Multiple Sclerosis Doesn’t Always Lead To A Wheelchair … And Moderation Helps Make It So!

I know this to be true, because in all of my years since being diagnosed with the chronic illness, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the only times I’ve needed a wheel chair are very early on. Once when visiting the Adelaide Zoo and not wanting to slow everyone down too much, and more recently, when I broke my ankle.

These days, there is certainly no need for a wheelchair for me, I can easily do all of the walking I want or need to do. I may get more tired that other people, but given my age (nearly 59), that’s not that surprising.

Along the road I live on … (writer’s photograph)

If I want to, I can walk along that road, briskly even if needed … I’ve had a support worker who gave me ideas and exercises to encourage me to keep mobile. I saw her for some time, once a week, and she also has MS, and she certainly walks quite, quite briskly. This woman is also runs physio classes at a well known swimming pool, so she certainly never needs a wheelchair.

This chronic illness can be quite debilitating though and there’s not really any way to gauge how each person with it may be affected. I have my ideas, but have no proof about those ideas. But I do feel if I continue doing what I feel works for me, well, time will give me the proof of that.