thx everyone for the info.....i see the doc on tuesday and i think i'll ask about a phys therapy session to make sure i'm not doing something wrond with the cane and making my arm worse.....it's only going to be for occasional use, but i still want to make sure i don't cause myself additional problems.

i feel a bit silly that i didn't think to google this topic (who knew?)......but on rsd questions, this group has always been first on my resource list!

thx all....i appreciate the input.

joan....good to see u posting.....hooray for DSL!!!

liz

If all else fails. Do what I did. Stop on over to your pharmacist. Mine was more than helpful. He jumped right up and helped me get mine raised to the right height. Believe me I was walking like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame before that. I suspected something was outta whack but couldn't get it right. I think your arm is supposed to be down straight to your side when you stand up straight with the cane in your hand. I'm not sure right now since I'm in my room and my cane is not! Hope it helps.

Mark

artist....thx for the articles....the pix r a huge help....i'm strictly a visual learner!

barb....me too - one of my big concerns here is how well i'll be able to use a cane at all with my bad arms.....and i always take seriously any advice offered by a talking moose!

jose.....LOL here because of this:

Shoot....Bill? I think that was a little TOO much that time.....Where's the friggin' Super Glue? Why can't you put anything back where you get it from?
think maybe i've been griping too much about his sloppiness?

the funny part is that recently we were at home depot and i grabbed a super-glue to put in the cart and bill said "we don't need that, we HAVE superglue" and i told him that if he could find the stuff when we got home, i would return the new stuff.....last time i checked, he was still looking....and yes, i HID the new stuff so that i can find it when i want it!

back to the cane (this is turning into much more of a story than i anticipated).....a quick look at my new avatar will show u my birthday cane.....my girls know that i think giraffes r fascinating, so they hunted down a giraffe cane for me....the giraffe spots continue down the entire length of the cane......their (correct!) thinking was that if i had to use a cane, i would want one with a bit of panache.....i may be getting old, but i REFUSE to be a little old lady!

so now y'all understand why i simply have to use this particular cane, or at least start my efforts with a walking stick with this one....tho if i find that it really makes a difference, i will probably get a more practical cane, and use this only when the kids r around....or i will use this one as the cane in question when i make the threat "watch yourself, or i'll whack u with my cane".....the best part of needing one is the chance to make that threat!

mark.....you're right...pharmacists r a terrific resource.....they go to school for 6 years to learn everything they know, and then spend half the day telling people where to find the cough drops.....most of the pharmacists i've encountered LOVE being asked a real medical question!

joan, if u gave me bad advice, it would a first!

thx again to all.

liz

Hi.

I have used a cane for a number of years now. Hopefully you'll get a physio appointment so that they can show you how to use the cane properly including going up stairs. If you can't get in quickly, either a drug store or a medical supply store are good alternatives. You can also buy rubber stops for the bottom of your cane as it will ensure your cane doesn't slip on wet surfaces (i.e. after a rainfall). I also have a claw which I attach to the bottom when it snows because it helps stick the cane firmly into the snow and ice.

Cheers!

wow....i never would have thought that u could get "snow tires" for a cane!....how cool!

I've got the snow points -- great for beach walking

Barb

I love my metal snow grips on my cane. Without it I would have to stay home. I think I saw them in a magazine on sale for less than $5. Lil