thoughts on canes..

[Gringo]

Do you guys all stay with your walkers all the way through until you feel well enough to just fold them away for that last time?

I am only five days out of surgery, still have the staples in, but already I am thinking the walker is a bit of a pain. I would have preferred crutches, but the OS was dead set against them.

But I was wondering, does it make sense at some point to move from the walker to a cane?

(I already have figured out that I can make a workbench stool out of my walker when I get it back to our little island home)

 

[Surfsister]

I went home on a cane. The folks at the hospital didn't think the walker was necessary. I don't even bother with the cane when I'm in the house now (12 days since surgery). I would think you will either progress to a cane or, perhaps, nothing at all.

 

[stives]

I only had the walker for the first day when I had a little walk. I was still attached to the catheter and the drain and the drip, so it was the easy way to do it. Next day all the tubes were removed and I had a pair of crutches - which are what I think you call canes. Now I don't use anything round the house, but use crutches for going outdoors, just to give me confidence. I feel as if I could probably manage without anything soon.

 

[Doug]

I used a cane pretty much as soon as I got home. I kept the walker close by to keep the dogs from jumping on me.
Of course the walker also came in handy when I had taken a pain pill and was trying to navigate to the bathroom at night.

 

[Josephine]

(Doug - I really though you would have had a monkey for you avatar!)

I had one day on a walker and then my physio made me change to crutches. That was it. About 1 week after I got home I was down to 1 crutch and a week more I ditched that one as well.

 

[Doug]

Uh Huh...It was a disguise.

 

[Judles]

Hop! Do you remember when you were thinking you could make your stairs with your........walker? YIKES!! The only good thing about using a walker outside is the RESPECT you get from the public! Otherwise, great hanger,no????

 

[Gringo]

I am thinking I will cut a plank to go across the horizontal bars below the handles on my walker, and end up with an adjustable height work stool for my little shop.

 

[Jamie]

Gringo, what a great idea!!! You are a resourceful man! Just keep the walker handy for knee number two. I'm sure you'll be on a cane soon. As Doug said, the walker is really good when you are moving around at night or when taking pain meds. It provides the most stability possible. But during the day, you might get one of the adjustable canes (they are at any drug store and not too expensive) and give it a try. Just don't switch until your gait is even. You don't want to be limping as that puts stress on other parts.

Are you getting any physical therapy there at the hotel? Or going somewhere for it? You do need to have someone show you exercises to do (at a minimum) before you go back home.

 

[backbay38]

Just to add to what Jamie said -- I went home after 3 days in the hospital with a walker, crutches and a cane. Ditched the walker for inside the house immediately. But -- I used it outside for maybe 3 days walking on a flat and straight road at a nearby park my husband drove me to. It is good to practice walking evenly because it gives you balance. try NOT to put much weight on it and just keep your hands there to move it and, as I said, for balance. I used one metal, adjustable crutch outside for walking a little and then switched to the cane outside and nothing in the house except for at night to go to the bathroom (without my contacts or glasses I'm really nearsighted.) You will know when you're ready; you will feel balanced and secure on your new knee. You can walk in the hotel corridors - great benefit as they are cushioned with carpet and wide and straight.
your workbench idea for your walker is cool; mine is sitting up in the garage eaves. or you could put it in the garden and hang flower pots from it

 

[Judles]

Oh aren't we creative, Back? A walker....is a walker.....is a walker!!!!

 

[Buckeye]

Great thread! I used a walker for the first couple of weeks after my surgery.
Since I had to use the stairs I used two crutches held in my right hand, the same side as the surgery. It just seemed to give me a bit more support. I eventually switched to the walker folded up and then the cane.
My PT guy said that it was best to use the walker as long as possible to prevent permanent limping on the TKR knee.
I decided to ditch the walker when I found myself carrying it across the room instead of using it. Same deal with the cane. The cane was very helpful outdoors especially on sloped sidewalks, etc.
I can't believe it's been almost 5 months since my surgery. Time flies when you are having fun! LOL!
I am having the left knee done in less than two weeks. Hope this one goes as well as the first.
At least the weather will be warmer this time. Hope you all are doing well.

 

[Texas]

Buckeye, I do hope you have great success with the next knee , sounds like the first was terrific..............

 

[stives]

I can see some possibilities for using a walker when it's no longer needed, but.......any ideas as to what use crutches could be put to? Mine are the sort which I think might be called elbow crutches as they have a round band thing which goes between the wrist and the elbow.

In reality, mine will have to go back to the NHS in time, however, so I won't have to think of a use for them. I hope I'll not need any for a long time in the future. I bought myself a couple of folding walking sticks after TKR 1, and will hang on to them just in case.

 

[stives]

I've also got two walking poles which I use out on our gorgeous coastal path. They don't mark you out as an invalid as much as walking sticks!!! Such vanity!

 

[backbay38]

Stives -- I saw everyone in Prague last summer using those walking poles -- even walking int he crowded central tourist area. And before my TKR I bought one pole specifically made for mountain climbing which is very useful in snowy, icy weather. I saw 2 not-so old guys hiking last week using the one pole and the pole walking (2) is catching on even here. I forget what it's called. There is a formal name for using them. You're right about using them and looking "normal". I am so thrilled now when I go out walking or do some of our hilly paths that I look "normal". No one would even look twice at me! Funny what matters isn't it..... but it does. Reading what you hve written about Cornwall makes we really want to see that part of England. But I also want to see the midlands and Scotland (having grown up reading and re-reading Wuthering Heights and the likes). I want to stand on the heath and yell ---"Heathcliff". Just once. And not be arrested as deranged

 

[Gringo]

That brings back some memories. Before I retired at the ripe old age of 55, my career took me all over the planet and I visited the UK many, many times over the years. I have travelled all over Scotland, from the Orkneys to Edinburgh, across to Ft. William, etc. I even worked for two UK companies, one based in Edinburgh and another in Gt. Yarmouth. I have literally been from one end of the UK to the other. I did a lot of stuff with ARE and the MOD. Sometimes I miss the travel, but then I realize I live in a British Overseas Territory, drive two Land Rovers, and have a Jack Russell Terrierist, which is all pretty strange for an old East Texan who was raised by a pack of wild rednecks.

 

[stives]

Backbay, is it Nordic walking you're talking about? I think that is quite popular here, but the poles sort of go backwards as you walk. When I use mine - I've had them for several years, pre-Nordic walking craze, I tend to keep them more upright. Mine have got springy bits inside so that the arms don't get too much of a strain. I have found them extremely useful, especially when going downhill on rough paths. I'm not sure how useful one pole on its own is - most people I have seen using them have two.

Cornwall is so beautiful. When the weather is good we have clear skies (very little pollution), clear sea, the light is dazzling - it's very popular with artists - and the coast is magnificent. The main problem is it gets very busy in the holiday season. All the authorities put the car parking charges up, and it is very difficult even to find a parking space near the beaches. We tend to go away and visit somewhere less crowded during the school summer holidays!

Gringo, have you progressed to crutches yet? How's it all going? I think you said a while ago that you had visited Cornwall. You've certainly seen a fair bit of God's own country!

 

[Judles]

Could someone please post a picture of those walking poles??? They sound cool.....Thanks, guys!

 

[stives]

Your wish is my command!

Just nipped outside and took a photo of my walking poles. They are extendable, one is unextended, the other is at about the right length for me to walk with.

Hubby cut the grass in the front garden yesterday - hasn't got round to the back yesterday. Looks like a meadow!!