I tell the truth--its better than anyone assuming intoxication.

I tell them the truth, nothing to hide here. better than them thinking i'm drunk or strung out

Here''s one for you.. went into a grocery store couple years back, having alot of trouble walking knew i could not walk to whole thing, so I got into one of their scooters,, my daughter was with me. When I got into the scooter ,the door greeter said to me "miss why do you need this" oh boy my daughter was hot.. she said she has ms.. now dont you feel bad for asking.. and we walked away.. whew!!! she was 17 at that time.. she was like people just need to mind their own business. or be a little more considerate
So I just tell them the truth why

The kind people that I work with and see every day used to ask me all the time why I was walking so funny. This is back when, I would walk fine on some days and not so fine on others. At first, I was very resistant to tell them anything. I would just shrug it off and smile and say "Oh, I'm just having a bad day" and go back to my desk and cry and harbor great resentment at everyone's thoughtlessness. This went on for a while, until one day, a very wise friend of mine (who sits next to me at work) suggested that it might be better for me - if I told them what was wrong....so they would stop asking me. Well, that was the best thing I could ever have done. When they learned the reason for my trouble they were completely caring and sympathetic and really appreciated me telling them. Granted I don't just tell any Joe Shmo off the street......these are a group of people that I work really closely with.....and it turned out to work for me. Just my experience.....

Was at the store with my husband and this guy told me that I was "walking funny" and I said, "I know".

Maybe we are just the type of people that people must ask what is wrong with us. I really do not know why they would ask someone that question.
I know that people are not thinking that I am intoxicated and I have nothing to hide either, but this guy never asked me what was wrong.

Honestly it all depends on my mood. Ive told people in a matter of fact way that Im drunk are you jealous? lol Ive told people on occasion that I hurt my back but majority of the time I say the truth. Its funny because I have a pink breast cancer walker so people say ohhh I thought it was cancer. I laugh and say that Im a equal supporter of all disease's... Then I shake my head and thik to myself...Why would breast cancer hinder my walking?? hmmm

Oh I have told people that Im vertically challenged and then walked away with a straight face.. I love f-ing with people..lol

If people notice it, I feel like the jig is up. LOL Then I tell the truth--but in as short a way as possible, say: I have MS. If they press with further questions, I don't mind educating them--as they'll probably go tell whoever they know about it (at least, I'd hope they'd mention it as something they learned that day maybe) and then knowledge gets around about MS and how it affects all kinds of people. If it makes them uncomfortable, maybe next time they'll keep their mouth shut Ha ha!

I just tell them I have MS and ask them what their excuse is.

when i lived in pa the amish people wwere wonderful they never stared or asked questions they just accepted me for me as who i am but here in ny i get stares and questions all the time at first i glared back or id say something smart like i have ms what the f k is ur excuse for being so ugly ? and that would shut them up cuz its usually the same people that i run into on the bus that see me daily that ask me and they know by now that its gotta be a disease and not a injury so why ask. so now i just say omg do i walk funny i thought it was just u looking funny and i walk away leaving them with a confused look...i think its better then having them feel sorry for me cuz i have ms cuz ive done that one too i guess it just depends u just have to feel it out and do what u think is best for that moment. best of luck to u.

Just because someone may have been rude, or a bit to blunt, doesn't mean I have to respond in the same manner. Many times those folks don't intend to be rude, and it's just a less than perfect way to express concern.

99.9% of the time I have no problems walking. It's not an issue I deal with very often. Only if I'm really tired, and I've gotten too hot. On those times, I just tell the truth . . . my MS is barking.

While MS is just a damn disease, nothing to be ashamed of, we need to also remember not to be too sensitive when others are trying to understand what's going on. How in the hell are the going to understand, or have compassion, if we don't help them understand? The burden is on us to educate and help them to understand. MS is never an excuse to be rude, mean, or anything less than civil! All MS is, is a damn disease!

The best way to drive others away is to dwell on our MS, expect others to dwell on our MS, or to have a negative attitude about life because of our MS. The world doesn't revolve around us, just because we have MS, anymore than it did pre our MS dx. MS should NEVER be the center of what defines who you are! Nobody wants to hang around a Negative Nellie!

I was dx less than a year ago. I work for my church, and I don't want MS to affect their perception of me; I don't want members' first thoughts when they see me to be "she has MS." So I haven't "come out" at work/church except to three select people.
Members have seen me walk, and they ask out of concern - "Are you limping?" I just tell them I have dropped foot syndrome, which was an earlier dx, and that seems to satisfy them.

I had one occasion when I lost my balance and steadied myself against a wall, walking past an older gentleman and the space was narrow. We looked at each other, I said something like "I have a balance problem," and he looked at me, smiled, and said "Don't we all." That gave me such a nice feeling.

I have NEVER had a stranger ask why I limp, or why I walk so slowly. I think I would look at the person rather quizically, and then say, "I'm not sure my medical history is your concern."

The times that my walking is noticably different is when I am tired, too hot or walking on uneven ground. Otherwise, people really can't tell, unless I have my cane with me. This past weekend, we were camping and I felt good enough, I wanted to go for a hike. We chose a trail that wasn't too steep, and followed a river, so I could stay cool. I had my walking cane with me (the hiking stick kind, but I have this at cane level). Once along the way, my left leg started to give out, so I instinctively crossed my right foot over along with my cane to steady myself. I paused to regain my footing, then started to move on. There was a lady behind me who said "whoa, are you ok?" I said, "sure, but thanks." She said, "is it your knee?" I said "no, I have MS and things just misfired for a second." She said "wow, good for you up here hiking!" A little while later, another lady noticed me walking past with my cane/stick, and said "you ok?" I said, "yes....?" She said, "oh, I just noticed you were favoring your left leg." I just told her I had MS and my left side was my weak side. She also gave me kudos, saying "God bless you."

I didn't think it was obvious I was walking differently, but apparently it was to them. They were genuinely concerned. I looked at it as an experience that maybe I somehow gave them some inspiration. I wasn't looking for any pats on the back, but it may have opened their eyes a little.

guysgurl, brownie points to you! That's the way we should react! One can educate others, and be civil at the same time.

IMO the majority of folks who 'call us out' when we have a problem walking, do it out of concern. Most of them want to offer help, if we need it. There intent isn't negative, there's no reason for us to be negative.

Great job guysgurl!

I have bee nasked more why I am walking "like that." I honestly sometimes don't realize that I have fallen inot a different stride, tired, hot, whatever has happene. And then soetimts I am caught off guard and I think I look a little suprised by the question. I often say that I as mwalking just fine, my MS is having a hard time, though.

The thing I often find is that peoplw are very nice once you get past the intial..."you don't look like," or "oh, really?" Sometimes I can get short if I hear some kind of "what's wromg with you" sort of jeer in the tone, but for the most part, I try to take the time to say something about MS, I really think we need to educate people about MS, and this is a good opening.