I see what you mean. Making a suggestion or asking a question is one thing but being a bully is a whole other issue. So sorry you may be losing a friend for her being too forcefully spoken. Glad you have a nice support team with your husband and family. :)

You might suggest that you rely upon your neurologist as to when/if it's time to use a mobility aid. If she persists, bye-bye, former friend.

On the other hand, is it possible that she sees something in your walking ability that you're not seeing? My daughter has made a few suggestions for me that I hadn't realized or thought about before.

I understand your reluctance to use a walking aid. I fought it for years but when I fell and injured my wrist I came to terms with how difficult my life would be if it been my leg or hip that had been broken. So now I use a small foldable 3 wheel walker and I have more confidence in my MS balance issues. I have a humorous MS blog you may get a laugh from. There’s a post on there titled FALL check it out at
friendsunitedms.com
Rose

Perhaps I should reply to these suggestions as my situation is somewhat unusual and it might be of interest. My case of MS has not affected my mobility or my balance. This is confirmed by my husband and by the neurologists I see at the local MS clinic. I was diagnosed in 1991 and within a few years I'd stopped having flare-ups. In 2012, my mobility and manual dexterity were checked and confirmed to be good and I was told my MS was in 'burn out'. More recently, a neuro at the MS clinic said that MS had been 'benign' to me though I don't have a benign case. He said, quite rightly, that my real medical problem was scoliosis.

I've had scoliosis since I was 12, followed by surgery -- twice. And over the past ten years or so (I'm now 71) it's gotten much worse and unless I'm well set up with pain killers, when I go out my lower back will start to hurt when I stand or walk very much, making me want to sit down or possibly lean on something. As I'm canny with my pain killer supply, when I go out I'm usually dosed up and can traipse around quite painlessly. Scoliosis does not give me a balance issue. It's just a pain, haha.

The 'friend' who recommended that I practice using a walker around the house explained her reasoning: 'I know you have MS and you walk slowly'. So I should go barrelling around in order to impress others? News to me. Since she so obviously saw herself as having completed her 'mission', I felt that this was not a person who would listen to, or understand, my medical history.

It's not good to become dependent on a walker anyway. If you don't need it, it can cause more of a situation. Great for you that your MS has burnt out. Scoliosis does sound painful. I have a crooked spine now, thanks to severe osteoporosis resulting in surgery. I don't have pain per se,' but do have to take baclofen for the added spasticity the surgery has caused in my legs. Seems it's always something. So glad you get around so well - more power to you! I'm trying to work my way back to standing and walking better. < smile >

Hi hmmmingbird and CaliforniaRoRo. Thank you for your messages. And lorrieonline, thanks for your messages too. 'Seems it's always something'. No kidding. Support groups like this one can be so important. Even the neurologists don't necessarily 'get it'. Cheers to all.

You sure find out who your real friends are with MS.

I say you are better without her negativity and frankly, controlling, attitude!

You can surround yourself with people who encourage, not judge, you!