Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Canes KickAS!

Another question, being right handed, but having more pain on the right over the left do I still use it right handed? I feel my right side needs more help then my left.

What a cool tattoo! Wonderfully relevant too.

I had to wonder about which side I should use my cane on as well since both sides of my body are wrecked. I went with the right since I'm right handed - it just felt more natural. There are days when I feel like switching hands but I always seem to very nearly trip myself when using the less coordinated hand.

Just do what feels right for you and if it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Chris

I'm glad you found the love of canes! It must be loads better than a broomstick...Blue Ice, cool name too. lol Sounds more like a drink though...

From the sounds of it, there are so many people out there who would benefit from using a cane but they are held back by some sort of societal stigma or social fear? It's really weird but I'll see people twice my age...geez, I guess I should say a couple of decades older than I am...who so obviously need a cane but insist upon limping about in agony - could it be that they actually think they are fooling someone?

"Only cripples carry canes"...but hobbling and limping about like you just stepped on a landmine is ok? People are weird and I applaud those who put more stock in their own inner voice than anything others might be thinking.

Now the real trick will be putting the cane away one day.

Best of luck to you Ashley

Chris

I like the attitude macca, you have already proven them wrong so the rest is just to rub it in their faces! lol

Good luck with the cane, I hope you love it as much as I love mine!

Keep on KickinAS

Chris

My husband has AS and struggles to walk due tendonitis in both feet. Do you think it would hurt his feelings if I buy him a cane? I would prefer if he just came and read all the great info about canes on Kickas but he never has the time to log on. My husband is twice my age and I wouldnt want to make him feel 'old' but it sounds as though it may really help with his pain.

My guess is that YES, he would benefit from using a cane and NO, under no circumstances should you "surprise" him with one.

I mean, you know him very well of course and maybe he's not the kind of person to be hurt by something like that but for me, choosing a cane is a deeply personal matter. When I was an archaeologist, I could walk for days in the mountains looking for a walking stick that "felt just right".

Also, some people have some strange ideas about canes, if you are going to get him one as a present I would encourage you to find out what his feelings are about using one first.

It is a wonderful thought though and I certainly hope it works out for you. I can't think of a better gift to give someone you love. Ok, I'm sure I could if I tried but right now, in this context, it seems simply wonderful...lol


Chris

proper use of a cane is putting the cane on the opposite side of the more injured/painful leg/hip. You match the stride of the cane with your 'bad' leg to support it the best. My physical therapist said most people use their cane wrong because they use according to what hand they want to use instead of which leg to support the best way.

It can be ackward at first if you have to use your dominant hand, but you soon learn to adjust and sometimes have to shuffle things around as you shop or whatever it is you are doing.

Thank you for that advice, I'm so glad you told me as I was keen to go stright away and get him a cane. You would be right about him choosing his own- when I think about it we have such different taste in most things (I wouldn't want him choosing a cane for me- what if it didnt match my shoes-lol). My next step is to casually introduce the whole idea of a cane. thanks again