Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Was wondering how things went for those of you who approached the subject of needing a handicap placard from the dr. Were you met with immediate approval or met with opposition making you feel guilty for asking?
This was how it went for me: on Mon I had a dr visit and we discussed my progress, etc. He asked me if I had gotten my MRI of my knees yet so at least he had that in his mind...my knees being a constant problem. I brought up a new problem of my Achilles' tendons hurting when I walk. He should have in my record I have a lot of fatigue and also I told him one time I was in Walmart and almost got stuck in the store for not having it in me to go all the way back out to the car for the pain and lack of energy. I remember he had no response. He never brings in a chart or tablet, just listens. How do I know he's really notating these things? And this time he only looked at my ankles, no other joints.
So all this to say at the end of the visit I asked if I could get a placard because of the fatigue, general pain and my knees. He stared at me for a good 10 sec. He said I'll give you a temp one and we'll see how you're doing in a year. This is the man who told me he was going to reverse the dz and I wouldn't need to apply for disability. That was well over a year ago. I don't think he wanted to give it to me and it made me feel upset for even asking but I need it!
This was how it went for me: on Mon I had a dr visit and we discussed my progress, etc. He asked me if I had gotten my MRI of my knees yet so at least he had that in his mind...my knees being a constant problem. I brought up a new problem of my Achilles' tendons hurting when I walk. He should have in my record I have a lot of fatigue and also I told him one time I was in Walmart and almost got stuck in the store for not having it in me to go all the way back out to the car for the pain and lack of energy. I remember he had no response. He never brings in a chart or tablet, just listens. How do I know he's really notating these things? And this time he only looked at my ankles, no other joints.
So all this to say at the end of the visit I asked if I could get a placard because of the fatigue, general pain and my knees. He stared at me for a good 10 sec. He said I'll give you a temp one and we'll see how you're doing in a year. This is the man who told me he was going to reverse the dz and I wouldn't need to apply for disability. That was well over a year ago. I don't think he wanted to give it to me and it made me feel upset for even asking but I need it!
That said, I had anxiety about asking. I thought people would judge me ... but they were wonderful.
Since he signed the form, he must have thought there was some merit to your request. Some doctors are more conservative than others. Or, maybe he's just an optimist :)
After it expired he wouldn't renew it and said he doesn't like getting calls from the state about complaints on people in apparent good health who are reported to DMV by disability rights zealots who turn in the placard number.
I just don't want to be part of that scene - there is so much abuse of the placard around here. I've had plenty an argument with folks on other forums about this - most saying that you can't tell if someone needs one just by looking at them. Well if you see myself and my wife standing still we look normal too.
I am very fortunate that Mrs. Coaltrain does all the shopping - most days there is no way I could navigate those big stores. But on a day where I want to go into Wal-Mart to look at something I still park in the boonies and hobble myself across the parking lot with my cane.
Where we go, the walk in and through the store itself is a lot longer than the walk from the parking lot even if parked half way to nowhere. And I am still not ready to use one of the electric carts they provide. And of course the department I usually want to go to is in the opposite rear corner of the store......
And since I usually sit in the truck I see it every time - people parking in a handicap spot - literally jump out of their car and fast walk it into the store. Then the person who genuinely needs that spot is out of luck. There seems to be no enforcement whatsoever around here either.
don't worry about what other's think or other's do. make your own judgment about what you need period and go with it. you are living in your body no one else.
a lot of folks have only so many spoons, the working folks, the one's with kids, teens, and what not. they are run out by the time they get to the store at 7 pm.
go for it if you decide you need it. don't poll us. I am sorry you have to listen to your md's bullshit. only you know your shit, he does not since he does not live with you nor navigate your world. i don't care about the people who abuse the system I only care about you. if you say you need it, you do. you don't have to atone for any one else in the universe who needs a close parking spot but is actually running in the NYC marathon. follow your body.
I live alone I don't have a chauffeur or a compatriot and I think you live alone also. sometimes we run out of our spoons a little earlier than other folks.
i have been known to eat baked potatoes from wendys because I am unable to get out of the car and have to abort the supermarket fun. the placard is a life safer on the rare occasions when I have to use it. I don't shop at big box stores, for a lot of reasons and handicap placard abuse is not one of them.
sorry you are hurting.
depot
I got there and there were 10 empy handicapped spots at the front of the lot, but the rest of the lot was full and I had to park in the back. I was crying on the walk back to my car. I got a placard the next day and I have not been without one since 1999.
Sometimes I don't use mine if I am feeling ok. LIke after my Rituxan infusions high on the 100 mg of cortisone, I would walk and be amazed at what it felt for a normal person to feel like when they had to park at the back of the parking lot and have the feet not hurt.
'Sometimes I feel guilty, by mostly it just makes me sad, because in a happy world, I wouldn't need the handicapped placard. I wouldn't have
RA.
Don't ever let anyone doctor included make you feel guilty for asking for something you need. Use it when u need it.
I'm only going to use it when I need it though. I don't ever want to take a space from somebody else on a day I feel I can walk good. I cherish the days I feel good.
Again, thanks for the great comments; you all are so awesome I love this group!