Hi there I have used a hiking stick for years they are cheap light and help a lot.No one seems to notice ...I call it a stagger stick that gets a laugh.I have fallen hard and thats not fun..The last hard fall I had was in the house I broke three teeth..I don't go anywhere without it.A fall can seem minor at the time but the damage can be severe..So protect yourself it isn't as bad as you think.A stick can really get people to behave if they make a silly comment...Have some fun and get respect at the same time.Take care!

Isn't falling the worst feeling???? You know you're going, seems like in slow motion, but you can't do anything about it. I have three different canes -- all stuck away in the closet now -- but I wish I had put my vanity aside back then and used a rollator instead, especially one with a seat! As others have said, a cane helps somewhat with balance, but if it gets worse and like you mentioned, your leg just gives out, I don't think a cane would help very much.

I remember meeting the blacktop in a Sears parking lot, up close and personal -- tripping up a step (foot drop) to Radio Shack, landing on my knees, stomach. After thinking a walker/rollator would be too embarrassing, it wasn't too cool lying on the ground either with holes in the knees of the pants and blood oozing out. Also as time went on and my balance got worse, trying to walk through a big "open" section of the mall, brought on the vertigo. Walking with a bunch of packages while trying to hang on a cane for dear life isn't very much fun either. What I would have done for a place to sit (rollator).

So.....my advice.....for what it's worth.....would be try a cheap cane and see how it goes, but keep that rollator in mind. You'll be able to use it longer. In the big box stores, use a scooter they keep there. It's hard at first, but fun once you get used to it. My grands always wanted to sit on my lap and "drive" if they were with me. I took out a couple end displays before I perfected my "driving skills". Use whatever you have to in order to remain mobile....it's really the pitts staying home all the time now.

Take care and be careful!

I have three canes. One is a very pretty flower covered cane that is more of a "fashion" statement than it is a real help. It does the job if I need to steady myself but I need the heavy-duty one if I'm going to be doing alot of walking.

If I'm going out to dinner or somewhere I'll be sitting for any length of time I take it with me. After sitting for a while my legs are stiff and don't always do what my brain tells them to. And......I don't want people to think I've had too much wine with dinner (even though I don't drink!).

I rarely take my cane to the grocery store because I use the shopping cart for balance.

I've also found it's very hard to maneuver with a purse and a cane. Guess I should just leave the purse at home and just carry my ID in my pocket. But I'm a "purse" girl....love my purses!

I use purses with long straps so I do not have to worry about holding it or it sliding off my shoulder. I have never liked holding purses. I use a cane whenever I go out and sometimes in the evening at home. I do love stores that have shopping carts. Then the cane goes in the cart.

I can see where a rollator would come in handy at a mall. I generally avoid malls anymore. If there are a few stores that I want to go to, I just park by them and go to those stores.

And......thank goodness for online shopping!

Wow! Those were awesome replies!
Thanks everybody!

I loved hearing your stories and suggestions.

I think I will go out today and get a cheap cane from walgreens (and I'll definitely dress her up Sandy! :]) and try it for a couple of days to see how that goes.

I totally know what you all are saying about the shopping carts! It seems I can move easier pushing that thing, instead of wobbling around for an hour then get the zombie walk going on, lol.

And I have been thinking about how I said that I feel it would be enabling the disease getting a cane... If I am constantly trying to shake off the wobbles, correcting my balance and what not when I am out and about, that's enabling the disease. right? So I'm definitely going to check the cane out, don't have to use it on good days, just my 'drunkard days' (I don't drink at all,lol), then I am thinking maybe I'll have more days without the cane with comfort because for my bad days I don't enable the disease anymore.. I dunno it's just what I was thinking.. lol (I'm a lil out there today.. can ya tell?) haha!

Anywhooo... Thanks again for sharing your personal stories/experience/advice!!! You all truly rock my socks off!

i second the walking stick. looks like you are just going for a hike or you can pretend you are just carrying it if you're shy about it.

As I have been following this thread, I say both. Definitely use the cane but also get a rollator. Both Sams Club and Costco carry them. You can use each as the task at hand differs.

I don't need to use a cane just yet.

Butttt...

When I broke my ankle about 3 years ago, I used a knee scooter to get around in stores. It gave me stability and speed. Also it came with brakes, cuz you really can move fast!

Instead of screaming "I have a disease," it quietly says, "this very cool person has a temporary problem with one leg." (Well, I'm not sure it said that about ME, but when I see other folks use them, I think it is very cool.)

Not sure if this is something that would work for your needs, but thought I'd toss it into the pool of ideas. Good luck to you!

Here is a picture:
http://kneescooter.com/

That's cool, Twink..