Consider-your-potatoes-mashed - Ouch

Got some hinged knee braces (from Amazon) and honestly they help some but I can’t adjust how far back they can go so they stop at 180 but to keep myself from hyperextending I would need a smaller ROM but they at least do something. My main problem is that they don’t fucking stay up! Granted I’ve never had a brace that stayed up on me but still it’s annoying and kinda pisses me off cause it just means I have to constantly adjust them and pull them up. Also when I sit the top of the brace majorly gaps. Like it turns into a fucking handle basically.

Also they are so far from sensory friendly because of how much they slide around.

All that said they’re helpful for now and hopefully I’ll be able to get custom braces soon if my insurance will approve them (I really hope they do soon because fuck my knees suck). Being disabled and being fat (1) and having big thighs as a result really makes this shit hard because prefabricated braces don’t fit me.

Also the socks I’m wearing are from Not Your Grandma’s and they’re compression socks and they’re fucking amazing and so comfortable 10/10 honestly. They’re about £15 (idk what that converts to in $ I think it’s like $17??? I’m American (eww) but the company is from the UK) so not cheep but the material and patterns are so good!!! Highly recommend. I have their dinosaur, shark, and sea life patterned socks.

(1) I really don’t know if I qualify as fat. I feel like I do but I’ve also been told I’m not “fat enough” which is ridiculous like maybe I’m fat lite? Or something idk either way I’m a large person.

"Pro" tip: If you're somebody who doesn't always need things like braces or crutches or anything like that, and so you're thinking to yourself, "I won't need this for today, my pain isn't that bad!"

Don't listen to that, that is the devil speaking. Bring your aids with you just in case, because a good day can quickly end on a sour and painful note. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Okay so I’ve tried taping my knees in the past with KT tape and stuff like it but I haven’t done it in a while so I decided to get some target brand tape. It claims to be water resistant and designed to last for 3 days so I decided eh it’s about $6 ($14 less than KT branded) so let’s try it. One of the strips didn’t even last 10 minutes and the others didn’t last more than an hour. Like wtf. I wasn’t even in water I was just walking around and sweating a little (sure a little for me is probably a lot for other people cause I sweat a lot but still) how the fuck can it claim to be water resistant if it can’t even withstand some sweat??????

I just wanted something to help with my pain and stability today while I worked but I guess that’s not gonna happen. Does anyone have any tricks for getting tape to stay? Or any alternatives other than braces cause sometimes I don’t want to have to wear something so bulky especially if it’s just gonna end up sliding down anyways.

I’ve brushed my teeth at least once a day for two whole weeks!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!

This may not seem like a big deal for a lot of people but I’m really proud of myself for this!

I know to a lot of people, especially abled people (whether physically or mentally abled), the idea of not brushing your teeth regularly is gross or “repulsive” or makes someone disgusting and what not, but I think we need to accept that not everyone can engage in hygiene practices the same way as everyone else. Just because someone cannot brush their teeth, or shower, or brush the their hair daily or even weekly does not make someone less than or gross or less deserving of anything. We are all people and we all deserve the same respect and we all deserve to feel safe in this world. Everyone has different abilities and support needs. Everyone is their own person and can do what they’re able to and should not be forced to do more than they’re able to do safely or comfortably. Someone may choose to do more but they should not be forced to by others.

Disabled people are people and deserve the same respect as everyone else.

My ability to take care of myself changes daily sometimes even throughout a day and I shouldn’t feel like I’m being judged for doing the best I can when it doesn’t match what others think my best should be.

TL;DR: Someone’s ability to engage in hygiene practices should never ever determine their worth!!!!

EDIT: (September 6th, 2023) I am so proud of everyone in the replies/reblogs who struggle with hygiene too! You are all doing so good and you should be proud of what you’re able to do!

Why does someone else ticking cause me to tic more? Or even just by thinking about ticking I end up ticking more, wtf is up with that shit???