This article in the Guardian, naturally took me back to early 1981 when I had to start using a walking stick to navigate my way around due to both my hip joints giving me trouble.
For the past 36 years plus now, I have been using a walking stick whenever I leave home, even if it is just to our grocer across the road. I simply cannot imagine my being able to be without one outside my home.
Here is a collection of walking sticks that wait for me just near the main door to the house.
I pick one as I leave and choose the one most appropriate for the trip I am making. For instance, if it is to the local park, I will choose the black one with the strap, or the brown one with the brass handle if I am going for a formal meeting.
I have a few more stored away in the attic, notably a pair of elbow crutches which I have to use immediately after surgery for revision to the replaced hip joints.
There is a story behind the brass handled walking stick. A friend winding up his longish stay and returning from the UK to India, bought it as a gift for me in London. On his presenting it to me, I discovered that it was made in India, by the engraving at the bottom of the crocodile shaped handle! It went all the way to London and came back to me in Pune! You can imagine the embarrassment that it caused my friend.
One of the advantages of being with a walking stick is the readiness with which people help with seats, places in queues etc. It is also a nice way to identify myself to strangers to look out for a grey bearded old man with a walking stick. It never fails!
My husband had a hip replacement in February and is docketed to have one on the other hip when he agrees. I’ll suggest a walking stick.
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I am surprised that the surgeon hasn’t already.
a delightful post rummy.
i love the look of a walking stick. to me it always seems rather elegant.
and the fact that it incidentally holds one up is an added bonus! 🙂
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One can also joke that one carries it as a weapon of self defence!
What a coincidence! I have cross country ski poles up on the land for walking around, and today the two walking/trekking poles I ordered for down here arrived. They’re not to support me, just help me with my balance so I don’t topple over. Hurray for all the tools at our disposal.
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I think that people who have problems with their gait not willing to use walking sticks are just being vain and unwise.
Funny story about the brass handled walking stick. Your friend shouldn’t be embarrassed—he has excellent taste! My husband, who had one hip replaced two years ago, goes nowhere without his cane, says it helps him with his balance. He manages to make it look quite elegant, as I’m sure you do too!
Yes, I am told that the walking stick does add some elegance to the persona!
I use crutches – gimpy knees that I refuse to have replaced. I have tried a cane but did not feel comfortable with it.
I didn’t know that Chuck. Must be quite a sight!
I have hiking poles that I am reluctant to use. A weird vanity or independent thinking which is detrimental to my wellbeing. You inspire me to persist, Ramana. ?
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I hope that you will start to use them. All the best.
I don’t need a walking stick as yet, my knees and hips are fine. But if I needed one, I would happily use one, I wouldn’t refuse out of embarrassment. Why risk my personal safety out of vanity?
Exactly!
walking sticks are not the preferred item here, if you have one, it must be adjustable so that it fits you…but most professionals do not like them as a long term solution.
however there are a lot of these: https://www.weka.net.nz/equipment/walking/walking-frames – come in diff shapes, diff extras, most fold – but so many of the people (mostly elderly) do not understand fold up when getting on a bus…and they don’t always move smoothly down the aisle.
you see people trundling along with them or if they have an attached seat, sitting on them, and the basket below full of all kinds of things…
of course people also have these:
http://www.briscoes.co.nz/bags-and-luggage/trolley-cases/shopping-trolley-red-1037425 – I’ve got one as well, mine’s lime green and I didn’t get it at Briscoes!!!
you never see the 2 together though…
A time may well come when I may have to graduate to those frames. People who are less mobile than I am do use them here too. The shopping trolley is new to me and it looks very interesting. I don’t shop any more and depend on online sellers for what I need.
I think it may have been the Asian ethnic group that introduced us to the shopping trolley – you see them daily somewhere on your journey. And around locally lots on a Sunday as there is a big market at the Avondale Race Track on Rata Street. So if you catch a bus any time of that morning, you are surrounded by chattering and trolleys full of all kinds of things, because usually they so full that bits of greenery/other is poking out…
http://www.avondalesundaymarkets.co.nz/
there are others in the region – another at Takapuna – probably has just as many people
I used to go to the Avondale market when I was living in a bigger household at Delta (more flatmates) but I didn’t have this type of trolley – rather I had a large cardboard box on an old luggage trolley…
it’s not just food – but all kinds of things – hardware, plants, carboot sales, clothing, food caravans etc