeled push-along walker & after my recent stay in hospital it has become abundantly clear that I now need to get a wheel chair for wen I'm at my worst or have farther to go!! I've REALLY struggled with all of these decisions but unless I intend spending my entire life in my bed I've had little choice it has also opened my eyes to the struggle my husband went thru & I'm forever apologising now about it.Lol Im now 43 by the way.

    All I can advise is to try it. I think ul end up finding the walking aids a godsend!! Ul be able to be more active with ure little one too :D Be brave & we're here for you if you need to chat or rant etc

    x
    Healing Hugs
    Debbie.x
  • rubyjay
    rubyjay Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen, I have oa in my spine. I now have reversal of cervical lordosis along with bone spurs and nerve impingement. These have caused issue's with my balance and I have had some bad fall's but was too embarrassed to use a walking aid..
    The last fall I had I fell backwards hitting the back of my head on the hard ground and literally saw stars.
    .That night I found it difficult too sleep as I had flashing lights in my left eye, the only way I can describe it is that it was like someone opening and closing blinds very fast..The day after I still had this flashing plus like a thick dark cobweb in the corner...I made an appointment with an optician but by the time I got my appointment the flashing had almost stopped but I had like a misty crinkly bubble over my vision...The optitian knew right away that it was a Posterior Vitrious Detatchment caused by the fall..
    She referred me to the eye hospital and they confirmed it . Now I am having to cope with this aswell as my other oa problems..The annoying thing is is that this could have been avoided had I used a walking aid ...
    Karen, don't be embarrassed about using a walking aid it is just not worth it, I never go anywhere without mine..Hope everything goes ok at your appointment.....xx
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I was in my early 20's when I was told I had to use a walking stick! I was stubborn and didn't use it and ended up having a bad couple of falls. What I learned quickly was don't use the aids and have falls and eventually have a bad fall that will make things a lot worse and you needing a wheelchair! The doctors don't give out walking aids for the sake of it they give you walking aids because you need them. I'm sure your partner will be fine with you using a walking stick, you can get pretty fancy ones for sale if you want something fancy!
  • parry
    parry Member Posts: 14
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI GUYS

    THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT I GOT ARHRITIS ITS WITH A O IN MY KNEES BUT GOT BADLY CURVED SPINE WHICH IS AFECTING MY KNEES AND ITS MAKING MY FOOT TURN OUTWARDS SO ALWAYS IN ARGONY WALKING IS A NIGHT MARE AND SO PAINFUL AND MY KNEES ARE STARTING TO FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO GIVE IN. I WILL LET U ALL KNOW HOW I GET ON THIS FRIDAY. MY OTHER HEATH PROBLEMS ARE EPILEPSY,SLIGHT CELARPAULSY, AND NEAD ( NON EPILEPITC ATTACK DISORDER) ITS LIKE HAVING MINI STROKES BUT I AM NOT SO ON MEDS OTHER WISE I AM GOOD :lol:
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh boy, that's a bucketful of health problems, isn't it? I am older than you and past caring about what I look like (or what people think) but I can understand your reluctance to accept this. It IS a big change and it IS a big deal but I can assure you that the only person who will be aware of it is you. When you're out and about start noting how many people (of all ages) are using aids; you might be surprised. I use a rollator for walking any distance outdoors and crutches on the better days - they do help and they do make a difference. I have two sorts of arthritis, OA is one of them and walking-wise that is in both knees, both ankles and now my right hip. It's not fun. :wink: I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • MerryChapman
    MerryChapman Member Posts: 45
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen,

    I feel for you xxx you will get used to the aid and other people will get used to it as well. I bought myself a really bright snazzy stick that didn't look like the ones in the little mags so I don't feel such as old lady (I'm 35), would something like this help you? Xxxx
  • BonnGayle
    BonnGayle Member Posts: 26
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Im 35 with Ra ( still in diagnosis process ) struggaling with this too atm acceptance vs vanity on a normal day I can do what needs doing and I dont need a stick when I have a flare or if I need to walk all day or if I need to walk up lots of steps I get in trouble its like my legs havnt got the oomph to cope with it BUT I'm not at a level of acceptance that I can walk around with a stick ..I carried on and coped for a while but its just no good! This week I ordered a foldable stick its made of carbon so its light and folds away so I can pop it in my bag for when I really need it, I hope this way I can get onto the road to acceptance a little at a time :)
  • Kittkat
    Kittkat Member Posts: 309
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello
    I know it is easier said than done but I would say don't worry/feel ashamed about it. I always look around at people and to be honest although people may look a bit they don't really care they are more interested in themselves. People have lots of other different ailments( spots, disfigurements,weight issues etc.) and many people have hidden struggles too.
    I saw a young girl/woman at my uni with a very small discrete stick that I only really noticed as I am aware of these things due to my own arthritis.
    Best to have the stick than risk hurting yourself
    Take care
    How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
  • maria09
    maria09 Member Posts: 1,905
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Karen
    I'm so sorry you are having such a thought time
    I have nothing to add to everything that has been previously said but wish to offer my support
    Maria