This is a good subject/question - I would like to hear about this also.

While I know I can easily qualify for one, I guess I am stubborn and refuse to get one so far. I guess my main reason is seeing how the handicap parking spots seems to be so abused.

I have my days when I really wish I had one, but more days that I can make the hobble the extra distance. If I am in a flare that limits my walking, I just stay home. We do our grocery runs only twice a month, and will usually pick a day that I can walk decently.

i sucked it up and got one. parking at my college is RIDICULOUS and i was getting so tired just walking to the building from the student parking lot.

i really didn't want to get one because i'm so young and not visibly disabled and whatever other crazy reasons but i'm glad i did. my rheumy only approved a temporary permit, which is six months, and then i suppose we'll reevaluate. of course, i feel like she did that because she doesn't believe i really need it and that i'm somehow working the system. which is ridiculous but, hello, i'm batsh*t insane.

so. yeah. it was free and not too hard to apply for (i originally filled out statewide forms and my town was like, no fill out these and we had a bit of back and forth but whatever). it definitely helps on days when i have more than one stop to make.

oh, re: what point did i apply for one, it was only about 5 months after my dx and i had spent over a semester already walking and wanting to chop my feet off at the ankles because of the pain.

I asked the foot doc for an approval the last day I saw him as walking is the thing that exacerbates my foot the worst. He wrote it, I took it to the DMV and got it. It's a 6-month plaque. I've only been out once since. I was glad to have it. I don't need to make my foot worse!

My husband got one a few years back. It really helps on the bad days.

I was considering printing the form and discussing it with my doctor as I DREAD going anywhere with a parking lot bigger than a small business lot would be.

I have not been to a big box store (Walmart, Kmart, Target, etc.) in MONTHS because just thinking about having to park so far away and through the huge store layout is exhausting!

I have been to the mall about 2 times in the last year and those were both on "good days" when I knew I could tolerate the walking. I avoid anything that has a big parking lot or has items I need on opposite ends of the store.

I'm thinking a handicap sticker might help me get out more if I feel like I will have one less obstacle to over come (huge parking lot). But I am worried that my doctor will say 'No' or think I'm trying to abuse the system.

Like a few of you have said, I have "good" days and "bad" days. On good days I can walk it just fine. But bad days, I can't go because I don't know how far I can walk. :/

My old Ruemy signed the papers for a temporary placard that expired last November. It was temporary because she believed a change in meds would get me walking again. To bad it didn't work. My regular Doc signed the papers for a permanent placard.
I never go to malls, I can get through a market by leaning over the handle of the cart. Good Grief, this foot stuff is ridiculous! At work, I am able to sit down most of the day. If I overdo it, my feet will burn and ach all night.
I seem to do a lot of running around. Three times a week for my water aerobics class, once a week to the acupuncture, and lots of Doctor appointments. Sometimes my Hubby and I go out to dinner. That's about it.

secret, that's what i did - printed it out before and filled out my part so she could just fill out her stuff while i was there. be sure to check with your local town to see whose form you need to fill out. in new york, the DMV site said their form was good for the state, but my town was like 'NO FILL OUT OURS GRRR' and i cried a little.

I got one of those hanging tags in 2004. RA went after my feet and knees from 2002 - 2008. I was going F/T to college and the campus went from top of one big hill down the steep valley and up the other big hill. It was agony with a heavy laptop, some texts books, etc in a backpack. And the only parking was over on another hill - unless you were disabled or faculty.

It actually expires this June. And since I haven't gotten another stress fracture since switching to diabetic shoes and my RA has been mostly in remission for over a year - I'm not renewing it.

Yes, it's hard to admit that you need it. But I sure needed it throughout my 30s! It was a life saver

I got one about 3 yrs after my DX, it helps soo much esp. at the big box stores. sometimes I feel bad about using it when I first get there but by the end of the shopping it's a life saver.

We got a placard for my 86 yr old mother. She is on oxygen and uses a walker. She is also quite debilitated from OA. Problem is, in my town, everybody has a handicapped placard. I can usually find a place to park closer by looking elsewhere.

I wish I had one everyday. Walking to the building in the morning isn't bad but leaving at night I am worn out.

Yes, I have had mine since I had the heart stents, and dx/ed with c.o.p.d a week later..and within days of that the ra.. so it covers everything. There are times when I do not use it..If I can make it to the door of the store I will walk it..If it is a bad day I either stay home or sit and wait for a handicap spot..

How I got it? It was pretty simple. I mentioned it to my Rheumie. They had the forms on file so they completed it and gave it to me along with note on their letterhead saying I needed one. I took it in and got a permanent placard so I could use it if I was riding with someone else. Simple as that, at least here in Texas.

When I got it? When I was finally officially diagnosed. I say officially because like many others, it took awhile to get to that. I'm 37 now, but things started when I was 24, got worse when I was 33 and everything went to hell when I was 35.

SecretSurvivor, I know what you mean about the big box stores like Walmart and Target. I really don't like shopping at Walmart, never did, but the one near us actually has benches placed all over the store and it really helps.

I swore it off . My ankles are getting worse & more frequent so why not when they're a problem, I do put off doing stuff to avoid the pain. I don't feel so stigmatized about it reading everyone's posts, thanks for starting it.

BTW Stephgas you crack me up