If you met someone with a limp

[ilean]

would you comment on it?

To be fair they didn't say it to my face, one of my supposedly good friends told me.

A bit hmmm, looking back, actually.!

Thank you for this thread OP. I must admit that I did this once (and it was to someone who is a regular & well-known MNer so it may have been you) so I can only say sorry - I was just meaning to express concern as my assumption (which you've already explained is inappropriate and why) was that the person had had a recent injury as I hadn't been previously aware of it, and I just wanted to express sympathy. When I heard it wasn't I felt very embarrassed and obviously have tried to be more conscious of not putting my foot in it since. I know each individual blunder by someone new must feel very hurtful, but thank you for helping us foolish ignorant but wellmeaning and basically kind-hearted folk learn how to be better at this sort of thing.

I'm in my late twenties and I've been using a walking stick (or two if needed) for about 8 years now. I have two chronic health conditions which greatly affect my mobility and the pain often causes me to limp. I hate being asked why I use a walking stick. Taxi drivers love to ask me what I've done to my leg I keep thinking next time I'll respond with a far-fetched reason, but I am usually so shocked someone has asked what I consider to be a very personal question about my health, that I just end up mumbling something about having a bad leg. I think some people genuinely find it hard to get their head round the concept that young people can be disabled.

I have some lovely walking sticks that I co-ordinate with my outfits

When I was a teen I did tell a few people I'd been attacked by a shark, arp!!!

Also a lot of people asked me if I'd been in a car accident.

I'm not on this planet to play 20 questions with you FFS! Was of course what I didn't say.

So YES say whatever you like, it's none of their business.

Like the co-ordinated sticks thing, why not

Funnily enough after this thread I did quite a bit of walking.. which I'm not used too and I've hurt my knee (I'm only 22 fgs I'm so unfit) and I'm now walking with a limp.

Went into town and those people who try and accost you said 'Hello miss limpy, would you like to sponser XXX today'.

How bloody rude. I'm so sorry people have to cope with idiots like that day in day out.

Mumsnet used to have a Parents With Disabilities section, though I rarely went on there, (it was a bit fluffy and worthy).

Perhaps we could ask them for a new section. I have enjoyed this Limpers thread: it's nice to interact with people who "get" it.

The section is still there, Tinkly. It's been moved to the 'Parenting' area instead of Special Needs, after a number of requests.

Thanks Driven I have just had a look. Still not for me really.

Anyone remember the old BBC Ouch message board?

Agreed Tinkly, it would be nice to be able to pop in and chat. I am enjoying this thread and finding it so helpful. Thanks to everyone chipping in . Will go and look at the disabilities bit now

what is this Ouch, I want a mug

Was it teletext

Well if it was on the World Wide Web then where has it gone? internets is omnipresent suuuurely. Tsk BBC.

I have poked about disabilities and think it looks a promising place for a permanent Limpers encampment. Tinkly, you don't think it's a good fit?

ilean did you mean to be so rude?

No it was a proper website, quite darkly humorous in tone and very informative.

It actually blew my mind a little bit in terms of changing my attitude to my disability and I learned loads of suff about things like the Social Model and Spoon Theory.

It was axed in one of the rounds of cuts wasn't it?

Quite outrageous really.

sorry Tinkly I didn't mean to offend at all I think maybe my tone came across badly. I used and loved teletext, it was affectionate.

I walk with a limp, always have.
I've been asked loads if I've hurt my foot (nearly always the foot, dunno why), or just 'you're limping'.
I don't find it that offensive, I clearly do limp and have shocking posture because of the underlying problem. I'm not in pain though, I imagine I'd feel very differently if I was.
I don't think anyone's ever said 'I've never noticed' when I refer to limping, it's mainly 'yes, I'd seen that' or whatever, so people do notice, they just don't all comment.
The person who surprised me most was a physio I met in a social context. Within half an hour of meeting she said 'you need to get that limp sorted'. She was right (I should wear a built up shoe, but I wasn't that day) but it seemed very direct.

Ilean, I meant rude about the Teletext obviously

Really no offense taken

I didn't think you were being rude! Anyway, I was just popping in to reply to your OP to say that I'd only ask why someone limped at work and that's because I am a doctor!