Mobility aids

[Scout]

After another severe episode yesterday where I could barely walk, I've officially decided it's time to get a mobility aid for my "bad" (badder than usual) days, to use when I need to run errands but otherwise can't get around. 

For cost efficiency, I'm investigating getting a simple electric "commuter" scooter (as they are significantly more affordable), with a seat. Some can fold up easily, which is a bonus. But if anyone can recommend anything, or if you have any experience with using mobility aids, I am open ears. 

Many thanks.

[StayAtHomeMom]

My boss uses a scooter. His suffered a second stroke about a year and a half ago. He gets good luck on Craigslist. His insurance wouldn't pay for it at first but he had an evaluation and they recommend one so he can have the insurance pay for it hopefully. He has one at home, one at the office, and one in his car. The one in his car is just a motorized razor scooter he picked up at a yard sale. He talks about adding a seat but I think (hope) he is joking. 

In my experience the three wheeled seems to be easier to move around in and fold down easier. The four wheeled go faster though but the turning radius sucks. 

Personally I have been looking into a pair of double crutches for my bad days. But I haven't done it yet. A little bit of pride I think. A cane just doesn't seem enough to me. 

Good luck and I hope you find something good that works for you. 

[Pistol]

I just use a regular wheel chair when I am out in a store or so. I hardly ever go anywhere but when I do it's a absolut must have. My insurance paid for it and I had it for years. I like it because if we remove the foot rests then I can move around by myself very easily by propelling with my feet. Before my disability I used it at work ( in a hospital ) and moved around perfectly. I even had a real license plate on it that read: Hug a nurse. And the activity of using my feet is an excellent exercise! 

[GasconAlex]

Scooters can be difficult and personal, I've been looking at them to get about the garden but everyone is different. It depends exactly what you want to use it for, some are better in towns, some in the country.  A lot of travel companies don't count scooters as wheelchairs so if you fly / use trains you need to look into that. Even when you find a good one the seat can be uncomfortable for you. I was speaking to someone at the weekend on her third scooter. The first couldn't do what she needed it to do, the second became too uncomfortable after an hour or two but she's happy with this one.

They are also difficult to get into cars, so you'd need a ramp. Last year I encountered someone on a ' quickie' which folded up to standard hold baggage size and only weighed a shade over 20 kg. He said it was great, but he had a proper one at home.

For @StayAtHomeMom I would not recommend double crutches they are cumbersome and tiresome. If you need more support go for a walker. They aren't that bad, if you get tired you can sit and you can carry stuff. With crutches you cannot. I know it makes you feel really old but if it helps you does that matter? (I admit I refused one, but since I can only get about 30m slowly with a crutch I have to use the wheelchair for any trip away from home - except physio where I can be dropped by the door and people don't care if it takes me a minute or so to cover the 15m with the crutch) The 3 or 4 wheeled walker versions can move at a fair walking pace for a long distance, in 2016 when I spent months in hospital / rehab they had the full range of equipment and believed that it was better to walk with a walker than struggle with crutches and end up not moving. They preferred the progression from walker to single cane, if at all possible.

[StayAtHomeMom]

54 minutes ago, GasconAlex said:

Scooters can be difficult and personal, I've been looking at them to get about the garden but everyone is different. It depends exactly what you want to use it for, some are better in towns, some in the country.  A lot of travel companies don't count scooters as wheelchairs so if you fly / use trains you need to look into that. Even when you find a good one the seat can be uncomfortable for you. I was speaking to someone at the weekend on her third scooter. The first couldn't do what she needed it to do, the second became too uncomfortable after an hour or two but she's happy with this one.

They are also difficult to get into cars, so you'd need a ramp. Last year I encountered someone on a ' quickie' which folded up to standard hold baggage size and only weighed a shade over 20 kg. He said it was great, but he had a proper one at home.

For @StayAtHomeMom I would not recommend double crutches they are cumbersome and tiresome. If you need more support go for a walker. They aren't that bad, if you get tired you can sit and you can carry stuff. With crutches you cannot. I know it makes you feel really old but if it helps you does that matter? (I admit I refused one, but since I can only get about 30m slowly with a crutch I have to use the wheelchair for any trip away from home - except physio where I can be dropped by the door and people don't care if it takes me a minute or so to cover the 15m with the crutch) The 3 or 4 wheeled walker versions can move at a fair walking pace for a long distance, in 2016 when I spent months in hospital / rehab they had the full range of equipment and believed that it was better to walk with a walker than struggle with crutches and end up not moving. They preferred the progression from walker to single cane, if at all possible.

The double crutches I am looking at can fold down and fit in a back pack. I wouldn't need them often. I have only come across 2 days since this last thanksgiving that I wish I bought them. They are more to help stabilize me when the world tilts and if I need something steady because it takes too much energy to lift my foot more then a cm off the ground. Generally speaking I don't do a lot of actual walking. When I did last month I did well. Sat down a lot and rested but it was at a museum so there were a lot of places to sit. 

Usually when I don't feel good I stay home. So I don't come across the lots of days I would need them. Just that occasional day. 

[statesof]

Hi @Scout I had to get a powered wheelchair because I literally can't do like any walking, which is weird because I can run a lot. I ended up getting one called light rider envy by golden technologies basically because it was the smallest simplest one I could find and it had a pretty decent battery life.

I probably partially use it everyday to allow me to do things I ordiarily can't do; walking any distances, walking my dog at the park, going into work without having to double my meds and constantly stopping during walking. Walking is still way better and if I could I would but I just can't so I do appreciated having this technology available. The only downside, as has been mentioned, is that its expensive and insurance may not pay for it. Currently I have a hitch thing on my car that can carry it and insurance does not cover anything like that.