Handicap Parking Permit

[asta]

I am really struggling with whether I should get a handicap parking permit. My Orthopedic doctor’s office has offered to give me the paper work but I am not sure. I am currently in need of a knee replacement. Walking is very painful and I frequently stumble and fall. I can’t afford the replacement right now and I have a lot of things to deal with time wise that are causing me to put the surgery off as long as possible. I just got fitted with an unloader knee brace but it is so bulky that I am not sure how much I can wear it.

That is my sob story but when I think about the parking permit I know there are many people that have it worse. I feel guilty getting the permit but it would let me do many things that I can’t do because of parking lot distances. I pretty much rely on my husband giving me door to door service but it would be nice to be able to go places without him driving me. Opinions?

 

[Hrhpd]

I am really struggling with whether I should get a handicap parking permit. My Orthopedic doctor’s office has offered to give me the paper work but I am not sure. I am currently in need of a knee replacement. Walking is very painful and I frequently stumble and fall. I can’t afford the replacement right now and I have a lot of things to deal with time wise that are causing me to put the surgery off as long as possible. I just got fitted with an offload knee brace but it is so bulky that I am not sure how much I can wear it.

That is my sob story but when I think about the parking permit I know there are many people that have it worse. I feel guilty getting the permit but it would let me do many things that I can’t do because of parking lot distances. I pretty much rely on my husband giving me door to door service but it would be nice to be able to go places without him driving me. Opinions?

Get it. Just because you have it doesn't mean you have to use it every time. I am waiting for my hip replacement. My surgeon gave me the paperwork and I did get mine. 99.9999% of the time I don't use it. But I feel better knowing that if my hip is really bad one day, I do have the option. I would never park in a space if there were only one or two available, but the very few times I used it, it was when there were plenty of spots available. For instance, we went to a concert over the summer. It was a choice of walking a mile from the parking lots to the venue or parking in the handicap lot. There was no way I could walk a mile and the handicap lot was only half full.

If your doc thinks you need one, don't feel guilty accepting it. Just use it when you absolutely need it. Having one does not mean you can't park in regular spaces. You just have the added the option that when you really, really need it, you have it.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I am really struggling with whether I should get a handicap parking permit. My Orthopedic doctor’s office has offered to give me the paper work but I am not sure. I am currently in need of a knee replacement. Walking is very painful and I frequently stumble and fall. I can’t afford the replacement right now and I have a lot of things to deal with time wise that are causing me to put the surgery off as long as possible. I just got fitted with an offload knee brace but it is so bulky that I am not sure how much I can wear it.

That is my sob story but when I think about the parking permit I know there are many people that have it worse. I feel guilty getting the permit but it would let me do many things that I can’t do because of parking lot distances. I pretty much rely on my husband giving me door to door service but it would be nice to be able to go places without him driving me. Opinions?

Go ahead and get it. You aren't required to actually use it, but when you're having a bad day, it would be nice to rely on it.

 

[Planogirl]

I would get it at least until you can get the knee replacement. Why suffer needlessly?

I was offered one after my accident but I turned it down because walking farther would help me. It doesn't sound like that is the case for you though, at least not yet. I see no reason to be in more pain than necessary if you can avoid it. There will always be people worse off.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Why are you hesitant?

 

[bcla]

I don't get why you don't think you deserve it. Your case is exactly the reason for getting one. Not everyone with one has to be a passenger relying others to drive the car.

Were you looking to get a permanent one (my dad got one after falling off his roof and breaking his shoulder) or just a temporary one that expires?

 

[barkley]

i'm waiting on a knee replacement as well and i have one. i don't use it all the time but esp. when my knee is acting up OR there's any rain/ice on the ground i'm not going to take the chance that my knee catches or buckles and i end up breaking some other part of my body.

it doesn't have to be a forever thing and you are under no obligation to use it but it's nice to have if you need it.

 

[Neesy228]

I agree that you should get it.

My mother has horrible knees and is fearful of knee replacement (long story), so she ended up with one about 2 years ago. She uses it in situations where it would be difficult for her to get to where she needed to be - long walk from the car, difficult walking surfaces, bad weather, her knees are really hurting, etc. When she's going to the grocery store or Target, she usually just parks as close as she can without using it.

It doesn't hurt to have it because you can choose when to use it or not. If you don't have it, then you are limiting yourself unnecessarily. Don't do that.

 

[DVC-Don]

My wife has the placard as she's had her left hip replaced twice along with nerve damage done during the first surgery. She does not use all the time, only when her pain flares up.

 

[cabanafrau]

Stop and consider what would happen if you don't get it and wind up taking a tumble and do further damage that leaves you with permanent mobility issues.

 

[asta]

Why are you hesitant?

I think it is hard to see myself as handicapped and, like mentioned before, there are people who are in worse shape than me who need the permits. I don’t want to take space away from them.

Thanks everyone for the responses. You have definitely made me feel better about this.

 

[tvguy]

You sound like you have a legitimate need, get it.
But I understand your concern, it is probably the moved fraud ridden program around.
I'm in California where 3-million of the placards have been issued.
26,000 have been issued to people over the age of 100.........but, we only have 8,000 people living in the state over the age of 100. So, I think there may be just a little bit of fraud there.
https://nbrc.net/disabled-placards-for-thousands-of-dead-californians-part-of-program-abuse/

 

[GreatLakes]

I agree with the others that say go ahead and get it. On days when you feel good or there are limited spaces and you feel guilty don't use it. On bad days or when a lot has 20 empty handicapped spaces feel free. If you have a real need, even if it isn't as bad as others, I think you should be guilt free.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I’m with the rest. Go ahead & get the permit. My mom has had to do it twice (hip replacement & a broken leg) and my wife once (knee surgery). In the end, neither used the HC spot even once. But, it was nice to know they could have if they had had a tough day.

 

[gotomu212]

I think it is hard to see myself as handicapped and, like mentioned before, there are people who are in worse shape than me who need the permits. I don’t want to take space away from them.

Thanks everyone for the responses. You have definitely made me feel better about this.

You getting one doesn’t take someone else’s space. It’s not a finite number of passes so please don’t feel like you aren’t “bad enough compared to someone in worse condition”. You have every right to get a placard while you are dealing with this. A temporary placard doesn’t mean you are handicapped, it means you have a temporary need that requires an accommodation.

 

[arminnie]

I have a degenerative nerve disease and literally cannot walk at all without a rollator - and then only for 3-4 yards. But use a scooter most of the time.

But I rarely use the HC parking. If my DH is with me he will drop me off at the door and go park in a regular spot. If I am alone I will have my scooter so it’s no big deal to scooter in from regular parking.

WDW is the exception as I cannot use the trams.

 

[KPeterso]

Another vote to get one. You can use it when you need it and not use it when you are feeling good. My Mom has one and if I can get a regular spot close to where we are going, I will use a regular spot. If I can't we use the placard. She had a knee replacement in December and really should be considering getting the other knee done. She has had one for probably 7-8 years for her knee issues.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'm with the others, get it and use it when you need it. And don't feel guilty about it one bit.