Cane use

Best wishes

Carol

I too had been holding the cane on the wrong hand. I just went to the required pre op physio and they told me so there. I had no idea that this was wrong. but I definitely see advice is needed for using all the walking aids as I intuitively automatically do it the wrong way.  I definitely needed help to see how to do the stairs and use the walker.  The correct way is to move the walker first but I was moving the walker after the step. I am sorry you didn't get the help you needed and  that physio or gp or hospital or OT did not notice you were doing this incorrectly a long time ago and help you in this regard. So glad to hear it is getting better already. Please update us in a month or so because I am curious about whether it makes the difference and that you can become limp free. 

Oh my dear my phsio told me how i had use cane ,walker & how I walk and it help me

Hope you will be limp free

Hugs

Hi Jean,

I occasionally used a stick before my op if I was out walking a long way, and I held it in my wrong hand, right hip, right hand... but straight after my op the hospital physios showed me how to use the crutches, and told me that when I was able to use one, then hold it in my opposite hand.

I'm so sorry that you weren't told that, because it must have made walking so much harder.

Hopefully you will make a rapid recovery now. All the best, Judirh

Hi Jean,

I had to do a class with several others while we were still in the hospital after our FHRs.  They showed us how to go up and down stairs with crutches and a cane.  It was then that we were told to hold the cane in hand on the opposite side of our operation.

After my FHR I used a walker for about a week, then tried to use a cane for about 3-4 days before I decided that it really wasn't helping me.  I started to get lower back pain.  I realized that I couldn't stand up straight when I walked using a cane, so I decided that I was better off without it.  There was no turning back after that.  I continued with 8 weeks of physical therapy (physio), and then returned to work walking without a limp at all.

As your check up went well, you shouldn't have to use a cane any longer.  Especially at 7 months!  You should be walking upright, and that's impossible if you have to lean into any walking device, especially a cane.  Unless your doctor said that you need it, I'd get rid of the cane.  You'll probably find that you do much better without it.  If you are still hurting, I'd advise you to spend a few more weeks in physio to help get the hip muscles tightened back up.

Wishing you the best as you continue to recover

Hi Jean,

You are doing good - please try to not compare yourself to others .. I am sorry that you were not given the correct instructions how to use the cane ... Where did you buy it ? I got mine from the orthopedic department and was shown how to use it ...it might have hampered the way you walk , but you mention that you are walking a lot better now ... so that is good and you'll see that it will improve - 

Too bad that you do not get any physical therapy ... is there any way you can go privately - maybe 2-3 sessions just to have them show you how to move properly .. 

Hard to believe that a doctor would say something like that ...

There is nothing wrong with using a cane or any other walking aid as long as you are not in balance - so much healing is taking place and 7 months is not that long - (might seem an eternity, right?)  

Be gentle and kind to yourself - one step at a time, darling ...

big warm hug

renee