Help? Where can I buy my first walking stick?

luminated

luminated wrote: »

An update

We had £10 of Tesco club card vouchers and I have used them to get a starter folding stick for £10. My wife is not happy as she feels I should of bought something more rigid but to me they are fine for starting off. The handle is a little short as the end tends to stick in the palm of my hand but as said before I just need them at the moment to give me more confidence with my balance/vertigo issues.

My GP was adamant he didn't want me to use a stick for my leg peripheral nerve damage issues as he felt it would bring on even more problems but in my back.

I saw my best friend today and walked (well I call it walking - but it doesn't look the same as most folks walking) locally for a coffee but didn't use the stick as I only bought it yesterday and need to get used to it. He suggested I should get a stick and I revealed all and he laughed when I said I wasn't ready to 'greet my public' with it yet -- only joking!!!!

So for the time being let's see and hope my legs don't get worse as this may dictate a more radical approach.

Thank you all so much for sharing this part of your life with us all on this thread :beer:

A further update!

The bottom section of my Tesco walking stick fell off as the elasticated bit running through the centre broke. My wife said "I told you that you needed something of a better quality" .

Luckily I had just ordered a better one. Not folding, which will be more rigid, and with a better handle longer and more curved so it will fit over my arm as the other one just fell off.

When I first posted I wasn't 100% sure I really needed one (deluded as I found 80 yards about my limit and wonky walking at that) but sure need one now as my mobility has worsened but thankfully have also got a Blue Badge for my car.

The one cool tip my wife sorted was a couple of thick elasticated bands along the shaft for those essential things I didn't want in my pocket. A fold up umbrella and my camera.

So all for now.

tottybum

My daughter got mine for me. I refused to have one as it made me look disabled.
But after a couple of near misses falling when crossing roads, I had to concede to start the slippery slope that leads to a Zimmer frame.

She found it at the back of a charity shop with some umbrellas. It is one of those old fashioned cane types, with a good sized handle and is very sturdy with a nice big rubber foot.

She paid £1.25 for it.

Money_saving_novice_5

Hi,

I bought 4 engraved walking sticks from aids 4 mobility
They were on offer so I got them for my Mums birthday. Now she has one to match different outfits. She loves them.
They were only £30ish for all 4 and were delivered for free. They came in red, blue, black and a bronzey brown colour. They looked quite expensive..

luminated

Money_saving_novice wrote: »

Hi,

I bought 4 engraved walking sticks from aids 4 mobility
They were on offer so I got them for my Mums birthday. Now she has one to match different outfits. She loves them.
They were only £30ish for all 4 and were delivered for free. They came in red, blue, black and a bronzey brown colour. They looked quite expensive..

An old thread but thanks for sharing your experience. My OT advised me to stop using my privately bought sticks in favour of using the bog standard NHS metal ones. She was so right in that people take your mobility more seriously, and treat you with more respect (get out of your bloody way more) with the NHS sticks as they feel you really do have a problem whereas the none NHS ones can look like a fashion accessory.

Mojisola

luminated wrote: »

My OT advised me to stop using my privately bought sticks in favour of using the bog standard NHS metal ones. She was so right in that people take your mobility more seriously, and treat you with more respect (get out of your bloody way more) with the NHS sticks as they feel you really do have a problem whereas the none NHS ones can look like a fashion accessory.

It's also worth having an NHS one for when you go to benefit assessments. My friend was asked whether her stick was arranged by the NHS - obviously not because it was a pretty, colourful one. When told she'd bought it herself (although the OT had advised her on type and had set it at the right height for her), the assessor refused to note that she needed a stick for walking - "because anyone can go out and buy a stick".

luminated

Mojisola wrote: »

It's also worth having an NHS one for when you go to benefit assessments. My friend was asked whether her stick was arranged by the NHS - obviously not because it was a pretty, colourful one. When told she'd bought it herself (although the OT had advised her on type and had set it at the right height for her), the assessor refused to note that she needed a stick for walking - "because anyone can go out and buy a stick".

Good point & in my case I was issued with three NHS sticks - two for ground floor and outside and one for upstairs. But also now a wheelchair user when outside with one of my own and one with an electric power pack supplied by the NHS after GP & OT assessments. So if I go the DLA medical it would only be in a wheelchair now..

pipkin71

luminated wrote: »

An old thread but thanks for sharing your experience. My OT advised me to stop using my privately bought sticks in favour of using the bog standard NHS metal ones. She was so right in that people take your mobility more seriously, and treat you with more respect (get out of your bloody way more) with the NHS sticks as they feel you really do have a problem whereas the none NHS ones can look like a fashion accessory.

Mine definitely look like a 'fashion accessory' I suppose:

http://www.timpson.co.uk/shop/c/302/walking-sticks-and-umbrellas/s/113/walking-sticks/g/147/folding-walking-sticks/p/1611/paisley-with-wrist-cord

but I can't say that my mobility hasn't been taken seriously because I use those in favour of the NHS supplied sticks.

Then again, I can't walk very fast so I suppose there's little doubt as to my mobility issues.

The way I see it, if I have to use them, I want something nice

dori2o

I had the NHS ones originally but I got sick and tired of the 'click', 'click', 'click', 'click', 'click', whilst walking along.

I ordered a carbon fibre one from Ebay about 2 years ago. Nice and light, sturdy, strong as you will find anywhere. Once received I had it cut to size at the local coblers. I use it everyday.

In September my wife bought me a new carbon fibre one from a specialist shop in LLandudno. It has a thicker handle and feels better in the hand. I use that for special occasions (even if that is only going to the cinema with the Mrs).

I was very apprehensive about using a walking stick originally, especially as I was only 27/28 when I first started.

Now it's a part of me and none of my friends even notice it anymore.

luminated

When I'm in a silly mood & definitely in my wheel chair & at the hospital I have been know to hold the two sticks in front of me & with them crossed. Usually someone says what are you doing and I say divining for water. :j