My Mobility Aids as an Ambulatory Wheelchair User

[@stelasulzdorf]

Come on a tour around my house, as I show you my mobility aids and how I use them. I’m what’s known as an ambulatory wheelchair user, which means I can use my legs. But I’m very limited, which is why I use a wheelchair and other mobility aids. I’m here to break the stigma of what disability looks like. There isn’t a one size fits all and we’re all very different. Thanks for watching! Xxx

[@VikasSharma-uj4dd]

Where are you from

[@heavenswarriors3244]

Thank you for this video, it was so helpful. I have settled into using a electric wheelchair that my daughter purchased for me to go on a Mediterranean cruise and airplane. I can walk around short distances but nothing else without having much pain. I refused to get a mobility scooter because they are too heavy and cumbersome. So I have only been walking wherever necessary. People are not very nice when they see you walk and ride in a wheelchair or use a scooter. I Didn’t realize I have settled into just not going anywhere other than where I really had to go. Just the thought of having this wheelchair that’s electric light weight has opened up the possibility of going to the park and doing more than just sitting in my car. I think you know what I mean. Thank God you can get up and move around some and I hope I remain somewhat Mobil also. But thank you very much. Very informative.

[@AmethystWoman]

Yup except getting my 40# air hawk in and out alone leaves me home stranded too even with such an expensive chair (bought second hand.) Do you have a spouse or someone to help with the car? If not, how do you get it in and out. The best hoist I've found is in the UK and seems I can't get it here.

[@jlastre]

I was just diagnosed with lupus in October. Sometimes the pain is unbearable. Thanks for the video.

[@cereal4768]

I have a hard time using my smart crutches without pain- I appreciate seeing you use them!

[@chrissulzdorf456]

Great insights into the use of mobility aids and the frequency of their use. Well done hunxx

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you for all your help on the filming of this one! Love you so much Xxx 😍

[@KatRosUrb]

Hi Stela💫💖Just coming here to let you know that I am enjoying your videos so so much,watching you describing your life make us feel a lot closer and familiar to you!!Who would have thought that there are still not accessible roads and station circa 2021...It is horrible!!Hope you are having a great day, my sweet friend,sending hugs🤗💖💫

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you so much for watching and for all your support, my beautiful friend! 💖 I guess London is such an old city with lots of old stations and buildings. I really wish it wasn’t that way though! I feel bad for those people who can’t get out of their wheelchairs at all. I’m definitely having a wonderful day, thank you. I hope you have too! Sending lots of love and hugs your way too! 😘🧜‍♀️🤗💖💫

[@laurenfluke2030]

Thank you for your videos! I just watched your Neo walk video. I have severe rheumatoid arthritis and my mobility has went downhill significantly. I have a walking stick, normal crutches and crutches that are shaped to my hands and also a wheelchair. I also have splints and supports for nearly every joint in my body . because my health has gone downhill quite dramatically. I have not had long to get used to the idea of depending on mobility aids. I also have the same problem where I am worried about what people think. I have had people tell me it’s embarrassing to use a wheelchair…. But I really do need to use it as I fall over and cannot get out of the house. your video has made me feel like I am not alone. ❤️

[@ellastones886]

I have Tourette’s Syndrome and I am looking into become and ambulatory wheelchair user due to some extremely servere tics that leaded me needing support with walking e.g. someone linking my arm to stop my tics from throwing myself on the floor.

[@hanzkilian1806]

Hello, thanks for the video. I suffer from Adhesive Arachnoiditis and now after 7 spinal ops I use a wheelchair. LIKE YOU I can walk with pain. I too was finding it difficult to justify my chair. Thankfully here in Australia we have a good medical system (NDIA) With this system the Gov supplies all my needs. Thanks for this video - it is encouraging - thank you.

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience! I’m so glad to hear you have a good medical system in Australia. It’s so important to use the mobility aids we need. I was so nervous about what society would think of me, but now I’m just trying to raise awareness! I’m sending you all the good health and encouragement 💕

[@nicokelly6453]

Thanks for the tour, it was really cool, and I liked the things you said at the beginning. Also, I loved Luna poking in all the time, she's adorable!

[@wellnesswithelina]

Love this Stela! You are so inspiring and I love how you share all this knowledge and awareness ❤️❤️❤️

[@stelasulzdorf]

Aww thank you so much, beautiful!! That really means so much to me. Love you!! 💖

[@chalicequinones9916]

Great video Stela! It was interesting to see how you navigate through your day. It was lovely seeing Luna too! Xx

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you so much, Chalice! 💕 That means so much to me. Luna is always the star of the show. Xxx 🤣🐈‍⬛

[@SolvedRubixQbe]

It’s nice to see someone with similar disabilities as me

[@mollyram2997]

Love the insight in to mobile aids! Your house is gorgeous.. can't get over Luna

[@stelasulzdorf]

Aww thank you so much! Haha I love that you’re a cat person too. We wish now we also got her brother, but too late. She’s too much of a princess to live with another cat now haha. You’re too kind and I loved hearing about all your cats! 😻 I used to be a huge gym-goer. I did weights, lifting and all. But my brother has scoliosis and the doctor had recommended he try yoga for some relief in his back. I found they had a class at the gym I was at and since he was too nervous to go alone, I went with him. The rest is history haha 💕

[@mollyram2997]

@@stelasulzdorf Ohh I love that!

[@stelasulzdorf]

@@mollyram2997 My brother doesn’t even do yoga anymore, but clearly I can’t stop haha 😂💕

[@skyy_yoga]

So lovely to see behind the scenes and how you do what you do 😍💕 ps blue skies looks amazing on you ❤️❤️

[@stelasulzdorf]

Aww thank you Sam! Your support means so much to me. I love blue skies. I can’t wait to take some yoga photos in it soon!! 😍💕

[@annettesuterswiss]

Thanks for the video! I have EDS to and a inflammatory rheumatological disease, so I was in hospital cause of severe headaches, hyposodiumemia and an inflammatory flare. I could not walk more than 5 meters, so I asked for a wheelchair. Felt guilty about it because I didnt "really really need " it. Even doc thought I was faking, which made me feel more guilty. My best friend when she was still alive had quadriplegia and really really needed a wheelchair. So maybe thats about it, me my EDS and my guilt.

[@AmethystWoman]

I get it. Society doesn't.

[@TraceyKann-p4i]

Thank you for telling how you felt before, because that is exactly how I feel when I found out that I needed to use a walker, so I didn’t want to use my so I just keep having falls, but now I got a little bit better about knowing that I got a Disability and needed to use a walker,I still getting used to having a Disability and now I am useing my walker , I’m just glad I’m the only one that has felt like that. Thank you

[@PrettyEyesz]

After 2022 my life changed drastically at age 34 after having a life altering stroke, with in the next year 2023 I was diagnosed with a autoimmune disease very similar to Lupus called Primary Sjogren's Syndrome which causes multiple different symptoms. The worst symptoms I deal with frequently are my chronic joint pain all over in my fingers, shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. The pain in my back knees and ankles make it hard to walk sometimes. I literally can wake up with pain in my knees and be limping throughout the day because of the pain. I also deal with chronic migraines and extreme fatigue & body weakness, plus dizzy/ fainting spells frequently too. Now since learning about the term "ambulatory mobility aids" I'm doing research in thinking about getting one for myself. Because I notice when I stand a long time or walk a little of a distance, I start to feel dizzy feel shortness of breath, or get pain in my back and knees. I feel like if I had like a walker with a seat or a electric scooter I would feel more safe, because if I start to feel dizzy or extreme pain in my knees, I would have that added protection. It wouldn't be something I need everyday but just sometimes.

[@MobilityProducts4ULlandudno]

Great video. I'm sure many people benefit from you sharing your perspective and tips - regards, Robert.

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you so much! That really means a lot 🙏🏼

[@taniabaltakova1149]

Love the video. Your positivity is inspiring. Sending you my love and big hugs 🤗

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you so much for watching! 💖

[@Dante_suckz]

Hello, I was diagnosed and told that forearm crutches and/or elbow crutches will help me, but I do not know where to begin to look for them or even how to use them when walking or standing.

[@amyberube6814]

Awe this was my favourite video so far ! It actually made me miss you ALOT ! Seeing your home brought back so Many memories!! I’m happy to have seen Charlotte and Mary Kate and Ashley 😂 and Luna modeling the bath chair killed hahaha 🤣 love you babe !! Looking forward to your next video 😍 🧞‍♀️🧞🧞‍♂️

[@stelasulzdorf]

Aww thank you babe! I really miss you too. 😭 Haha your two favourites, Charlotte and Mary Kate & Ashley has the make it in. 😂 Well, Luna likes to show off you know. Love you too!! Thank you for watching and for all your support. Love you lots and lots!! 😍😍😍

[@kaitlynhalverson5722]

I have those exact same knee braces.

[@TuliTheUnruly]

It's unfortunate that many people don't acknowledge invisible illnesses. We don't need to have an external injury or paralysis to need help moving.

[@AmethystWoman]

I appreciate you talking about transitioning to an ambulatory wc using can cause "embarrassment." I know I need to get over it. I've had CRPS for 45 years. Constant pain and have used crutches the majority of my life but I got tired of leading with my disability so when I moved and had a fresh start of all new people, I put them down and just didn't leave the house when I needed them. I've been back on the for about 5 years and now need to let myself use a wheelchair. I'm 69. I can't get my 40# folding electric chair in and oit of the car tho. So...well. anyway, why don't you try a scooter or electric chair? I know so expensive. I figure its what credit cards are for. Thanks. Just found you and you ate so real. Subscribed. (Did you know that people with EDS are at a higher risk of CRPS? It so lpoks like you overstretch your joints with that yoga pose but you do good selfcare so nvm. ❤

[@stephaniejackson9558]

For sure! I was embarrassed that I lost weight and was crawling. I now use a rollator. I’m looking to get crutches

[@robertkurowsky5067]

Inspirational, thank you!

[@charleendubbs7265]

Could you link your knee braces . I can’t find them on Amazon? Thank you

[@ellastones886]

Hiya, if you live in the UK, Tesco have them :)

[@moemovesaround7831]

I have smart crutches too!

[@501c3Aid]

I have platform crutches as well.

[@stelasulzdorf]

I had no idea that was what they’re called! Thank you for that. They’ve been life changing 💕

[@markhottman2652]

Even with having gotten on my feet, due to foot 🦶 drop STAIRS SUCK. Glad to be on my feet.

[@stelasulzdorf]

Stairs are so hard!! Glad you’re back on your feet!

[@juliecohen5477]

thank you for this video. im here because of my love for crystals. and now i see that we have another thing in common, cause i have a disabllity too. love from israel

[@dgunlucky5838]

You are a princess ❤️

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@georgiamay2283]

Given you have EDS, would it give you more independence if you got a powerchair as well as your wheelchair so you could go out on your own without being pushed? I don’t have EDS but do have cfs/me and hypermobile thumbs/wrists so can’t push a manual wheelchair myself. Getting a powerchair, though pricey, has been an absolute godsend. I can get around on my own which is important as I have nobody to push me

[@dgunlucky5838]

Very nice

[@stelasulzdorf]

Thank you 😊

[@morgancalvi6675]

First...love your hair. Second...you have joint inflexibility...so how is it you do yoga 1:28? I mean you showed some pretty crazy positions. OOh, the last thing you need is a cloth back wheelchair. You should have a rigid back one with more support.

[@stelasulzdorf]

Hi Morgan, Thanks for watching and for your advice! I agree, my wheelchair is so bumpy. I’ve been looking into a more rigid one for a while - I’ve yet to bite the bullet, as they’re so expensive. I’m terms of my yoga, what I can do is health permitting depending on the day. I’ve done a video about it if you’re interested. Here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWGknndneNuCpMU Xxx

[@morgancalvi6675]

@@stelasulzdorf what country are you in?

[@stelasulzdorf]

@@morgancalvi6675 I’m in the UK

[@morgancalvi6675]

@@stelasulzdorf NHS won't help? I mean using a folding chair with no support is gong to end up hurting you more.

[@stelasulzdorf]

@@morgancalvi6675 unfortunately, there isn’t much help available for mobility aids, or even much awareness about EDS on the NHS. I had a temporarily wheelchair from them that was even worse!

[@gavinelliot3564]

9 cactus vertibrae. S1.l5 degen bad.crenosis both hips.both knees+rotacuff all shot.still not considered disabled.???.T800Aust

[@josiefrancis8197]

Where do you live? Here in USA we are more put upon if we need or use mobility aids. It is even rare to see a person who uses mobility aids

[@huntermauceri8692]

Your Luna looks very similar to my sally

[@javierbarrucz7755]

USING CRUTCHERS TO CLIMB THE STAIRS 🤯🤯🤯

[@darlingstuff1560]

WINDMILL arms overwhelms those with neurological disabiity.....OK I can see this is going to go ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON...... < exits/blocks

[@arvinddhirobilaspuria6588]

You are so beautiful dear stela

[@stelasulzdorf]

That’s so kind of you! Thanks so much 💕

[@QQ0000]

Your eyes >

[@XXTERIA]

Hello ❤

[@bobbytan6267]

Long time not see you. Come join yoga challenge again😊

[@AbbasKk-qv4hg]

Please one chayar gift