I finally took my first nose dive
 

I guess I knew it would come at some time. Sunday, while walking just a bit too fast I guess from room to room in my home, I hit a laundry basket left on the floor, turned an ankle and face planted my forehead into the corner of a cabinet and almost knocked myself cold. I did manage to open a wound to the bone and scared every one. A lot of ice and butterfly bandages later, I looked like someone who had too much fun at a Superbowl party when I never even left my house.
Insult to injury, the suggestion was made by a family member that I needed to get a cane. I recall when I was first diagnosed by a rather rude MD. He walked into the room, put me thru a few paces, declared that I had Parkinson's, wrote me a script for Carbi/Levo and suggested that I buy a cane. Needless to say I never went back to see that jerk.
So, perhaps I'm a bit sensitive to the cane, question... anyone using a cane and does it really help? I don't usually have any problems walking and it would seem like a cane would get in the way more than help other than make for a nifty weapon to poke a lazy relative. But... I may need to consider this thru new eyes. So, tell me... should I be considering this and if so, what kind do I buy?

I don't use a cane for my MS, but a definite plus would be that it makes a handy weapon!

I broke my ankle approx. 3 years ago and boy, did those crutches come in handy!

Seriously, tho, I'm sorry you fell and hope you DO get a cane so you don't beat yourself up any more! :hug: Be safe!

Three-pronged if you do it
 

My mom had a cane and her doc made her get rid of it and get one that had three-prongs. Those simple canes wobble all around but the ones with three prongs on the end are much more stable. Be sure the tips are rubberized, most are.

We all face this and it's good to know what works and what doesn't. When I get my cane I'm going to decorate it like a giant peppermint stick. :)

I use a crutch, I tried the cane and just felt extremely off balanced. The crutch helps keeps me up right and just gives a bit more support to keep from falling over. I used ribbon to decorate it :) and a little pillow to keep from giving me a bruise. Hope this was of some help :)

I use a stick when I first get up in the morning, I read somewhere that that was better than a cane because it changed your center of gravity and that does seem to be so. I went to the hardware store and bought a four foot long one inch beechwood dowel and added rubber tips to both ends. I find that twirling it like I'm leading a parade helps too. :D

Hi madamlash
 

So sorry you fell and hit your head. No fun there at all. I am also sorry you have parkensons and was treated badly by that physician. I hope you have a good and compassionate doctor now.
I have ankle issues, I need two new ankles. I too am debating on a cane. I am not sure I will qualify for this new proceedure{ ankle replacement}. Let me know if you do decide to use one. I am afraid of it getting in my way more than helping me too. I also need a joint replaced other than my ankles in my foot. Walking is very hard for me too right now. I don't want to fall however, and have the same fear of falling and knocking myself out. How does a person decide on something like that, or does your doctor make a recommendation? ginnie

Husband uses a cane. He says after walking too much he tends to start to bend at the waist, and the cane helps to keep his back straight. It also gives him balance when he goes up or down the stairs. If you need quite a bit of help, the 3 prong cane will give more stability; otherwise, just a regular cane might be sufficient.

We had a support group speaker who recommended trekking poles over canes. I'm not falling (yet?), but I intend to try the trekking poles when & if I need them. She said their advantages are that they are not so rigid as canes, have a little "give" to them, provide stability, and improve upper body strength. Plus they look cool! They do need to be properly fitted to your size.

Re: hi peony trekking poles?
 

Is this an item that can be found at a sports store?. Do they fit one to you? I like this idea. I am 60 and don't like the cane and how it makes me feel so old! I know that is a bit vain but oh well. I am curious about this and very interested, thank you for this idea. ginnie

Thanks all for excellent input
 

Once again, this group proves to be a valuable source of information. Sometimes, even well intentioned MDs are not a good source. There's a big difference between treating a disease and living it. I appreciate everyone's feedback and I will keep an eye out for some sort of well balanced stick and see how it works... if for nothing else than to poke my son who left the laundry basket in the path. Now when he was a toddler, I had padding swathed around all those sharp furniture corners lest he fall against one. Perhaps I should consider PD proofing my house.