Are MS mobility difficulties getting you down?

Yes, you tell us that changes to your walking and mobility get to you more than other MS symptom. 

So, how can we help?  

We know we can’t take all the frustration away, but we can share some ideas that may make a difference.

Exercise boosts those feelgood endorphins, but when you have mobility issues you may find yourself doing less physically. This can lead to muscles getting weaker over time, known as deconditioning, making it harder to move around and leaving you less able to do the fun things you enjoy.  

Physiotherapists play a vital role in keeping you moving with MS, and it’s worth involving them early, really from the moment you experience sensory changes like numbness. They can help you get back some of your muscle strength even if your MS has progressed.  

If you haven’t been exercising, a seated exercise class is a good place to start. Arm exercises strengthen your trunk and core muscles, helping you stand without the need to hold on to things.

MS increases the risk of falling and can leave your confidence dwindling. This may be all too real if you are recovering from a fall, but for some, the fear takes hold even without one.  

Perversely, this can lead you to curb activities which makes your muscles weaker and therefore more likely to fall. The less you move the stiffer you become and the more demotivated. 

So how can you tackle this? Try out some of our suggestions to reduce your fear of falling. 

Feeling judged in the street when your legs go weak or you stumble? It’s something we hear a lot, and this can really affect your confidence.  

When we spoke to journalist Richard Sprenger, he told us his first walking aid gave him a bit of a boost:

I can’t really hide the fact that I’ve got something up with me and actually once I got a [walking] stick… it was kind of like, ‘Ok, that guy is not drunk in the middle of the day,’ so that made me feel slightly more confident I suppose in a strange way.

But it can take time to adjust, many of you feel too young to be thinking about mobility aids right now and may delay getting them. Some have shared how emotional each new mobility aid has made you. Blogger Emily told us how she went through a process of acceptance. She worried what people would think of her if she moved onto a wheelchair but found she needed to adapt for her own sake:

It was getting to the point where I didn’t enjoy family days out… so, I went to my MS nurse, and she said: ‘Well let’s get the ball rolling on a wheelchair’ and the relief when she said that… it transformed my life.  

Once you're physically able to join in more social activities, it’s likely you’ll feel more positive about things generally. Your family and friends will love being able to do things together again and you'll enjoy the freedom.   

There’s a huge range of mobility aids out there including those available on the NHS. If you want to make a statement – and are in a position to purchase your own mobility aid – you could go bold! Walking sticks come in all sorts of wacky designs and colours as well as off-road scooters and wheelchairs that let your personality and sense of adventure shine through.   

Here's some practical suggestions to enable you.  

• A collapsible Nordic-style walking pole can be a good first step – you can pop it in a bag for when you need it. 
• If you find yourself often holding onto things, then a sturdier walking stick will give you the support you need. Look for ones with comfortable handles – a moulded handle is a good option here. 
• Using two sticks? Then a rollator is safer bet. These come with three or four wheels, and some have seats, trays and baskets – the three wheelers are easier for tighter turns. It’s worth listening to physiotherapist Jody Barber explain how to use rollators correctly. 
• Need an occasional-use wheelchair or powered mobility scooter? You have lots of borrowing or rental options like Shopmobility. This is a great way to enjoy longer shopping trips or days out at a National Trust house or a city break abroad… It can also help you get a feel for using a wheelchair if you’re at that stage where it could make a real difference to your life.  
• Feel like you are losing your independence? Get the higher level of PIP mobility or Adult Disability Payment? You could take a look at Motability, a scheme that leases accessible cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs.  
• Listen to our podcast on mobility problems and aids in MS. 

We know that some of you may find your mobility can scupper social plans – there are steps and tight doorways to navigate. This can make some home visits impossible, so staying connected with friends is key.  

• Try to keep in touch with chat apps, social media or video calls.
• Suggest meeting somewhere that’s that geared up for wheelchair access or invite them over to yours. 
• Tell friends that you won’t be able to join every time, but you’d like to get the invites all the same. This gives you the chance to suggest another activity next time that works better for you.  
• Embrace those new friendships too that come from MS forums or new hobbies you’ve taken up.

For MS Awareness Week (24-30 April), we are teaming up with six other multiple sclerosis charities to shine the spotlight on MS and mental health. Want to get involved? Take part in our #MSMakesMe social media campaign about your emotions – good and bad.   

• dealing with anxiety and MS 
• coping with depression and MS 
• walking difficulties and MS 
• falls and MS.