When I was in Japan I worked at a care facility and the first thing we did was a 2 weeks course on how to push a wheelchair. That was one of the most valuable and well spent time of my life
There's a woman named Yuriko Oda who has a channel that goes through what it's like to live in Japan in a wheelchair. She made an app called Wheelog which maps out accessible locations across Japan.
Ah, the lack of control and the immense guilt that comes with using wheelchairs. I use one that looks like a go kart, but I can walk short distances, and I feel awful using it and things like mobility parking. Having to depend on a walking stick from age 27 was big sticking point for me - all the things are advertised for the elderly...I’m not there yet!!
lol being told a CT scan will be very expensive maybe you want to go to a hospital closer to your home. and it's $66 US, god I hate American Healthcare
*HUGS* I fractured my foot back in 2021....was in a boot for 2 and a half months. I had to learn how to walk in said boot in winter, and then once I was out of the boot, I had to relearn how to walk properly. Because of where I had fractured it, I was very unstable walking for several months (probably should have had some sort of PT now that I think of it). It still gives me hell sometimes when the weather is really bad.
3:34 as an American, when you said 10,000 I was thinking that’s about right, but then I wasn’t thinking about the yen and then you converted it for me 😂 and you said $66 I started laughing so hard😂 that’s cheaper than usually a ER copayment here in America. They’re usually like $75 now. And then they charge you US$10,000 for that scan. 😂
I have EDS disability and can’t use crutches at all so sometimes I need a wheelchair at big walking places so I totally get it - I also broke my ankle years ago - sorry u went threw all this
Didn't the chair had a cushion for pressure relief? 😅, bless you that you recovered, bless the wheelchair users because that's a real struggle in some places and environment, but they prevail and move forward despite the struggle, they're their own heroes 🫡👏 lots of love and appreciation also for sharing your experience
disabled bathroom is the best thing ever, ive been using crutch for 4 years until now cause motorcycle accident, and i relate to all the things you said and ive amazed how hard it is for disabled people its open a new perspective and i really respect them more now (i respect them before but i dont know its that hard you should never underestimated how hard it is), anyways get well soon emma we will wait for your recovery and you know we love you
I definitely know your pain with not being able to sit on the knees since I have hypermobility, I find that making most of the bows solely at the hips helps a little bit, and rotating the ankles slightly inward rather than outward makes it easier
Love this video... I use a wheelchair full time and went to Japan for about 30 days just a few months ago. Coming from the US/New York City, Tokyo's accessibility, in terms of trains/subways, was so seamless and enabling/self affirming for me [using the subway in NYC is wildly inaccessible/impossible for me]. Even with my kindergartener level Japanese, it was so easy to get around and everyone was so kind. I learned certain lines [ex. Ginza] generally had small gaps/curbs and was able to take those trains/lines without any assistance at all [since it does get annoying having to wait and my electric chair can easily manage]. Also had many instances of older people spotting me / knowing I was coming to the elevator and would hold it for us. 10000% the bane of my existence are those one step cafes/stores... Next visit I need to find one of those train slopes to bring with me maybe 🤔 P.S. There is a online community/site called tabifolk that Josh Grisdale has and is a great resource for any accessibility questions re: traveling to Japan.
Commenting again cause I finished watching but I had a back injury that left me bed ridden and temporarily disabled and I will always be grateful to have recovered and have the outmost respect and love for disabled people for putting up with a world that still makes things hard for them. I am now super hyper aware and help as much as I can if and when needed. I know this experience made you cry and humbled you even as humble as you already where, like it did with me ❤
Oh god I feel with you. I have a herniated disc atm and for the first week I could not move at all. Going to the toilet was a mission. When you said you got up the stairs on your butt.. I can imagine! We recently moved from a apartment with an elevator to one that doesn't, and it took me ages to get up the stairs, on all fours 😭😅 Luckily I have a boyfriend who has been caring for me. I'm impressed how you handled everything by yourself! Thanks for sharing ❤
Now I know why you don’t upload your usual kind of videos for quite a while. Thank you for sharing this video. I used to be in a similar situation before and used crutches but in another country, and soon I will start pushing my mum on a wheelchair here in Tokyo. So it was helpful. I know that recovering processes can be slow and stressful. But I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you and looking forward to your future adventures sooner.
Not you saying a CAT SCAN was expensive and it being less than $100 USD makes me wanna cry 😅 I can't even LOOK at a hospital for $100 😂 I got slapped with an $900 DOCTOR VISIT to get some blood work done for my kiddo, and that's was with insurance 🥴
I'm in japan right now. Is there elevators everywhere? We had to go a lot of stairs at the shinkansen station. Are there elevators and I just havent seen them??
As an ambulatory wheelchair user, I definitely understand your choice of going for a wheelchair!! Constantly having to lean to stand is exhausting and you never have your hands free *at all* while with a wheelchair you just can't move and do something else *at the same time*
Also, can relate to everything mobility aid related being aimed at elderly folks. It is ridiculously hard to find adaptive sports stuff etc (just to name an example). Because we all know there's only one way to be disabled right XD
The three sinks have the following purposes: #1 For cleaning assistive devices for people with bowel and other disabilities (deep sink) #2 For wheelchair users #3 For caregivers
This is probably the best description of what being in a wheelchair is like from my experience. Using a wheelchair is hard, people think wheelchair users are lazy but they just don’t know how much effort it takes to just exist in an able bodied world. And yes guilt was the most prevalent emotion early on for me when getting my wheelchair. It’s very normal to experience that. It’s even harder when you know a chair will be in your future forever, at least to some capacity.
I remember the time I broke a bone in Frankfurt. Since I couldn't speak German, I resorted to performing a bizarre pantomime in front of the doctor to explain that I had slipped and fallen. I also recall the moment of despair when, after finishing my pantomime, the German doctor started speaking in English.
I broke my Talus 5 years ago. Ended up developing arthritis in that joint and having multiple surgeries. Physiotherapy has really helped me over the years. Wishing you a consistent and steady healing journey 🙏💗
The asking to help push is a unspoken rule some people will see you struggling and help some will ask you if you need help I find it nice if they ask first …be careful of sticks and stones or rocks or pebbles my aunt was pushing me at a family gathering and hit a stick and I fell forward caught myself with my hands but I was seatbelt on so the wheelchair was on my back luckily it’s not that heavy but just a small thing can fling you if you are not careful 😂😂
Ouch that is awful I haven’t experienced a foot injury, but I’ve experienced knee surgery in that area and not easy used doing crutches. we actually learned that I cannot do crutches at all so I got stuck with a wheelchair for three months and after that I was good so yeah I understand not easy. Also, if you have to use wheelchair again if you have the person stick their foot on the little mini wheel on the back that lift the chair up enough to get up the lift, the sidewalk or curb will helpful advice, and definitely people communicate
Unfortunately there are people with invisible disabilities (whether nerve damage or other difficulties that makes it difficult to stand for even short periods of time) that may also feel a sense of imposter syndrome using disabled facilities, though more commonly that are wrongly called out for "not being (looking) disabled" when it is fully in their right to utilize them.
As a walking stick user this is the kind of content I've been looking for. I was able bodied when I went to Japan first time so I'm scared of accessibility this time round.
Guilt and imposter syndrome with disabilities is very common no matter what the disability is or how severe. I would know from experience and from my friends experiences. Plus those of the world telling their stories. I may not be a wheel chair user myself. But I have used them before getting out of hospital after a surgery or what. I am often stuck at home all day due to chronic pain/fatigue and other issues. Weak immune. When I do travel I have to sort of parse out what I spend my time on bc I can’t do too much all at once. I just got back from a small vacation and I’m so tired it’s not even funny. I could go on for days and weeks about life as a disabled person. Also that end card hits different after this video. I’m sure it would be hard to those moves right now. I love myself and who I am but its tough sometimes. I’m sure you felt that way too. I’m so sorry you broke your foot. Im glad your friendd did their best for you despite lacking in knowing what to do. It can be hard. But you got this. And I like that wheel chair app that shows you things. I didnt knoe that was a thing. I will check out Wheel Log. I sometimes cannot climb the stairs of places and I like knowing ahead of time if a place has accessible bathrooms or elevators. One time at my college the elevator wasnt working and I had to struggle my way up the stairs to my class. It sucked butt. And some people have to experience that everyday! I’m grateful I have a home that I can stay at and I dont have to go out much. I’ll end here bc at this point my ADHD is all over the place and I’ll just continue rambling. Appreciate the video. I’m sure it was eye opening for you and many others
Excellent! I'm disabled and recently got my first wheelchair. There really is a significant learning curve! You made some great points about etiquette and access. ❤ Any injuries can lead to some level of chronic pain and disability. Hope you can adjust to your new normal soon. 🍀
Seeing you talk about this with such raw transparency reminded me of my own injury from several years ago (that continues to affect my mobility) was so unexpectedly emotional. You exactly captured so many aspects of how frustrating disabilities can be. I'm sorry you had to experience it, and I'm so glad you've healed!
This is sooo relatable 5 years ago, developed chronic pain still no diagnosis but the first 2 year was bed bound on bad day, then walking stick on bad day was a BIG BIG shock to the system!! Thanks for sharing this. It's good to have these things highlighted Xx
I've had a few people in my family end up in wheelchairs at certain times in my life and I kinda sorta tried to apply the same kind of line of thought to that as if you're pushing a stroller? Like you're not gonna send a stroller holding a baby into a curb, you're not just randomly speeding up pushing a stroller or throwing it around in circles randomly, you're careful with the 'cargo' inside of the stroller, be it a baby or a grownup or whatever age in between, they need a wheelchair for a reason and you're gonna be careful with them! I dunno how good this analogy is, but...that's kinda my technique about it?
Definitely should go see an orthopedic surgeon in Australia with your CT scans to get a second opinion. Very surprised you were not offered surgery. Best of luck in your recovery process!
Your lucky you wasn't in the UK, people are really awful to us crips here, loos filthy, never had a clean one, your completely looked down on, your in the way etc or people talking to your friends instead of asking you their question etc
I have a family member who just recently became disabled and is now in a wheelchair. This was super helpful and will be applying what I learned here in my interactions with them. Thank you!
I went through basically everything you've described, but in America... It was much more expensive :) But yeah, no society is set up for disabilities. Knee Scooter saved my job to be sure. It's left me with such empathy for mobility issues, I still fight with folks wrongly parked in handicapped spaces. Thanks for sharing your story!
