Should I start using a cane to help me walk?

From my experience, eagle0eye, I'd say that if you think there is any possibility of it helping you, do it! 5 years ago, I'd reached the point where I could no longer walk unaided. At first I used a walking stick/cane, and eventually a crutch. To be honest, I did find the crutch easier, as it didn't put so much strain on my hand and wrist - also, people react less with a crutch, as they just assume you've injured your leg.

I did find it helped me get used to things by using the cane at places where I didn't know people at first. So holidays/vacations are ideal. As confidence increased, I cared less what people might think.

Another thing which I found is that if you behave confidently and show you are not phased, people don't actually take much notice at all.

I think you should do it, eagle0eye! It's very liberating. I'm very glad I did. I used mine for 4 years, but can now walk unaided again.

I've not needed to use a cane except around the house - but that's because I can arrange my life to not need to leave the house when I'm having trouble walking.

Go! Find a really neat cane!! Why put yourself through more misery than you absolutely have to!! It surely won't help you to heal, or to enjoy your day.

Ha ha ha, Nilrin!! "Have you watched House? Dr. House is a sexy beast, and he uses a cane. I might be a straight guy, but I still know hawt when I see it. :) "

I would use a cane...I think it would be a good idea.

I'm a very self-conscious person...so I understand where you're coming from...but it sounds like it could help with your pain.

I absolutely hated having to go to a cane. And then to have to use a transport chair when I go out. But it has helped me have some freedom and take the pressure off of my hip. The longer you wait in my opinion the more damage you will do. At home I use a 3 wheel rollator. I just got it and I love it. It has given me so much more freedom at home.

I was so embarrassed when I first started using it, but I just smile at every with confidence and dare them to feel sorry for me!!!

- there's a link on that link - showing Johnny Depp with a cane....who's cooler than Johnny?

Nice! So no poison gas comes out the end though? Hmm, too bad.

eagle, I am 53 years old. Since Lyme (and our many misdiagnoses) is invisible people don't know you are sick unless you tell them.

My family is a Disney family. We started taking my daughter (now 23) since she was 10 months old. Some years we would get annual passes because we were close enough to drive there. My daughter is now working for Disney.

So one day my husband used a pedometer while we went to Epcot and he clocked 16 miles. Yeah, 16 miles!

I eventually reached a point where I could do the parks without lots of rest breaks. If I stood in line too long, I would get agonizing pain beginning with my feet and working up to the top of my thighs. I would then end up in bed for weeks. So I told my husband that I was going to try using a motorized wheelchair. We "discussed" it and I made a reservation with a company that delivers/picks them up at the bell desk.

It was perfect. We saw all the rides/activities we wanted to do got done. I only walked very short distances, so basically, I stored up energy for the actual rides and attractions. After I did it a second time, the next time I made the registration I just reserved it with the airline ticket without telling my husband. it can be very in moderately price. We used the Disney bus where ever we wanted. But it meant I could enjoy the trip, instead of being a drag on anyone else and at times had to stay back at the room

Sorry to talk endlessly, I now use the motorized scooter it it's available where we are going.

In December 2015, my daughter graduated college and one of the places we wanted to see was Hawaii. It was one of the best vacations we'd taken in a long time. It definitely is not the most handicap friendly place to visit. But we really wanted to go.

So we flew into LA and stayed the night and then took a couple hours flight that took 6 hours due to late arrivals and a mechanical system. We flew to .

We picked activities for everyone's ability and some times split up so we could do what we would enjoy.

One of the activities we all did was climbing up Diamond (the trail was partly paved [beginning of the trail and the end of the trail]). I used two trekking poles.

So we started up the trail slowly but carefully. My kids ran up and down it checking on me. When others needed to pass us on the "rock staircase" (more like a split) Peter (My Husband) & would stop and have a discussion until I was ready to go on. One woman stopped near us and we had a conversation. She asked about our family and my health. She cheered me on.

When I climbed the stairs to get to the top, someone snapped a picture of me. It was the woman who we had a conversation. I asked was that her that took the picture and she said yes. She didn't offer to exchange information (so I could get a copy) and I didn't ask.

But I'm pretty sure that when her kids say "i can't do it, its too hard", she whips out that picture and says "if this lady can climb up Diamond Head with a chronic illness and two walking poles" then you should be able to clean your room, etc.

I don't need affirmation that I can use different methods to get to the same situation as an able bodied. My husband and my kids get embarrassed when things like that happen. I don't. Even as an introvert I don't care what complete strangers think of me.

If you need assistance, ask for it or use a cane or a walker or a scooter. There is no reason to add to the burden of the disease.

Have you heard of the spoon theory? If you google it, you will come to a site that belongs to a woman with Lupus(?). She had trouble because people wanted to do this or that and she was at a loss as to how to get her friends and family to understand that someday she couldn't get off the couch or out of bed.

One day she got a bright idea. She grabbed a handful of spoons and said "Each spoon represents energy in my body". Each time she did something she would take away a spoon. When there were no spoons left, that was it she was done for the day. Overtime they came to understand that when something came up she had to decide if it were worth using a spoon up. It meant that she said no to things because she would need that spoon later.

I call it managing energy. If I expend energy doing something, then I won't be able to do something later on. So each time something comes up, I have to decide if it will be worth using up some of my energy. I even tell my husband and kids this. If you want me to do this now, then I won't be able to do that later on.

So never be embarrassed by using a cane or any other aid. If people make fun of you, they are jerks and way beneath you. Use the cane if it will help you to save some of your precious energy. Don't worry about people close to you also thinking you should be able to do more. We look healthy and they forget that we are sick. But put your foot down when family wants to push you into doing something you don't have the energy for.

I'll give you an example, my husband's nephew will be confirmed (made an adult member of our church) in about 10 days. My husband agreed to be his sponsor. My sister-in-law lives a 6-9 hr drive from us. We were going to drive and my husband would have done all the driving (for me driving is the most painful activity). Then my husband's company wanted him to travel to China. He asked me if I could drive back (he would be flying out of Atlanta directly). I said nope, too long of a drive. He said, ok we'll have to get flights for me and my son. Halleluia! (sp) He's starting to learn (after 26 years of marriage) that a few hundred bucks isn't worth me ending up bed bound for a week or two. Actually, he's learned some and I have just stopped negotiating (or discussing)about the cost of these types of things.

So if you need a cane, walk with a cane and don't worry about what others would say. I know she's your Mom and he's your husband, but you need to do what is right for you. The only reason you would become dependent on it is if your condition deteriorates.

My Mom had end stage COPD. She had been on oxygen for 5 or 6 years before she died. The oxygen flow valve had 1, 2, 3, 4, off as settings. about a year ago, when I went to visit she had it set to 3 and was having trouble getting enough oxygen. She refused to up it to setting 4. Her rationale was that the "longer" she stayed at 3, the "more time" she would have on 4 because after 4 there was no higher "dose" and she didn't want to "use it up".

With COPD, your lungs are not able to absorb as much oxygen when you breath in. It's due to scar tissue in the lungs. Lung tissue doesn't grow back, it just scars over. So it's pretty illogical to "save" up oxygen she could have been using. All she did by staying at level 3 was deprive her organs of oxygen and cause herself untold misery. She passed away in October and the oxygen tank was still set at 3.

So use the cane. It will help take some of the strain off your muscles. Muscles who already are having difficulty handling the load. It's a temporary measure while you are treating Lyme&Co. Once you have them licked, then you start rebuilding your muscles (or better yet use the parts of Buhner's protocol that is for rebuilding muscles). When you get that far you likely won't have any problems putting the cane away.

A cane is not like an addictive drug. All you have to do is hang it up somewhere or give it away. With medications its not so simple.

Hope you have a good day,
Kim