Book Recommendation: When Walking Fails, by Lisa I. Iezzoni, M.D., M.Sc.

I read a book recently that I'd like to recommend. It's by Lisa I. Iezzoni, M.D., M.Sc. and is titled, "When Walking Fails."

In the book Iezzoni, who has MS and uses a scooter for mobility, found that mobility difficulties are not exclusively conditions of old age, and that medicare and health insurers often have coverage policies that prevent people with disabilities from obtaining assistive devices. She says that whether to start using a wheelchair or scooter is a critical decision for people who have progressive difficulty in walking, and that primary care physicians are generally poorly trained to recognize physical disabilities and to refer patients to appropriate rehabilitation specialists and assistive technology. She also says that physicians carry misconceptions about the positive role a wheelchair/scooter might play in patients' lives.

I found it a fascinating read, particularly because of all the people she interviewed who have mobility difficulties and how they are addressing their issues. Iezzoni's use of a scooter changed her life for the better, much like we've been discussing here.

This book was published in 2003, and there are many copies for sale on eBay.com right now for less than $2.