I Can't Stand Standing

That is, I can't stand to stand.  Walking is easier than just standing. The damage to this standing elephant's lower extremities resonated with me.  I would never last as long as this elephant has though.

It's hard to explain to neighbours as you walk around the block that you just can't chat for long, and it also makes you "stand out" at parties when you are the only one who is sitting.  It's also awkward at those meet and mingle professional meetings, though it is even harder to talk to strangers when all of the activity is going on 2 feet above your head as you sit.

My husband hates to park us in the disabled spots because, as an able bodied person, he gets the fishy eye. But he will do that for me if I need to walk less.  Usually in a large parking lot he will drop me and then pick me up at the door so then we don't use the pass.

If I needed to use a cane it would be one with specially molded grips for people with hand trouble.

Looks comfortable but still can strain joints

However even those are too difficult to grip so I use the forearm crutch sometimes called a "Canadian crutch".  That way I can lean on it as well as keep my balance.  I have used crutches like this through three foot operations and they are easy on the hands.  It's worth getting them if you have problems with your grip.

Hard to rent so I bought a set

 
It's hard to use a walking aid because most of us can't get past the psychological barrier and don't want to be branded as "disabled" It might help if you looked at a cane or crutch as a signal that you have a problem, since it makes your invisible health problem very visible to people. It does the talking for you and makes a good short cut for help and understanding with your mobility problems.

It also means that you can see and do more with your family and not have to pay the price for "overdoing it" My friend has been using a wheelchair to tour stately homes and villages in the UK and she will have those memories to treasure all her life.

                                        www.gardenvisit.com

If you ask Jill if it is worth it to use a wheelchair when it adds to her experiences, she'll say yes, though I know how she struggled against using it at first.