forearm crutches, going for it!

ok, they have been ordered and should arrive tuesday.

A few weeks ago I had given in to the weakenss and imbalance of my body and decided for the first time in quite a while, that I needed to use my trekking poles to walk because I didn’t want to stay home. What a revelation!

Using the poles again, I found more effiency of movement, less swaying from side to side, and tipping, and more leg strength and stride length. The only 2 down sides were lower arm and wrist fatigue from holding the poles with my elbow bend, and what to do with the darn things when I needed to pick something up from a shelf in a store, or use my hands in any other way.

Later in the day, I headed off to my physical therapy appointment, and asked the therapist for input. My walking was evaluated with and without the poles. Low and behold, the therapist agreed that walking with assistance is a stronger pattern for me right now.

My physical therapist kindly reminded me of all the other activities I have done in my past prior to my Dx of cidp that build strength and balance like yoga, tia chi, swimming, skiing, running, biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. She lamented with me over the decrease in my activity list, due to the disease.

Then she suggested that using forearm crutches on a regular basis, not just when I’m feeling weaker, or tippier would be a good way to get back some stride length and balance by training my brain, and repatterning nerve and muscle areas in my periphery.

So, I am going to try the idea. This is a huge leap for me and means giving up pride to be seen as someone who always uses crutches. Not that I have ever thought anyone else using any kind of an assistive revise weaker than me… I’ve alway held a double standard for myself. I am taking this leap to get more freedom and strength in my life. I have other thing that I want to do besides sitting around cuz “I can’t”. It’s time for me to try a few more “I can’s!”