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Trading a Walker for a Cane

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*gmac*

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Great day. Had my 6 week check up today. Doc showed me the new me on x-rays. Everything looked perfect. He said I can get rid of the walker and use a cane. Wow, really exciting. Drove home, found my great grandmothers old cane and realized I didn't know what to do. So, we Goggled; "How to walk with a cane". Next hurdle put those theories into practical application.
Drive to local drug store looking for those rubber tips for canes. Didn't have any small enough so had to buy an adjustable cane; (felt more comfortable with the size) 30 degree bend in the arm and all that.
Wow. Sure didn't go as smooth as I envisioned it. Anyone have any tips on learning how to walk again? I will try small steps and one foot in front of the other. I had to cut the grass today for therapy. Fortunately it rained so I can finish it tomorrow. I'll get out there tomorrow. (Stanj you are my role model, tap dancing in the recovery room).
 
Hi GMAC
Tap dancing... I couldn't do that even before the hip got bad;>)

You had to do the same as I did, went to Google to figure out how to use and adjust my first ever crutches. I asked about when I could switch to a cane and my OS said "never, if you know what's good for you". Then he explained that it was imporant to develop balance and strive for equal weight on each leg, equal stride length or else back pain would be the least of the problems that could develop. My whole pelvis had shifted and tilted after years of favoring the bad leg so he wanted me to know that it would not due to favor either leg if balane was ever to be attained again. It made sense, I catch myself not loading my "new" leg as much when walking out of years of habit. I have to concentrate on using the same stride and extension with both legs, it might take a long to time to train my body to work in a balanced state again. He further said that after crutches, no aid would be the next step. When walking I notice I barely put any weight on the crutches now compared to a week ago.
I walked to work this morning and returned late carrying my 20lb laptop and case, which has been wearing me out this last week. About 1/2 way home I made an effort to use the crutches only for balance but not load bearing and was surprised that it worked fine with no pain. In my apartment when I walk around without crutches, it has been difficult to step off with my "new" leg but bearing weight is not a problem. Tonight walking home in full sun light at 10pm( we are 500 miles from the Artic Circle so during the late spring and early summer the sun sky does not get dark until 3 am and is light again at 4.) was the first time I walked when taking a full stride with the new leg and using the crutches only for finger tip balance. I plan on a lot of activity this weekend. A young singer from Moscow wants to hire me as her producer for her first international album. It could be interesting, I've heard her demos which were impressive and she as a seriously wealthy backer who wants to fund it. She is on her way to St Petersburg now for our first meeting. Between exercising, walking in the parks, meetings with the singer and a dance party tomorrow night it looks like I am going to be testing the limits of my new bionic leg;>) I'll report back if I survive the weekend.
 
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