Mobility Aids
Why are mobility aids important?
- Often, peripheral neuropathy can impact the feet and the legs in varying degrees of severity
- Some might need to be in a wheelchair all or most of the time, others might only need a wheelchair for certain situations that aggravate their PN
- Other mobility aids for those who don’t need a wheelchair include canes, crutches, and hiking poles
- These are sometimes available in foldable varieties to make travel easier
- It is important to use mobility aids if you need them — falling can worsen already existing PN, and it is crucial to prevent it by whatever means work best for you
Our Members Suggest
- “I use hiking poles for balance, stability, and to help with a better understanding of the ground I’m walking on when my feet go numb. I have a hard time standing for long periods of time, though, so when I need to, I use a wheelchair.” – Diva Parekh
- Brenda Cheadle finds resources for fellow PN sufferers who want to continue driving despite foot numbness and pain: click here to search for a driving rehabilitation provider in your area.
- Someone in the Pittsburgh group said that in Pennsylvania, applying for automotive hand controls can have a downside. If you apply for a operator’s license, you are identifying yourself as a disabled person. If you fail to complete your training, your driver’s license can be taken away altogether.
Articles
If you want to learn more, click on the links below that we used to get our information.
- 5 helpful devices for peripheral neuropathy (WinSanTor)
- Assistive devices (Foundation for PN)
- How to obtain a new driver’s license with hand controls
- Ten ways to make your home more accessible
- Hand controls (Disability Driving Instructors)
- Laws relating to automobile hand controls
- How to obtain a hand control driver’s license
- How much does it cost to equip your can with automatic hand controls
Webinars/Videos
Here are some useful webinars and presentations about how mobility aids can help with PN.
Stories
Read personal stories about people’s experiences with mobility aids for PN.
Podcasts
Here are some useful podcasts we have come across.
These are resources we’ve compiled from our members. We hope you can learn something from them. Keep in mind that this is mostly anecdotal information on what has and has not worked for our members, and PNSN is not endorsing any specific products. You should always defer to your doctors for medical advice.
– The Peripheral Neuropathy Support Network