Tedjohnson

[tedjohnson]

My ataxia is making my walk very difficult and I may not be far from using a wheel chair. Can anyone advise me how they get on round their house. ( I furniture walk at the moment !!) and whether they can use elbow crutches in the house which is what I use walking outside. Any comments would be much appreciated

Ted

[Litty]

Sorry to hear that. I too am nearly at that stage. I use a wheelchair when the family go out so I do not hold them up anymore. It is weird because the general public can cope with a chair much more than sticks! Anyway try to keep as active as you can at home and my stroller/walker is brilliant. Firstly downstairs I got a 4 wheeled Stannah (great but the brakes are useless and my daughter has trouble folding it to put in here little car). A very kind friend gave me her Dad’s old 3 wheeled walker for upstairs and I love it. The brakes are really good and you can collapse it easily to go through doors. It is very light too. Hope this helps : )

[tedjohnson in reply to Litty]

Thanks Litty. Good to hear from you. It seems like a waiting game doesn't it!! As you say we must all try and keep moving I have decided not to play at Wimbledon this year-----------too hot !!!

Take care and keep smiling. Ted

[ARIF123]

yes good news Ted. I have ataxia. I use 4 wheeled trolley. Light.

[february]

Dear Ted, I laughed at your comment about Wimbleton...,ha! I also decided not to play there this year...,ha! Anyway, I furnature/wall walk in my home and use a quad-cane when I leave my home. I'm at the point where I'm looking at rollators to buy, and use in my home also, as I've taken several falls...,not my idea of a good time! I also keep an Access Active Rollator in my SUV for pleasure walking. It's a bit heavy, so probably not good to try to use in the house. You may want to try a lightweight rollator in your home. Also, I have a set of trekking poles and those may be helpful for you. Others suggestions are great! My best to you..., ;o)

[sylviagreenhalgh]

I use a zimmer frame - I have one upstairs and downstairs I have a trolley that I push about. I have bought a lightweight frame with wheels that folds up so I can put it on the back seat of the car- it is fine for getting round shops. hospital but not for heavy duty- until I got it I was stuck indoors as |I was nervous of going out on my own but now I am fine. the DVLA is assessing me on whether I can continue to drive as I was told if you have ataxia you have to declare it to the DVLA and also tell your car insurance company. I have got a lot worse in the last year and the cards from ataxia co.uk are brilliant as it is easier to give them to people than do a great long explanation. I have shown the DVD to my friends and family about late onset ataxia which is a good way of explaining the condition.It took me 4 years to be diagnosed but now I have an excellent neuro who is really supportive

[klazien]

I tried a wheelchair at home and found it too cumbersome to wheel over the carpet and around furniture so as long as I can still stand on my legs I am only using the wheelchair outside. Mine is a light one and I have attached all the loose parts to it with tie wraps so that nothing gets lost on an aeroplane. Walking even a short distance with crutches is too tiring but at home the distances are very small so that’s o.k. It seems to me that elbow crutches are better than a rollator because with a rollator you can still fall sideways.

[Marygate]

Hi, I have 2 small electric wheelchairs - shop ride Vienna - one for upstairs and one for down. They are igreat for house but they don't do steps I have ramps. It has 2 batteries, it folds down and is quite easy to get in the car - as long as you have someone to help. I also use mine in the supermarket. It's no good one even ground

Good. Luck and hope you get sorted