Sorting out confusion about assistive devices - Don't let someone else pick your assistive device - Personal - http://maxpages.com/happymspage/Sorting_out_assistive

NEW ITEM -- Real improvement to crutches!!! April 7 2003 The new Keen Navigator crutches they are something!. I got my pair on Friday via UPS.I was so happy and ready to try them out that day.I did and found better support than from my usual forearm crutches.
Less fatigue and even more lively step in my gait.
The next two days I incresed my walk to longer distances with also the same results,and not near as much fatigue as I might have expected on my old forearm crutches. these crutches ( Keen Crutches) have shockabsorbers that really work and make your walking much easier. I really can't say a enough good about these new crutches.I now look forward to taking walks as pain is gone or less,walking is more supportive and
easier,less tiring and still have ambition left after the walk.
Richard

Too often the Expert " picks the device for you. I'm for trial of the devices.
It was once suggested by my doctor that I would get about better with a wheeled walker
.I tried both the three wheeler and the four wheeler. The four wheeler was nice and
had a seat.Both had a place for stuff in a bag.
Neither one was going to cost me any thing as medicare would pay the whole bill.

I give them both a fair trial from the dealer.I tried both models for two weeks.
Dealers will usually do things like this as they are egar for sales.Also they don't want you going somewhere else to get it.

The dealer was a little surprised when I returned the secon one and said I would
rather continue using my crutches.
Why did I consider the crutches better? they take up less space in the car,or at restaurants,or in airplains.The walers were just awkard in general.

Were they ok for walking? yes and no. My test of a device such as a walker is the distance I could travel without either falling or becoming excessively fatigued.
Personally I become fatigued quicker using even the four wheelded walker than with
my crutches.
The crutches will give you leverage of the arms to suppliment the weak legs.
I didn't feel the walker did that for me.It was just something to hold on to to
keep from falling.It still required my legs to do it all.
In addition to the crutches I had by this time in the game been using the crutches for over 12 years and the addition of AFO braces then for about 10 years .The two in combination were working nicely for me.
My doctor also knew they were even as he suggested the trying out the wheeled walkers.
I usually believe in researching all my devices and then asking him to write me a script to get them.

Suggestion by me to the doctor is usually welcome by him.He realizes I'm the one who will live with it daily and monthy and then year after year.
One day I came into his office on my usual appointment and asked him for a different
set of braces to replace the plastics which wer then 10 years old and too hot.
He asked me what style I wanted .I said I wanted the metal and leather ones as they had the least amount of surface area to my skin.

We discussed them a few moments .He was quick to point out the style I wanted would
require attachment of braces to shoes,and this would limit my choice of shoes.
I said yes I was aware of it but this being Florida the accumulation of heat was my main reason for wanting them.He then agreed that fighting off heat accumulation was a major factor in MS.
He wrote the script and called an orthosist for an appointment for me to see the man who would fit me with the set .

In the early days of my dx .My doctor in Akron saw me struggling with my cane and suggested the crutches. I took them on a promise of a two week trial.Naturally I
hated the addition of more equipment. But feeling more safe with them almost immediately and also being told by fellow MSer I seem to be getting about easier ,I was sold .
Disn't return the crutches ( they were the forarm variety.)

Although I longed to get back to the cane for simplicity I knew I really needed the full benefit of the crutches.I was also relieved when even my preacher said I
appeared mor rested and sure of myself.My wife was saying the same all along.
My walking distance was greatest with them over the cane too .

Eileen Lukeman and Richard Tanner

FL.

Eileen(Lobosgirl) and Richard (RET1000) both at aol.com

Visitors: 01752

Page Updated Mon Mar 9, 2009 11:28am EST