Wheelchairs

[Flora1966]

Hi..

I have mobility problems due to nerve damage in my back and loss of sensation in my right leg... I use a walking stick but at the moment I am finding walking very difficult as my leg goes into spasm quite often resulting in me falling over....

I spoke to my gp about possibly using a wheelchair when i'm really bad but she said that she would prefer me not to...I'm not sure what to do, wether to get one and use it when I need to or just try and carry on the way I am...Does anyone have any thoughts on this...

Jules..

[andypandy]

I would say it really depends on the way you feel. If you feel you need one then buy one. I can see what your GP means but you are the only one who knows how bad you are

[Lighttouch]

Hi..

I have mobility problems due to nerve damage in my back and loss of sensation in my right leg... I use a walking stick but at the moment I am finding walking very difficult as my leg goes into spasm quite often resulting in me falling over....

I spoke to my gp about possibly using a wheelchair when i'm really bad but she said that she would prefer me not to...I'm not sure what to do, wether to get one and use it when I need to or just try and carry on the way I am...Does anyone have any thoughts on this...

Jules..

Hi Jules, I'm with your doctor. You're legs still function but you're prone to trips and falls. Snap! I use an elbow crutch with a 'comfy grip' to spread the load. I use to buy crutches but now I just visit my local NHS physios to renew the rubber bung or entire crutch - it's a free service for the likes of us.

If I were you I'd visit you're local 'shopmobility' where you can hire a scooter for a nominal fee. Let's face it you want to preserve your energy for walking in and around the shops you want to visit.

I hire a scooter, use it to get to my destination. Turn it off, remove the key, grab my crutch to amble about then hop on to visit another part of the city. It's safe, fast, efficient and a cheap way of getting about safely.

Check this out - it's your local shopmobility centre
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/healthan...opmobility.htm

Let us know what you think.

[Flora1966]

Thank you for your replies...I'm not to steady on my feet so I will look into shopmobility for when i'm in town...

Thanks
Jules ..

[janet85]

I would say it really depends on the way you feel. If you feel you need one then buy that electric wheelchairs. I can see what your GP means but you are the only one who knows how bad you are

exactly the advice any sane person can give you

[treborc]

You do need to ask your doctor, to explain. I have a lesion of the spinal cord at the L5 which is basically a cut in the nerves.

I was at Stoke Manderville, and they explained it would be better if I kept walking even though it was much easier to use a wheelchair.

They explained that the muscles in the legs need to have exercises to keep going and they stated by losing muscle you can make the pain much worse.

I used a wheelchair for two years because of the damage done to my spine and I lost almost 45% of the muscles in my back making the spine weaker.

I think your best plan is to ask your GP to see a consultant.

I still need a wheelchair even now because I had to have three of my disc removed from my spine ....

[Jay]

Thank you for your replies...I'm not to steady on my feet so I will look into shopmobility for when i'm in town...

Thanks
Jules ..

That's a good compromise. Don't give up walking completely if you can help it, even if it's just to potter about your home as it keeps the muscles working and you can still retain a degree of independance.

[Lighttouch]

To try and keep me walking I obviously need to use a crutch but there is the danger of trips and falls due to my dropped foot. I have a very primitive form of foot stableiser in the form of a boot with steel rods that hold my foot in a fixed position but the boot is clunky and heavy.

My neuro physiotherapist suggested that I try electrical stimulation via electodes that stimulate nerves and raise yor foot through passing an electrical current down your leg - it works! But the kit supplied by the NHS is decades out of date and very difficult to put on successfully - hence you never use it.

But a year ago I did source a company that took the basic idea and improved it by using the latest wi-fi technology. It isn't cheap but I persuaded the supplier to let me 'trial' one for free - just for a week.

What a difference! I could attach the electrodes to my calf AND in exactly the right spot, with one hand, in less than 10 seconds instead of 15/20 minutes with the NHS version - and there's no wiring to fiddle with.

I actually have one for my left leg - I was the first person in this country to try it out and get one. They should be available through the NHS but it's too expensive at £5000 - yes £5k a leg. And no I didn't pay that - I got mine for free - well I negotiated a deal which didn't involve money. No AP I didn't sell my body to the devil before you ask. lol

Check it out and no I'm afraid your doctor won't give you one on prescription I'm afraid to say.

http://www.bioness.com/Bioness_For_F...w_It_Works.php

[treborc]

It depends I have an implanted electrodes under the skin , very much like a tens machine but these are used to stimulate the nerves and muscles, because as they said you need to keep the muscles working otherwise they become weak and can add to the pain. The system cost £100,000 and of course the NHS stated it was to much. But since I was spending months and months in hospital due to muscle cramps like nothing on this earth, after my MP contacted NICE and then had a meeting with John major, it was decided that NICE would sanction the payment.

I had the operation done in London, three years alter i took my first steps, people might say well thats not really walking, to me it's a massive difference, even though I now use calipers.

[Lighttouch]

Wow that's incredible. I had heard that they could connect nerves to electrodes under the skin. I can set my electric shocks to train mode so electric currents pass through my leg while lying down. My calf muscles are still shapely with muscle bulk - that was due to racing cycling in my youth.

Wouldn't it be great if one day you woke up and all your ills had gone. I'd get up and run and never stop. OK back to reality!!