| I have always been physically active. I love to hike, | | | | with me. They look like ski poles with shock |
| bike, walk and jog. Although these activities have | | | | absorbers. I had been resisting using those out of, |
| become more difficult, I still enjoy doing them. People | | | | well pride really. I did not want to use a 'cane' or any |
| with MS do not need to stay at home and 'take it | | | | other devices. How vain was I?? I gave up a joy of |
| easy.' | | | | mine because I did not want to be seen as weak. |
| I had not been hiking for a couple of years. The main | | | | Totally ridiculous I know. I used the touring sticks on |
| reason is I did not want to slow anyone down and | | | | the way up the mountain but is was the downhill that |
| going alone is never a good idea. Walking uphill is not | | | | got me really excited. Normally I would trip and my |
| that much of a problem. Although I get fatigued and | | | | right leg would get what I call the 'sewing machine' |
| stumble, for the most part it is fairly easy. All that is | | | | leg. My leg will shake uncontrollably up and down. The |
| needed for me to walk uphill is to pay a little bit more | | | | longer I walk downhill, the more I lose control of my |
| attention to the terrain. Small rocks and limbs can trip | | | | right leg. This time, I was able to put weight on the |
| me up but not enough make me fall. The problem | | | | touring sticks as opposed to my legs. It felt like I |
| comes when I start the descent. | | | | was walking on 4 legs with the weight being evenly |
| Recently I went on a hike and took 2 touring sticks | | | | distributed between my legs and my 'longer' arms. |