#ambulatory crutch user

[zebulontheplanet]

People take the word ambulatory wheelchair user, and say it means exclusively part time wheelchair users and run with it.

I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user. But I’m not a part time wheelchair user. I use my wheelchair EVERY SINGLE day. That means that I’m not a part time wheelchair user, because I use it more than part time. A lot more than part time.

There seems to be this new rhetoric, that ambulatory = part time. And for most, this isn’t the case. Ambulatory does not mean part time, it simply means that you can walk.

I can walk around my room unassisted by any mobility aids. I cannot walk to the lunch room which is literally up the hall without a mobility aid. I’m almost a full time crutch user, and I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user.

I am not a part time mobility aid user, and I hate that people have come to the “agreement” that ambulatory means part time, when that is quite literally, not true.

[the-kneecap-god]

The hardest thing about using a cane or crutches as ambulatory is that no one believes you actually need them. Like...

I rocked up to where I work the other night (a gas station) to get some scratchers and I had my crutches because I was off work and a regular I know saw me and went "ooh what happened?" To which I told him that I need the crutches as ambulatory since im in a near constant level of pain and he went "oh so nothing? Hope you get better." And I just- my coworkers have seen my cane and crutches enough that they don't comment on it but..

Acting like I'm completely able is exhausting and painful but I do it because it's what's expected of me. And it makes it so hard to actually use aids I need because then no one believes I actually need them.

It makes it so much worse then when I can't even actually use aids on really bad pain days at work because I just KNOW that if I do my manager is going to start treating me like I'm a piece of glass who needs coddling and he won't trust me to do anything anymore.

I need to stop now otherwise I could probably rant about disability and ablism and stuff for like ages. This post would get way too long...

[pinkdovess]

this meme is so niche

[justabunny]

unpopular opinion but mobility aids shouldn't cost so much !!

[cr-pplepunx]

if youre considering using a mobility aid, youre probably thinking about getting a cane. even if it seems like youre issues arent bad enough, you should probably still consider other mobility aids. please look into the pros and cons of several different mobility aids, especially in conjunction with your specific disability/diagnosis/needs.

i got a cane at first because i thought my issues were "mild" and therefore i needed a "mild" mobility aid. but canes are moreso for stability than support. i damaged my wrist and worsened my scoliosis by deciding to use a cane without an educated opinion.

i now use forearm crutches primarily, a rollator for longer outings, and a wheelchair for worse days and longer events. dont make the same mistake as 16-year-old me. dont choose your mobility aid based on palatability, consider your needs and address your internalized ableism if need be.

[moonhibs]

Au where Julian is a child of divorce

[chronicallycouchbound]

As someone who uses a cane, crutches, rollator, wheechair, and powerchair— I’m here to let you know:

If using a mobility aid helps you, you’re allowed to use it!

If it doesn’t help you, or you don’t end up needing it, donate it back to the community! No harm no foul!

[sebs-out-of-spoons]

I GOT MY MOBILITY AIDS TODAY AND IM SO HAPPY !!!!

[sunnycanwrite]

Mobility aids aren't props for your cosplay.

If you don't know I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user, a cane and forearm crutch user. I am also a passionate cosplayer, the cosplayer ambassador for a 3rd printer, a panelist, and convention volunteer. But most of all I'm against abled bodied cosplayers buying mobility aids for cosplay.

Another wheelchair user I know ran into a cosplayer who bought a very nice used wheelchair just for a cosplay. One that someone like me could be using instead. I went to a con in my wheelchair a few months ago, and there was an able bodied cosplayer, using a wheelchair as a prop. It looked nothing like an actual usable chair. I was to say to say anything, but got asked throughout the day if my wheelchair was a prop.

Don't cosplay a disabled character, and buy mobility aids that people who need could use. It's not funny, it makes you look like an asshole. There's a lot of passionate disabled cosplayers who gev told they aren't in character due to their mobility aids.

[arctic-hands]

Protip: if you're using a cane or crutch or rollator and an abled starts giving you flak or making fun of you, you now have a weapon in your hands

[no-im-not-a-robot-stop-asking]

You guys know that an illness being rare varies from country to country, depending on how much people are specialized in it, how much doctors know about it, diagnose it... And that impacts how much ressources are available.

Also countries can have a different definition of rare, it's not because I write in English that US rules apply to my life.

I have elhers danlos hypermobile and pots and probably mcas or some immune shit. On Tumblr and TikTok? Sure I find loads of people with Elhers danlos and pots. It's even a huge part of the cpunk community and some people need to calm the fuck down and let people with other disabilities talk.

PoTS isn't even recognized as an illness or a disability in my fucking country.

And that's because it's rare as fuck.

If I had only POTS, the thing that prevents me from walking from late spring to early October, I wouldn't have access to accomodations. I wouldn't be able to pay for my cardio's appointments. I wouldn't be accepted in physical therapy.

[talkethtothehandeth]

Disabled cuties, I need some help about mobility aids again pleaseee. Any advice and shared experiences are welcome, I really am unfamiliar with walking aids other than a regular rolling walker.

I wanted to get something for some extra support on the days that aren't “that bad” and I was thinking a regular offset cane but I worry about having all of that pressure on just my wrists since they're very hypermobile

So l'm leaning more toward forearm crutches that way it'll add more stability to my arm instead of all of the pressure hitting my wrist. I’m also more likely to hyperextend while using an offset cane because of it being straight up and down.

If you (or someone you know) have had experience using a cane or forearm crutches and also have EDS/arthritis/generalized joint pain that affects your arm joints can you please tell me if a cane was too much pressure for your joints and also if a forearm crutch offered more relief for your arm joints.

This is the type of cane I would get because the comfort grip is much better than a plastic handle (I tested it out in the store and it didn't really hurt but I only used it for a bit). I'd need one that isn't collapsible so that way it offers more support without the worry of it giving out. I’m nowhere near the weight limit but it would just give me more peace of mind that I’m not gonna crumple with one wrong step.

And these are the types of crutches I would get. They're height adjustable and not collapsible either for maximum stability and the handles are meant to be ergonomic but I would just add a padding over it to be safer.

I don’t know if I would keep both crutches just because my left side is the more messed up side of my body and I probably wouldn’t need both of them. And I would of course paint them the same color as my chair since it’s my favorite color.

[saym0-0]

hi count fwhip's red scarf was heavily enchanted with blast protection, like, one of the strongest survival player-made enchantments recorded on fabric and gem made it as a gift. in the rapture explosion he brought it up to cover his head and neck which is what saved him from permanent scarring and disfigurement around his head and neck. :3. the rest of his body, as you may know from my other posts/art was not so lucky (scarring nearly everywhere, esp on the right side of his body and lower right leg blasted to bits/amputated :p)

[justabunny]

I'm not gonna spend my life being in excruciating pain just because someone thinks I'm being dramatic for wanting to use a medical device that will help my quality of life.

[fishgeraldthealmostincel]

hits your favorite character with my disability beam

[tumble-tv]

When I was at camp I used a camp-issued wheelchair because there's a shit ton of hills and walking involved. You'd think that after working at a camp filled with kids with physical disabilities and wheelchairs they'd be used to seeing kids pop wheelies when they're bored, right?

NOPE. BECAUSE EVERY TIME I DID THEY FLIPPED OUT THINKING I WAS GOING TO FALL. I PROMISE I HAVE A TON OF CORE STRENGTH TO DO THIS. I WONT FALL.