My Mobility Has Changed Because of COPD

It’s tough to know when it’s time for a cane or wheelchair. Here’s how I made my choice and how it‘s helped.

I saw Michael J. Fox on television recently. I was so relieved to see him in a wheelchair. That statement may seem shocking, but not for the reason you may think.

Of course, I wish he didn’t have Parkinson’s disease and was in much better shape. It was good to see him use a wheelchair because every other time I’ve seen him lately, he’s needed more people holding on to him while he walks. Plus, he’s had major broken bones from falling.

It’s tough to make the decision to use an assisted device. I know well. I’m the same age as Michael J. Fox, and you won’t ever hear me say that I can’t walk on my own because of how old I am.

On the other hand, it can be more difficult to admit you need help because your chronic condition is getting worse. Beginning to use something to aid you in walking is admitting more than you may want to about your health.

Join the free COPD community!

Connect with thousands of members and find support through daily live chats, curated resources, and one-to-one messaging.

Sign up

Why I need an assisted device

When I “just had fibromyalgia,” I rarely used an assisted device. I put that in quotes because 25 years ago, no one understood the pain involved with the disease.

I also had frequent sprains and breaks (thank you, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) and back problems. Those were the times I used a cane. I wasn’t ready to admit my invisible illness kept me from walking some days, too.

It was about 10 years ago that I found out I had lupus, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Diagnoses of dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease followed. Thinking that people might not believe me was the last thing on my mind. No matter how much physical therapy and exercise I had, it was pretty impossible for me to walk a complete block.

First came the walker

I wasn’t really a cane person. I think they’re better for when your problems are more one-sided, like when I was recovering from surgery on my right ankle.

I always had issues on both sides of my body. I never really felt steady with the cane, so it quickly became something to help me for a few steps occasionally. The walker was my primary mode of transport for a long time.

I didn’t have much time between my ankle surgery and my first back surgery. I continued to use the walker as my autoimmune diseases were not under control, and COPD was taking my breath away.

It also took a while to find the right medication for me to get a little less out of breath. I ended up buying a walker with a seat so I could also have a place to sit anytime I was tired from walking.

The scooter opened up my life

I got by with the walker. I was able to move around some, but there were other things that I stopped doing. I couldn’t go to a museum, an amusement park, or a zoo, for example.

There was no way I could make my way around walking. If traveling through an airport, I needed to get a wheelchair to the plane, carrying my walker on my lap.

My mom purchased a used mobility scooter and left it at my house in Florida. There was a party at the clubhouse where I live. I had been driving there because the walk was too much.

I decided to use the scooter instead. I began taking it on road trips. I was going to museums, zoos, and other places I loved that I had avoided because I couldn’t walk.

When mom’s scooter finally gave out, I bought a newer one that would fold if I needed to get it into a car. I’ve taken it on a plane three times so far.

My new power chair

I bought a van with an automatic ramp 4 years ago so my mom and I could ride in it. I found it especially useful in the winter when I could bypass the chance I would slip on the ice by riding my scooter to the van, up the ramp, and into the vehicle.

There was no stepping on the ground. The only problem was that the lightweight scooter was not always steady.

Last year, an occupational therapist said it was time for me to consider getting a power wheelchair with custom modifications. It would be steadier on ramps and broken sidewalks, too. While I will always want to and try to walk, I had to admit this was the right thing to do.

It took nearly a year through Medicare for me to get my chair. The process is not easy, and you need a therapist and a doctor to provide evidence you need it because of a permanent or progressive condition.

I just got mine a few weeks ago. Having the power leg rise and the reclining back gives me even more ability to get out. It’s my moving recliner!

Takeaway

When people ask me why I’m using a wheelchair, I usually say there are multiple reasons. If they press me for more, I start rattling off all my illnesses. Somewhere in the conversation, I’ll always hear the phrase, “But you don’t look sick.”

I guess that counts for something.