well after falling off the scale at the doctors office on monday, and having broken a few things falling, and throwing out my back and side coughing and not being able to stand up straight, i started using a cane to get around. Ive used crutches before but that was for a probable finite period. I find that after having read over the years of people here who had to start using a cane or wheelchair and what changes in self perception that leads to, that surprisingly it really doesnt bother me as much as i thought it would. I guess that ive been innoculated over time.

a walking stick instead of a cane, last year. Especially when it is slippery out.

Canes are more for weight bearing. I found a reasonable walking stick at
Dunhams, and it works well for me for the balance issues.

My feet have more balance problems than needing weight bearing removed.

Mine is sort of like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-802-25.../dp/B0009PUQHI


I have a cedar one up North, that I made, which is more sturdy for walking on the rocky shore.

Crutches and canes can throw your back out, hurt the shoulders etc.

I can commiserate with you however...most of my problems result from falls!

a walking stick, good idea, ill have to look into it...those look nice and lightweight.

The aluminum one is really nice... Mine was reasonable in price too. Less than $20, and Dunham's here gives a discount if you have a AAA auto insurance membership. So I got that discount too.

Some cost almost $100!

I used it all winter, since I cannot walk well on ice anymore.
The Coleman one I have has a spring inside too, to help you grip.
The tip comes off and a pointy thing is there for ice.

It telescopes up into a small size like a small folding umbrella.

I did attract alot of unpleasant attention at work...the snarky people there
always made fun of my limp etc...you know the cruel small minded ones....
but I didn't really let them get to me. The pole worked really well, walking long distance from parking lot to door. At our age a serious fall can be fatal now,
not just embarrassing.

im long past caring what other people think of me

What I'm realizing is we live in a world with some uncaring and ignorant people. Its hard to not take it personally for me but I try to focus on what is best for me and less on what others think. I know the assistance can be hard but at least your pushing yourself so you can do more in a safe way. That is great.

I picked up a "Missouri Walking Stick" the last time I was in Sedalia MO
(my wife's home town) at a craft fair. There was a whole barrel of 'em made from natural, crooked, tree branches. I just happened to have bumped my foot a few days earlier, and hurt my toe (I think I broke it), so I bought one for about $15. It helped a lot. And I still keep it around, and handy. Some days aren't as good as others.