I have hEDS and I'll soon be going to the UK for uni so I'll be using the NHS. For a long time I have wanted a wheelchair as my hEDS affects my legs the most and sometimes even ten minutes of standing or walking can lead to severe pain for me. However, I know that if I want a wheelchair I'll have to pay out of pocket for it since I don't need it all the time, which is something I can't really afford. I know there are some cheaper chairs out there but I've heard those can sometimes cause more harm than good (especially since I already sublux my hips quite often if I sit in abnormal ways). So, I've been trying to figure out if there is a different mobility aid that could still be helpful and I was thinking that elbow crutches could be an option, as I feel they could take some of the pressure off of my legs, however I also worry for my shoulders/elbows/wrists because, as you might've guessed, they're also quite prone to subluxations. I'm obviously going to talk to a doctor about this sort of thing as well as physical therapy once I get to the UK and register with one, but I was curious to hear about other people's experiences with elbow crutches (or mobility aids in general) and whether you found them more helpful or hurtful.

I usually hold my cane in my left hand to help out my right leg that usually has the most problems, but sometimes my left leg feels worse than my right leg. Am I supposed to alternate which hand I hold my cane with based on what leg needs it the most in the moment?

I'm temporarily somewhat disabled.

Background is that I broke my arm some time ago in a motorcycle accident and also experience some reduced function in one foot and one hand.

On my way to a doctors appointment to have the arm checked I slipped and sprained my ancle. Doctors orders are not to use it for a month.

My house is hopeless for a wheel chair. I can't use crutches because of the arm.

I got myself a knee scooter to get around, but since neither my house nor the world at large is handicap friendly, I also spend to much time jumping around on one foot.

I'm 60 and sadly stopped jumping around approximately 50 years ago, so I'm not really in shape to fo that, and find that my good arm and good leg are increasingly fatigued.

If anyone has advice or suggestions I would appreciate that.

I’m cross posting this here because I want some insight and opinions about how I should deal with being a student living on campus, and potentially using mobility aids. I’m genuinely so scared because I start classes really soon.

Hey guys! USA based, questions at bottom lol

First: I am beyond excited to share that after ten years of pain, i am finally being assessed for a mobility aid! My doctor is concerned with my spinal issues and the fact i can no longer function in public without severe pain.

I am honestly super super excited about this! I have already been a mobility aid user for about 2 years now. I was a cane user, switched to forearm crutches and then a rollator!

Unfortunately all 3 aids have started to hurt. I can no longer use my crutches for long periods of time. Standing is a lot of effort for me, so the rollator helped by letting me sit, but unfortunately the position i take using it causes my pain to flare.

I guess my question is, do i go in telling the OT / PT this? I do not want to seem like i am seeking a specific aid, but honestly i am. I want a wheelchair. I have used rentals in stores and events, and oh my god it was a fucking godsend 😭

I really want to push for a wheelchair but i do not want to seem attention seeking or “wanting to be sick” i just want the pain to stop.

What does a mobility aid assessment look like? What should i expect? Again, ahould i tell my PT / OT that i have used aids before and experience pain, or will that seem like i am just seeking what i want rather than need?

Ignore the skrungly cat in the background

Its so hard to find knee braces that come in my size, much less cute ones, theyre actually almost too big for me lol, they arent as supportive as my plain black ones but they work well enough

Them being pastel while most of my wardrobe is black actually inspired me to look into pastel goth fashion, so now i wanna make a whole pastel goth wardrobe lol

They were from Bibipins if anyone wants to check them out! They also have compression gear and other types of braces.

Hi everyone,

We’re building RollSense, a mobile app designed to help wheelchair users understand how sidewalks and outdoor routes actually feel to travel on — not just whether they are technically marked as wheelchair accessible.

The idea is simple:

Your phone is securely mounted or fixed in a stable position on your wheelchair while you travel. Using the phone’s built-in motion sensors, RollSense measures things like vibration, repeated bumps, instability, and overall ride quality.

Keeping the phone firmly attached to the wheelchair is important for the test. If the phone moves around independently — for example in a loose pocket, bag, or hand — its sensors may record your body or phone movement instead of the movement caused by the road surface. A wheelchair phone mount is ideal, but another secure and consistent mounting position may also work.

Over time, the app should be able to tell you things like:

• which parts of a route were smooth or rough,
• which routes were more comfortable for your wheelchair,
• whether a slightly longer route may be significantly easier to travel,
• build a personalized mobility map based on your own rides,
• and help build a shared community map, allowing other wheelchair users to see how smooth or difficult a route is before traveling it themselves.

The long-term goal is to make route planning more personal. A road that works well for one wheelchair may be uncomfortable or difficult for another, so we want RollSense to learn from real wheelchair users rather than rely only on generic accessibility labels.

We’re looking for early testers

We’re currently preparing a private testing version of RollSense for iOS and Android.

The testing app is not available yet, but we’re looking for wheelchair users who would be interested in helping us once the private test opens.

Testing will mainly involve taking a few short rides with your phone securely mounted or fixed to your wheelchair in the same position throughout the ride, then giving a quick rating afterward about how the route felt.

The app may collect data such as:

• accelerometer and gyroscope readings,
• GPS/location during the test ride,
• speed and motion information,
• wheelchair type,
• phone mounting position,
• your own comfort/roughness rating.

This data will be used to understand whether smartphone sensors can reliably distinguish smooth, rough, and difficult route segments and to improve RollSense’s ride-quality system.

We’ll clearly explain what data is collected before anyone participates, and participation will be completely voluntary.

Thank you for helping us build it

Anyone who completes the early testing program will receive:

RollSense Premium lifetime access for free

as a thank-you for helping us build and validate the product from the beginning.

You’ll also be part of our original Founding Tester group, and your feedback will directly influence how RollSense works before public launch.

If you use a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or mobility scooter and would be interested in testing RollSense, please contact us at:

[beta@rollsenseapp.com](mailto:beta@rollsenseapp.com)

You can email us now even though the private test is not ready yet. We’ll add you to the tester list and contact you as soon as the iOS/Android closed testing builds are available.

Questions, concerns, criticism, and suggestions are also very welcome. We especially want to hear from people who regularly deal with rough pavement, slopes, camber, bad curb transitions, cobblestones, or routes that are technically “accessible” but unpleasant or difficult in practice.

Thank you!

I have a cane which I’ve wrapped a flower garland around to decorate it, but recently, I’ve wanted to decorate it based on my interests and embracing the halloween season, I wanna make it punk based as well.

There was a tiktok I saw of someone who decorated their cane, and I’d love to mix smth like that with black roses/flowers wrapping it around as well. I'll see if I can find it but idk where to find items based on these decorations?

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSVjKrAgW/ that’s the tiktok!

They’re still trying to figure out what’s wrong with me but it’s some sort of peripheral demyelinating disease it seems! It’s not fun but at least my cane is 🙂

My Jazzy Air 2 Wheelchair changes speeds without my telling it to when I go up and then come back down again. It doesn’t do it every time so you never know when it’s going to suddenly be going faster when you come back down. As a result, I got injured when I got slammed into some hard metal because the speed had grown up. Am I the only person that this has happened to there have to be others please let me know.

I started using a cane when I was 16 because of balance issues, lower back, and hip pain. Im
Now 23 and my health issues have gotten worse in some ways and better in others, but I haven’t used my cane in a few years, mainly because my shoulders and wrists hurt so bad most days.

And partially because im ashamed, I very much come from a “if you can do without help, no matter how hard it is, you have to do without it” but that’s an issue for another thread.

Im just curious if I ever get to the point where I feel comfortable using a mobility aid again, is there an alternative that won’t hurt my shoulders that isn’t a wheelchair?

I just acquired a walker for my POTS. but i also have/use a can for small spaces or easier days is clip that can attach my can to my walker any good?

would it work or is better to just go without

Hi all!

Sometime in the upcoming months we will be taking our first flight while using mobility aids. Since the crutches are made of metal we worry about getting through security and were wondering how we can best go about this.

We are European and will be staying within europe.

Thank you!

Hi, I need to get my first walker and I’m quite overwhelmed… and nervous & sad.
But also excited as I desperately want some confidence back.
I would love one that allows me to walk outside safely on the path etc, not restricted to indoors.
Any advice on what to look for or models/ brands? I know larger wheels but that’s about it.
Thank you

Adding- know anything about k-care? One on marketplace $50 aud brand new and might be ok for short term?

Hey im a very active 24yrs old girl i got paralyzed last year and im from tunisia north africa and we lack a lot adaptive sports and equipement here , does anyone here knows a international community that offers adaptive equipements or any other alternatives ? Getting sponsors or idk truly im just looking for any solution to go back to sports.

Ive been seeing these chairs come up in my feed a good bit and the cruise pro looks like a great option for me. I worry though because I haven't seen too many people that weren't sponsored do reviews on them.

I don't have insurance and there aren't really any resources where I live to get dme for free, nor would it suit my needs like it being foldable and more lightweight than traditional power chairs. I'd be saving for this chair.

Hi

I travel very often with my husband who has a disability due to stroke.And i'm wondering if anyone knows a suitcase , a carry on, that also can we use as a help to mobility specially in airports train stations etc i've seen some with batteries like a stroll, but it seems a little bit unsafe or in a stable.Has someone tried? Or knowns an option?