Wheelchair

Summerjune15

I use a wheelchair but I can walk I have had a few nasty looks when people see me move my leg when I’m in my wheelchair I don’t use my wheelchair 24/7 I use crutches too but I’ve had a few nasty looks when someone sees me moving my leg I use my wheelchair for different reasons mostly because I have temporary paralysis in my legs or arms due to my FND the other reason is I have seizures everyday and after a seizure sometimes I will have my legs or my arms temporary paralysed but sometimes their is no cause for the paralysis the last reason is when I have a seizure in my wheelchair I’m safe and I can’t get hurt plus it’s less scary for the public and less likely to cause a scene where as last time I was out on crutches I had a seizure and fell backwards and hurt my head and arms and it caused a massive scene I came around with loads of people around me and then I went into a panic attack so my wheelchair is the best option and the safest especially when I have temporary paralysis so can people stop giving me evils for moving my leg in the wheelchair thanks

Sian321

Hi @Summerjune15 , how are you? Thank you very much for making this post.

I can imagine it might feel really hard to recieve nasty looks from passersby when you're using your wheelchair and you move your legs. It sounds like you might feel judged in those moments - is that right? And I can imagine that feeling really frustrating when people arn't aware of the full picture of your situation and they're making false assumptions.

What I'm hearing is that your chair can help you keep safe if and when you experience a siezure or temporary paralysis, and also emotionally, it can be a real source of security too. That sounds really important, SummerJune, and you deserve to be able to use your chair however and whenever you need without being scruitinised by anyone else. You are 100% valid.

What you described about having a siezure which then led you to fall backwards and hurt your head sounds extreamly overwhelming, and I can hear just how panic-inducing it felt to have everyone swarm around you. That sounds like it might have been very frightening for you. How did that impact you emotionally? What have things been feeling like since?

Thank you again for trusting us with this, SummerJune. You're doing really well to talk about it.

Summerjune15

@Sian321 Hey I’m good thank you it is hard and I get upset because I feel like I owe them a explanation and I’m worried about what they are thinking and yes my chair does keep me safe I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a seizure on crutches and have hurt myself especially my arms as I don’t have time to take the crutches off and sit down I only get warning signs a few seconds before the seizure starts most of the time I don’t even know when I’m going to have one I could be having a conversation and just drop to the floor and It was horrible to wake up on the pavement with people swarming around me as it takes me a bit of time to come back around after a seizure and I have seen such a difference to people reacting to me having a seizure in my wheelchair no panics and it’s a-lot better this way not just for me but for others to because I bet it’s really scary for them to witness it I would be terrified when I saw the videos on my mums phone of me having a seizure (she was recording them for the neurologist) it was scary so me being in a wheelchair is safe for me and it’s better for the others around me

sinead276

Like Sian has said, i can imagine its hard to feel judged by people either way when you're using your wheelchair for your condition. but as you put it yourself, using it is the safest option for you incase a seizure comes up on you without any warning. at the end of the day your safety is the main priority and if that comes in the form of a wheelchair then rock it!!! you've got nothing to feel ashamed or guilty about.

hope you're doing okay today
sending hugs
Sinead