Mobility aids

Hi . This is a great question and I know you are not alone in having this hand and arm issue in relation to using mobility devices. My wife, Kelly Mack (a contributor here), was diagnosed at age two, 46 years - before modern treatments, with the damage to show for it. She has used mobility devices most of her life, predominately a wheelchair since childhood. She does, however, walk short distances with devices. For around the house she has a four wheeled walker with padded forearm rests to help with exactly the hand and wrist problem you mention. A cane, at this point, doesn't provide her enough support, she knows that there are ones with forearm supports. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You may need to meet with an occupational or physical therapist to find the right one for you. Hopefully others will chime in with their thoughts (there are plenty of mentions of canes in the stories on the site, just not discussion of the types). Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)

Hi, ! I just want to echo what Richard shared. There are quite a few options for walkers that rely on putting weight in your forearms and they can vary in positioning, padding, and versatility. I saw an older woman using a really nice looking one at a local event in our downtown that looked quite comfortable. So, checking out the options online and then talking to an OT or PT might be the way to good. Fortunately, there are options out there!

Best, Erin, Team Member.