What medical conditions make it so you can walk a short distance but not a long one?

Answer 1

Neurological issues, such as an incomplete spinal cord injury or Cauda Equina Syndrome, cause muscle atrophy in the legs along with neurological pain in the legs and feet (similar to the tingling pain you feel when you hit your elbow just right, i.e., funny bone). As a person stands or walks, the pain increases. Likewise, fibromyalgia can limit a person's ability to walk a long distance. Someone recovering from surgery, or who has a heart condition may be under doctor's orders to limit the amount of walking they do. Then there are orthopedic issues, such as the degeneration of the hip or knee. Again, these conditions can cause a great deal of pain which limit a person's ability to walk. For those who might wonder why more people don't use wheelchairs for these conditions, it's important to understand that there are several major health benefits to standing and walking. For example, people with complete spinal cord injuries (who cannot stand on their own) often use a standing frame which forces the body into a standing position. This is beneficial to bone strength and circulation.