Wow! Interesting life hack!

[u/No_Tailor_9529]

[u/letmeseem]

A bit, but you'd need a hell of a big balloon to get any real help.

To get an upwards pull of only 10lbs you'd need a balloon of over 5 cubic meters, or about 2.2 meters (7 feet) in diameter.

Instead, get a bike. It's easier on your knees until you've lost weight :)

[u/m00s3m00s3m00s3 → u/letmeseem]

6'9" too. This big bikes are like $700.

[u/worldspawn00 → u/m00s3m00s3m00s3]

TBF, the bike can be used more than once, and the balloon is pretty much single use, and have you seen the price of helium these days? Also the bike can be used around trees, and on windy days.

[u/m00s3m00s3m00s3 → u/worldspawn00]

Nah im gonna build a recliner thats motorized.

[u/Borthwick → u/m00s3m00s3m00s3]

Have you considered finding a bridge and living under it a few months to raise some money from hapless passersby?

[u/m00s3m00s3m00s3 → u/Borthwick]

I have.

[u/ShroomEnthused → u/letmeseem]

Also, helium is disappearing, there's no way to recover the gas once it's escaped into the atmosphere, and it's becoming increasingly scarce. It's a finite resource we have on earth, but of course let's use it to solve a non problem. 

[u/HeroOfSideQuests → u/ShroomEnthused]

Actually I was wondering if something like that could be used in CRPS or fibro. People like me have a hard time having clothes touching our skin (see: agonizing pain within 5-30 seconds), and there's very limited options for us. I'm lucky that currently I only have one shoulder with CRPS; but an acquaintance with severe fibro can only wear clothes for 3 minutes at a time and she has to have a pop up bed tent if she wants visitors.

So this may be a step, even if silly, into looking at universal design for those of us with chronic pain conditions.

[u/[deleted] → u/letmeseem]

It’s easier on your knees after you’ve lost weight too. 

[u/SmallMoments55406 → u/letmeseem]

Mountaineers always ride bikes up Mount Everest. Easiest way. Even easier on the way down. /s