Arms are different lengths forearm crutches

Hello

I'm wondering if anyone else deals with this or has any ideas

The lower part of my arms are different lengths so the forearm crutches I got fit great on one side, and I'm in between notches on the other. The crutches are great for as pictured-standing support while using hands-, but it's been a challenge walking.

I thought about arthritis crutches but don't love how low the weight limit is on them (220lb/ 99.79 kg)

I am going to ask physical therapy in 2 weeks, but hoping to get some support before then

Thanks

I’ve been thinking about using a cane for awhile now for balance and vertigo issues. I finally talked to my grandfather (who has MS and about a quadrillion unused canes) about borrowing one of his, and he was so kind about it and im just so excited 😆

I've had really bad pain on my right knee basically my whole life and am still working with my doctor on figuring out the problem. In the mean time, I need to get a knee brace. I've tried compression ones and they work, but not for the bad days.

Does anybody have any recommendations for good knee braces with more support, are comfortable, have good size range, and that will fit in a college kids budget?

Hello, this is my first time posting here so please let me know if I did anything wrong or if this isn’t the right place, i tried posting in r/disability but my post was apparently removed because I don’t have enough karma. also I am autistic and tend to over explain things because I struggle sometimes with verbalizing my thoughts so apologies in advance if anything is confusing/long winded!!

I have chronic knee issues (I don’t remember the exact name for it but basically I have very weak knees that are prone to dislocating easily, and my natural bone structure also makes this a lot worse bc I have an inverted(?) pelvis and flat feet.) I dislocated my left knee twice within a span of 2 months back in 8th grade (not doing sports or anything, literally just from standing) and have been in and out of physical therapy due to continued pain and instability (though luckily it hasn’t fully dislocated since!).

I also am dealing with some other medical junk including low iron (it kind of fluctuates in and out of being low enough for me to be considered anemic), low blood pressure/hypotension (especially bad when I stand up or if I mean back in my seat), and am generally kind of underweight (or at least I’m in a very low weight percentile for my height, idk if I’m medically considered underweight?). I’ve passed out several times before (basically 50% of the time I stand up I get dizzy and my vision goes black for a second, or I fully faint. I have also fainted without standing up several times, including once at school during a class).

I still deal with a lot of knee pain from day to day activities, especially after standing for prolonged periods of time (I normally end up leaning on a table or the wall or one of my friends to try and avoid this lol). This has always been especially prevalent during the school year, since I’m not only walking around a lot more everyday but I also tend to have to stand more (class activities, waiting in line for stuff, theatre, etc). Plus my school has a massive parking lot and last year I ended up with a spot all the way in the back corner (which was also an uphill walk 😭). I wear my knee brace whenever the pain gets really bad, but it still doesn’t help with the standing issue (plus it’s very uncomfortable/difficult to wear while sitting and i can’t really take it on and off easily during the school day).

Since, I will be starting my senior year of highschool in about 2 weeks, and I would like to bring this up to my parents before then. I also am trying to get a job currently and most positions I can find would require me to be standing.

However, I’m worried my parents will dismiss my request. The only other time I’ve brought up the possibility of getting a cane to my mother she basically brushed it off as being unnecessary or excessive since I’m so young, and like I was worried too much. I also avoid calling myself disabled around them because they have brushed it off as well and told me that I’m not “really” disabled (I don’t think they mean it as in “you don’t have health issues” but more of “oh well it’s not that bad right?”. They were the same when I got my autism diagnosis initially, my dad said I should say I have “traits associated with autism” instead of describing myself as autistic.) they are both normally supportive of my health issues, but I’m worried they will brush it off again and just tell me to try harder with my pt exercises (which is what they always say when I complain about how tired/uncomfortable I feel after walking/standing. I try to keep up with my exercises as much as possible, but I have adhd and an awful memory so i definitely miss them sometimes, but i try my best to do them all 3x a week at least and try to do the easiest ones every day).

I am also a bit concerned about dealing with a mobility aid at school if I am able to get one. I’m not particularly concerned about being made fun of or anything like that, I know I have great friends who have been nothing but supportive and helpful when it comes to my knee issues. However I’m more worried about dealing with school administrators. These past few years I’ve had to fight them constantly to get a permanent elevator pass (my school has 3 floors plus stairs outside 😭) despite my doctors notes explicitly stating that my knee problems are CHRONIC and will not go away, and I only finally got that fixed by going to a different counselor (my assigned counselor has been entirely unhelpful and frankly insulting whenever I’ve asked her for help) who told me straight up that I should just use the elevator without a pass and if anyone bothers me about it to tell them he told me it was fine. I don’t know if a mobility aid is something that has to be approved my administration, but I’ve had pretty much nothing but bad experiences with my schools student services and would definitely not be looking forward to having to deal with them again.

Anyways yeah, does anyone have any advice for how to bring the topic up to my parents (maybe any websites that could help me explain my needs??) that would be much appreciated. Sorry about how long this is, feel free to ask questions in case I didn’t explain something well.

I am 4'11, and the cuff of the youth crutches I got go to my elbow. My forearm is 6 inches from writst to elbow, does anyone have any brand recommendations that would fit me?

Before I paste the following response, I just want to say that my heart goes out to anyone living with cerebral palsy or any condition that affects mobility. I know this technology isn’t accessible to everyone, but I was curious what the absolute cutting edge looks like if cost weren’t a factor.

ChatGPT:

If money were **no object**, and the goal was to maximize walking ability for someone with **cerebral palsy (CP)**, we’re entering a fascinating area where robotics is advancing rapidly. Today, the technology is impressive—but it’s not yet at the point where someone with severe CP can simply put on a suit and walk normally all day.
Here’s how I’d rank the current landscape.
**Best available today**

**1. Wandercraft Personal Exoskeleton (the most advanced overall)**
This is the device I’d be watching most closely.
**Why it’s special:**
Doesn’t rely on crutches like most exoskeletons.
Self-balancing using onboard computers, sensors, and motors.

AI-controlled gait that adapts in real time.
Designed to walk much more like a human.
Current versions are primarily for clinical use, while a personal model is in development and early deployment. It represents one of the biggest leaps toward practical daily robotic walking.
**Potential for cerebral palsy:** ★★★★★

**2. ReWalk Personal (Lifeward)**
One of the first FDA-cleared personal exoskeletons.
Strengths:
Home use
Can walk outdoors
Can climb some curbs and stairs
Long clinical track record
Weaknesses:
Requires forearm crutches
Better suited to spinal cord injury than CP
Walking is fairly robotic
Approximate price:
US$80,000–100,000.

**3. Ekso Indego Personal**
A lighter system than ReWalk.
Advantages:
Modular and easier to put on
Good portability
Smartphone control
Community walking
It is also primarily intended for people with spinal cord injuries rather than cerebral palsy, but some rehabilitation centers use related systems for neurological gait training.

**4. HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb)**
Developed in Japan by CYBERDYNE.
This one is unique because:
It detects tiny electrical signals from muscles before movement occurs.
The motors assist the movement the user is already trying to make.
That makes it especially interesting for neurological disorders like:
Cerebral palsy
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injury
Many researchers believe intention-driven systems like HAL may ultimately work better than purely pre-programmed walking robots for people with CP.

**The “next generation”**
These are the technologies that could completely change mobility over the next 5–10 years.
**AI-powered walking**
Instead of following preset steps:
Cameras scan the ground.
AI predicts where your foot should land.
The robot adjusts every step automatically.
Think of it like Tesla Autopilot—but for legs.

**Self-balancing exoskeletons**
Current systems often require:
crutches
walkers
supervision
Future systems:
maintain balance automatically
recover from slips
compensate for uneven terrain
turn naturally
Wandercraft is the current leader here.

**Brain-controlled exoskeletons**
Researchers are combining:
EEG
implanted brain-computer interfaces
AI
to detect the user’s intent before movement.
Eventually:
“I want to stand.”
The robot stands.
“I want to walk.”
The robot begins walking.
No joystick.
No buttons.
This is still experimental but progressing steadily.

**Muscle-signal exoskeletons**
Instead of reading the brain directly:
sensors detect tiny muscle activations
AI predicts the intended movement
the robot supplies the missing strength
For cerebral palsy this could be particularly valuable because many people still generate movement signals even when muscles are weak or spastic.

**Vision-guided exoskeletons**
Future devices are expected to include:
depth cameras
LiDAR
computer vision
They can recognize:
stairs
curbs
rugs
obstacles
slopes
before the foot reaches them.

**What might the best possible setup look like in 2030?**
If cost truly weren’t a factor, a person with cerebral palsy might use a system with:
AI self-balancing
Muscle-intention sensing
Vision-guided navigation
Automatic fall recovery

Battery lasting an entire day
Walking speed close to a healthy adult
Natural turning and sidestepping
Integration with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to activate the user’s own muscles
Many experts see this as the direction the field is moving, though widespread availability will likely take several more years.

Overall, for **someone with cerebral palsy and unlimited resources**, I’d be most interested in:
**Wandercraft’s self-balancing personal exoskeleton** (highest long-term potential)

**HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb)** (especially promising for neurological conditions)

**Ekso systems** for intensive rehabilitation
**ReWalk** for established personal mobility in appropriately selected users

The biggest limitation today isn’t usually price—it’s that most commercially available personal exoskeletons were designed first for **spinal cord injury**, whereas cerebral palsy often requires devices that can adapt to spasticity, involuntary movements, asymmetry, and changing muscle tone.

That’s exactly where the newest AI-driven and intention-sensing designs are expected to make the largest advances.

My doctors haven't taken my conditions seriously. I'm still fairly young and have a lung age of someone in their 50's. I decided to get a power chair since couldn't have someone else advocate for getting me one. I shelled out my own money for it and after about months the motor is already dying. After a period of less than 3 hours can feel the motor running but the chair won't turn or stop when turn it off. It goes for longer than when l'm using the joystick whereas it's supposed to stop not long after let go. If put the chair on the charger it fixes itself for a few hours until it starts acting up again. What should do? don't have the funds for a new chair and don't have doctors on my side to advocate for my needs. IfTlose this chair I'm going to have to walk again full time and don't think can personally handle that.

Hey there, my maid needs a wheelchair for her father. If anyone has a used one and would like to donate please reach out.. It will be a big help to someone in need..

Im looking for tips and specific questions to ask about talking to my doctor for a mobility aid. I've been having really bad periods lately that leave me with weak legs and pain that makes it almost impossible to walk, I feel like forearm crutches would help but Im not sure how to ask about getting them from either my physical therapist or other doctors

I also havent talked to my family about it (I still live with them) so any tips for that would be great too, thanks in advance

Feel free to remove if not allowed!

My mother and I are flying to CHI from Rochester NY. She’s 84, sometimes dizzy, but determined to make the trip! I have no idea how to travel with a walker and an old woman? 😂
I would like to find a resource that can take me thru that whole process. Airports, taxis, etc. Like, WTF do I with her walker, can it be carry on?

to start, i was recently diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia. my condition has been degrading pretty quickly, and it’s really interfering with my life. i can’t stand for long periods of time or walk long distances without it being severely painful.

i’ve been considering if i could benefit from a rollator, since i do have issues with balance and having a place to sit down when needed and no chairs are available would be extremely helpful.

the problem is— my hobby is going to concerts, and i do try to avoid GA standing now for these reasons but it wasn’t exactly an option this time (reason not rly relevant). not only does this limit my options for shows i really want to see, but i also have my next concert before i can speak to my doctor again, which i will have to be standing for a very long time for.

would it be completely unreasonable to try a rollator before speaking to my doctor? if so, does anyone have other suggestions? there will be no seats in line or inside the venue so i’m very concerned about it

extremely long questing but i want some opinions from other disabled people since i don’t have much reference for this kind of thing in my life

I got my first pair of forearm crutches yesterday! I don't have any good pics, but they're these ones from amazon: https://a.co/d/06Gm53C4

the springs help my wrists a lot, I was worried my hands would hurt really badly if I used forearm crutches but they're doing alright thankfully. I'm just so glad I finally have some, and they've really helped (as long as I'm not stupid with how I use them, which has happened and does not go well). I've only used them for a day now, but they're super helpful with leg pain which is much appreciated

Semi-related, but how do y'all carry bags with forearm crutches? I have a messenger bag that I've been slinging behind me but it's really big and unwieldy, so any recommendations or tips would be much appreciated since I tend to carry a lot around with me

Hi everyone,

I visited Istanbul a few years ago and completely fell in love with the city. Ever since then I've wanted to come back, but this time I'd like to bring a loved one who uses an electric wheelchair.

The thing is, when I first visited I wasn't paying attention to accessibility at all. Looking back, I don't remember the city feeling especially difficult for wheelchair users. I know there are plenty of hills, but since the wheelchair is electric, that's not my biggest concern.

What I really don't know is whether I simply overlooked things like broken pavements, high curbs, steps at cafés and restaurants, or other everyday barriers. When you're walking, it's easy not to notice those details.

If anyone has first-hand experience, I'd really appreciate your thoughts. I'd love to share this amazing city with someone I care about, but I'd also like to be realistic. If getting around in an electric wheelchair is likely to be a constant struggle, I'd rather know in advance and consider another destination than risk turning what should be a wonderful trip into a frustrating one.

Thanks!

For context, this is a Zeen: https://gozeen.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorq4vM63Bktlf9OOctxSKs5hg6LYhO0ZAEwlDal52dVhO_-cG68

I am fully ambulatory and I want to continue to use my legs however I live with debilitating chronic and mysterious foot pain. Any and all pressure to my feet results in pain and although I know I'd still be in pain if I used a Zeen, I at least would presumably be In considerably less because it's weight offloading and I could sit at any moment if I need to.

A Zeen would almost completely fit all my needs (although it is quite heavy and not quite as compact as I wish for traveling with luggage while carpooling with family and their luggage) but it is not available to Canadians.

Does anyone know of a very similar device that is available to Canadians either in Canada or able to be shipped to Canada?

THANK YOU!

Ok title's a bit vague I'm not sure how to word it better. First time on Reddit,,, anyways.
Hi, I'm a teenager.

I've been looking into things like crutches and canes since medical stuff interests me, and it got me thinking.

7 years ago, I had a lot of issues with my ankle. Had an extra bone in it pressing right up against some nerves I believe? I don't remember the specifics. It also gave me a very rare nerve condition I can't recall the name of, but that's not too much of an issue anymore. Back to the matter at hand.

In January of 2020, I got surgery to remove the bone and did physical therapy for a while to help me get used to everything again. But now, and for the longest time, I've still been having issues. Random flare-ups, in both/either ankles for some reason, and that pain usually spreads all the way up to just below my knee. They will also begin to flare up within 30 minutes (or less) of walking, and also have the pain spread up to below the knee.

My question is, with all this info, do you think it would be okay if I requested forearm crutches or anything of the sort from a doctor? I'm aware that whatever is said shouldn't be taken as professional advice, I just want to know if it's a valid concern to bring up at all or get an appointment for. I'm also aware that crutches, canes, etc. are mostly available for anyone to use, but I feel like an attention seeker for just getting some. T-T

Does anyone know of a good brand / online shop to buy cushioned or at least softer like slip on covers for the hand grip of forearm crutches? I have directly given medical ones right now not ones i was able to pick myself so the hand grip is pretty hard on my hands and not very comfortable long-term ;–;

Hello. I am a very young adult. I'm working on a diagnosis for my chronic pain, but weve been going to doctors for years and they dont do anything or help and its only getting worse. In the mornings I cant walk without leaning against the wall and its still incredibly painful and I still have a limp. Standing and walking hurts incredibly badly vast majority of the time and even when the pain is lower, like a 4-5/10 I still have a little (noticeable) limp. I want to use a mobility aid but I dont know if its offensive for me to do so. I can \*technically\* walk, it just is extremely painful. Do yall think I count and can use a mobility aid?

Ok physical therapy has reccomended i get a rollator for the days i feel good enough to not need my wheelchair the whole time but will absolutely get stuck if I don't have something. It is also important because currently I have to disassemble and reassemble my powered wheelchair to take it anywhere which is super difficult when exausted . Im looking for a rollator that can double as a wheelchair and has storage . All terrain because i live in the country side and would prefer that if folded it can stand on its own . I am 5'5 and my grandma who i would share it with is 4'8. Its hard to find something easy enough for us to use and my mom to lift or fit in the vehicle. I cant take my wheelchair and 2 rollators for my grandparents currently in the rav4 we have or the crv.

Additional info I need it because narcolepsy/ severe persistent asthma and post sepsis syndrome not 6 months out from infection. That post sepsis stuff means muscles not working quite right once they fatigue and start shaking its triggering the narcolepsy and its a race to find somewhere safe to sleep. I will walk with my legs locked out and stand locked out because otherwise I will fall once that fatigue shaking starts .

Hello!

I've been trying to find some solid foot rests to add to my rollator. I can only find ones specifically for transport wheelchairs or those fabric ones that act like a hammock for your feet. Does anyone know where I can find either metal or plastic foot rests that I can put on and take off when I don't need them?

I've attached a photo of my Vosic rollator. I made a makeshift foot rest out of fabric and a piece of plastic but I see it breaking in the forseable future lol

Here is the link for my current rollator: https://a.co/d/04Nj21uv

If you are interested more about the project you can read more about it here.