How many of you use a cane and how often.

I admit to being vain. I will often leave my cane at the entrance to a restaurant and buck it up. Is this something anyone else does?

I had to break mine out yesterday,Damn leg was acting up.But on the bright side it does get a lot of doors open for me.

I don't use a cane, but every time I go to a restaurant, I calculate the walking distance from the van to the entrance, then judging by the size of the place, from the door to the table. If the place is all on one level and looks small enough, I will leave my wheelchair in the van and walk in. I have miscalculated on many occasions, and ended up only making it to my seat by the skin of my teeth and assistance from hubby. Even so, I do this every time I go. Apparently, I have a vain streak too.

quote:

Originally posted by V960

I admit to being vain. I will often leave my cane at the entrance to a restaurant and buck it up. Is this something anyone else does?

I only carry a cane when I know I'll have to walk an extended distance. My specialist recently told me the hip should last a while longer before replacement. I don't mind if I have to use one, and buy heavy stock canes at the feed store. They also come in handy should you need a weapon, and they're legal to carry anywhere.

Mrs. Oneiron uses one on me when I misbehave.

If you want to pick out a nice cane go to the lost and found at Sams Club and tell them you lost your cane.The man will show you about ten different kinds.OH!Thats Mine,works like a charm.

quote:

Originally posted by jellybear

If you want to pick out a nice cane go to the lost and found at Sams Club and tell them you lost your cane.The man will show you about ten different kinds.OH!Thats Mine,works like a charm.

Slightly off-topic but when I was in college in the late 60's, if I was caught in a rainstorm and had to make my way back to my far-away dorm, I'd head to the lost and found at the Student Union building. I'd tell them that I lost a plain black umbrella with a wooden handle. "Yep, that's the one" and I'd be on my way.

My wife uses a cane at work and out shopping, but not at home. Last summer she did too much walking without the cane (Target, Publix, Staples) and fell in the house a day later. She was just too tired and lost muscle control. She spent 6 weeks in bed (tore her hamstring). Now she uses a walker - but finds it much easier than the cane. It helps with her balance, and she can put things on it. She has muscular dystrophy, and is having a hard time getting adjusted.

I don't know. I'd probably not use one either, even if I had to. We're both kind of hard-headed.

quote:

Originally posted by RubyRose

quote:

Originally posted by jellybear

If you want to pick out a nice cane go to the lost and found at Sams Club and tell them you lost your cane.The man will show you about ten different kinds.OH!Thats Mine,works like a charm.

Slightly off-topic but when I was in college in the late 60's, if I was caught in a rainstorm and had to make my way back to my far-away dorm, I'd head to the lost and found at the Student Union building. I'd tell them that I lost a plain black umbrella with a wooden handle. "Yep, that's the one" and I'd be on my way.

Bad Karma. You're lucky lightning didn't strike you dead!

Hello All,
I've used a cane from time to time for the last 25 years.
I hurt an ankle real bad, and after losing the crutches, used a
cane for a year or so. I was in my 20's then and was just glad for it.
In my 30's, I hurt my back badly. I use it now rarely, but still need
it from time to time when I am in intense pain when it comes to walking.
The pain from my back often runs down one leg and makes movement a rough experience.
I have my grandfather's old wooden cane, a cane that an ex-roommate gave me that
has a glass flask in it, and the wife gave me a wolf-headed cane with about a 3 foot
"sword" hidden in it.
I hate the reason for using the cane when I must-pain.
But I still remember the old "Bat Masterson," western, starring Gene Barry, and
try to think of myself as suave, dashing, and a gentleman when I use it.
My Mother uses her cane always, and also has to use a walker at times.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

I only use a cane when the customer REALLY deserves it!

If you travel abroad. Definitely take your cane. It gets you through customs a lot faster. They come and single you out and bring you to the head of the line. It worked for my sister-in-law.

quote:

Originally posted by jellybear

If you want to pick out a nice cane go to the lost and found at Sams Club and tell them you lost your cane.The man will show you about ten different kinds.OH!Thats Mine,works like a charm.

Makes you wonder whether folks found the Miracle Cure from shoppin' at Sam's & threw their canes off in the far parking lot, out by the overnight RV's. So the guy who picks up the carts can find em.

That must have been what happened to mine then,I left it in the cart and never seen it again.

when the cortizone (sp?) shot for my arthritic knees stops working!

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

If you travel abroad. Definitely take your cane. It gets you through customs a lot faster. They come and single you out and bring you to the head of the line. It worked for my sister-in-law.

My experience traveling with a cane was quite opposite. Going trough security I got pulled aside, hand scanned, patted down and totally humiliated. They did let me board the plane first though. In general, people are nice and open doors.

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

If you travel abroad. Definitely take your cane. It gets you through customs a lot faster. They come and single you out and bring you to the head of the line. It worked for my sister-in-law.

My experience traveling with a cane was quite opposite. Going trough security I got pulled aside, hand scanned, patted down and totally humiliated. They did let me board the plane first though. In general, people are nice and open doors.

You don't have to have a cane for that to happen. Anyone can get pulled aside. It's happened to me numerous times. If you really want the experience travel to a place on one airline with a one way ticket and back with another airline without luggage. I did that going to Chicago for a day trip and got check at security and was again pulled aside when boarding the airplane. Four very thorough security checks in one day. They had my name on a list.

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

quote:

Originally posted by kland01s

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

If you travel abroad. Definitely take your cane. It gets you through customs a lot faster. They come and single you out and bring you to the head of the line. It worked for my sister-in-law.

My experience traveling with a cane was quite opposite. Going trough security I got pulled aside, hand scanned, patted down and totally humiliated. They did let me board the plane first though. In general, people are nice and open doors.

You don't have to have a cane for that to happen. Anyone can get pulled aside. It's happened to me numerous times. If you really want the experience travel to a place on one airline with a one way ticket and back with another airline without luggage. I did that going to Chicago for a day trip and got check at security and was again pulled aside when boarding the airplane. Four very thorough security checks in one day. They had my name on a list.

In my case it was because I cannot walk without my shoes on so I had to be "special" screened.

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

Four very thorough security checks in one day. They had my name on a list.

The "suspected tenderloin smugglers" list, no doubt...

I suspect I'll need a cane someday. I did a good job of beating up my legs when I was younger...

Brad

I have to use a cane all the time as I simply cannot walk without it. It is miserable being in pain all the time, but the cane does help me get about and it certainly does help open doors for me. In addition, when being seated, I can ask that we not have to walk far for a table and that works well also.

How wonderful it would be to be totally mobile as we once were, when young.....but a cane is better than a wheel chair IMHO, and I can always use the electric carts in the grocery stores. That makes grocery shopping fun instead of a chore.

Hang in there all you can users......

Donna

I had a fracture in my fifth metatarsal in Dec. 04, which led to a cast to the knee on that leg. I was given a cane to use to get around with, but I honestly wasn't very mobile and it was the middle of winter too. After the cast was removed, I continued using the cane mainly due to severe arthritis in both knees, probably caused by too many falls (the last significant one being the one that resulted in the fracture).

When at home, I don't use the cane but I do when I go out. It helps me to maintain balance, especially on uneven pavement. It's probably wrecked my posture, though. And the arthritis continues to worsen, painfully, alleviated solely by alleve for the time being. It beats the alternative, though!

I'm going to be terrible...I like Vicoden in addition to a cane. I'm sure I will misspell this but my main cane would better be described as a shalilah...actually almost a weapon.

I'm glad that I can still walk up to 10 miles a day and do some mountain climbing. Fishing, hunting and camping are still in the picture.

I use a cane or crutches on an almost daily basis because of my back. I just went to another back surgeon, and he told me, after an MRI and an X-ray, that among many other things, I have Scoliosis, and because of Degenerative Disc Disease, that I don't own a single good disc in my entire back. Before performing surgery, he wants me to go to physical therapy (once again) and wear a back brace for 3 months. I'm not crazy about going to therapy again, because of the expense, and the fact that it has never helped me in the past. I'm even less crazy about surgery! So for now, I'm trying to avoid as many expenses as possible, and all surgeries! What is even more embarrassing than using a cane or crutches, is having to use those motorized carts in stores like Wal-Mart, etc! I really hate that!

quote:

Originally posted by bbqjimbob

What is even more embarrassing than using a cane or crutches, is having to use those motorized carts in stores like Wal-Mart, etc! I really hate that!

I love those scooters and am a champion driver on them! Yesterday I attracted a legion of children who thought it was cool. Seriously, I am not able to visit a store without a scooter and am grateful they have them to use.

i use a cane in the house and my scooter when we go out.
plenty of times i'm asked to slow down.
it's my caddy, bright red and goes 12 mph.
everytime i go out, someone always points and says"i need to get one of those."