No one needed to tell me that fibromyalgia would slow me down, but a heads up about how severely my mobility would be impacted could have made my life a lot easier when the time came.
*Disclosure: I am NOT a medical professional and am NOT issuing medical advice. Everything stated is my own experience and personal opinions. This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links.
Fibromyalgia and Mobility
Living with fibromyalgia often costs us our ability to get around without assistance.
Whether it be from lack of energy, muscle weakness, nerve pain, joint pain, or one of the many other life interfering symptoms, there will come a time when using a mobility aid becomes a necessity.
I was a few years in before I needed a mobility aid of any kind on a daily basis. One reason for that was because I had my daughter’s stroller to help me with balance.
When using a mobility aid became necessary, I was unprepared both emotionally and financially.
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Being that I was in my thirties, it was both heartbreaking and humiliating to require the use of a rollator. Of course, back then walkers were not as attractive or functional as they are now.
However, having to learn how to ignore rude comments and judgmental glares/stares was just the tip of the iceberg. I had to accept that the use of a mobility aid wasn’t a punishment, but instead a gift to allow me to keep my independence. Click here to learn how accepting this improved my chronic life.
I also had to learn and accept that I needed different mobility aids to cover the varying degrees of my disability.
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I had a rollator for days when I could walk and a wheelchair for when I couldn’t. Recently I purchased a mobility aid that allows me to walk when I want and to be pushed when I need it. Click here to read my review to see if it could help you.
If you are newly diagnosed or haven’t reached the stage of needing a mobility aid, prepare now! Check with your insurance policy and see if they cover the cost of one and if so, how much. In addition, find out what hoops you will have to jump through to get it covered.
There are ways to acquire a mobility aid without going broke if your insurance won’t cover one. Check with your local church or thrift store, make payments with Amazon‘s payment plan, ask friends and family to donate towards one, offer a service such as pet or house sitting to earn the money.
Choosing a mobility aid to fit your needs and lifestyle!
When it comes to dealing with the loss of mobility, keep this in mind: A mobility aid may not be the coolest or hippest accessory, but it is a heck of a lot better than being stuck in bed because you pushed too hard or injured yourself.
What to expect
- Stares
- Rude comments
- Your diagnosis to be made fun of and doubted
- Spending money on the purchase and upkeep of mobility aids
- Freedom to get where you need to with less pain
- The ability to do more with less pain
The Rest of the Story
The cost of living with fibromyalgia goes beyond finances. Nothing I read at the time of my diagnosis could have prepared me for the high cost of living with fibromyalgia. That is why I wrote this article.
Click below to read the rest of the series
