Should I buy a cane?

[Deja Q]

Since my collapse last week, I've had a slow recovery.

When shopping for vittles today, I frequently became dizzy, though at least I was able to drive and back without feeling dizzy.

Trouble is, without a doctor's slip, nobody will take it or me seriously.

And my counselor still thinks I'm making all this shit up. x( (of which "typical" is my only response, I know...)

[progmom]

1. I'd get a cane.

A pimp cane, perhaps? I think that would be best. That way you can look good while keeping your balance.

Honestly. There is something wrong. You should do what it takes to keep yourself from getting hurt.

[Deja Q]

3. It's got to be a black cane though.

90% of my outfits are black.

And that does not mean I'm mentally cuckoo. I am an individual, not a lemming. Dressing the way I want does not mean I have schizo-whatever disorder. :crazy: (Yes, my latest counselor actually said that because I dress 'eccentric', that I fit a qualifier for schizotypal disorder. :eyes: She also spun around other things I said to make it sound like I have schizotypal, which is not the case. Gotta have those diagnoses done by the beginning of the 3rd session or else, ya know... gots to make that money.)

[progmom]

5. get a new fucking counselor

Fast. You don't need to be abused like this.

[norml]

33. The most important thing is to have a good broad hand grip,

a hand grip that you can put your full weight on, in comfort. The next most important thing is having a good broad rubber tip, so that it won't slip on surfaces. The last thing is that it be strong in between the grip, and the tip, so that it doesn't bend, or break. What you don't want is some fancy walking stick, that's going to hurt your hand, slip out from under you, or break, if you put your full weight on it. I have an ugly adjustable aluminum cane, with a broad flat hand grip, a broad rubber tip, and lightweight, but sturdy metal in between. You could always paint black whatever cane you get.

[rwenos]

2. Canes are Very Handy

I'm 51 yrs old, broke my right fibula two years ago. (OUCH!!!!) When I finally got out of the cast and into the removable "Frankenstein boot" (a big improvement because I could remove it to shower and sleep), I bought the cane.

Wooden cane. Dark Brown. My FRIEND during that time. Still have it. It cost $10 at a drugstore.

Canes are cheap and readily available. Get the cane.

[goclark]

7. Medicare will pay for Balance Therapy

Don't know if Blue Cross will or not.

I just happened up on it for my mom.
After her surgery she needed a walker and then a cane.

After 4 weeks of Balance 1 on 1 sessions she is able to walk without the cane most of the time.

It has been a miracle!

[-..__...]

4. If you must, you must.

If you have to, choose something with style.



Edit: Ooops, sorry, should have provided more info.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?SH2131

"Skull Sword Cane
This quality sword cane by Hanwei features a heavily silver plated skull pommel and a black lacquered glass fiber stick. The 25 " blade is forged in tempered high-carbon steel to a grooved triangular section for stiffness and has a needle-sharp point. The sword is released by operating a push-button latch at the ferrule. Alarmingly attractive!
KEY FEATURES:
Fully functional
Button release latch
Excellent value
MEASUREMENTS:
BLADE LENGTH: 25 1/2"
HANDLE LENGTH: 7 1/4"
OVERALL LENGTH: 36 1/2"
WEIGHT: 1lb 2oz
PLEASE NOTE: THIS MAY BE CONSIDERED A CONCEALED WEAPON AND MAY BE ILLEGAL IN YOUR JURISDICTION. IN THIS CASE AS IN ALL SALES AT THE KNIFECENTER, THE BUYER ASSUMES ALL LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PURCHASE"

[vixengrl]

6. If you do get one--

think sturdy, not cool. A lot of those decorative ones really are "decorative use only" and won't take any bearing down. A dizzy sensation and collapsing sound pretty serious, though, not like something others should blow off.

[Deja Q]

8. It's part of a situation I had for years... even the General Quacktitioner

had said "it's just stress".

Well, it isn't. Not anyfuggingmore. x(

I'm also wondering if it began when my chiro of 2 years ago went overboard in twisting my neck...

The whole system is one big ass fucking insipid joke. Best in the world, my tuchis!

[progmom]

9. Seriously, have you tried seeing other docs?

I'm not at all happy with the care you're receiving!

[Deja Q]

12. My previous doc thought I had schizo-affective disorder...

Sure, the drugs helped the emotional symptoms - but the core problems were still there. And the side-effects of the drugs could be intense. And I could not state the symptoms properly. That and/or they decided to put their spin on things to make it SEEM I had something I did not. I know what's wrong, what doesn't seem right. Schizo-affective was an utter misdiagnosis, especially when that quack never read from his notes or updated them as he kept asking the same questions every visit, where I told him (yet again) the same answers. :crazy: He belittled me one day, not hearing what I was saying. (I was in a panic attack due to work related stress. He decided that I thought I didn't want to work at all. And if my PDA didn't conk out on me at the time, I would have reported the little fucker. It's too late now, it's been well over a year. )

Schizotypal is a diagnosis I agree with SOLELY because many people with Asperger's or other PDDs ultimately develop it. And even then, many of the conditions in schizotypal are merely CIRCUMSTANTIAL; and the fact I've had many of these problems all my life lends credibility to an underlying PDD. I don't understand why they won't listen to reason.

I don't think there are many GOOD mental health doctors out there. Not at this point and I have, literally, a life long history with many of them.

[Ladyhawk]

10. The system is verily fucked.

Oh the stories I could tell. But no one cares, eh?

[Deja Q]

11. Please do tell! I always read others' stories, though I sometimes don't

always respond to them. That's a habit I am trying to change.

[Ladyhawk]

32. I PM'd you with a LO-O-O-O-O-ONG message.

I'm sure it will satisfy. :)

[gmoney]

13. Get a Gandalf walking staff...

If anyone gives you any guff, just threaten to cast a spell on them...

[LordshipLadyship]

14. should you buy a cane?

Yeppers. Get a palm cane. You can buy it for left or right hand. I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rhuematica. AKA 'goddamn it that HURTS!'

And a friend accidentally on purpose took me to Elephant Pharmacy in Berkeley (no, elephants do not get their Xanax to be used in case of mice sightings there) and over to the cane section, and just stood there. So after I uttered several curse words, I picked up a couple, and settled on the strange looking folding cane, the regular curved ones didn't feel sturdy to me. They come in different colors. I've accepted it now. I pet it. I feed it. I let it sleep with me. It's my friend. I paid 19 bucks for mine, I've seen cheaper on the Internets.

Take care of yourself.

p.s. Elephant Pharmacy is a cool place to shop.

http://www.elephantpharmacy.com/

[Skittles]

15. I will beat you with your new cane to break it in, Hypno

I'll throw ya a holiday freebie

[da_chimperor]

16. If you do get a cane, make sure it's a sword cane.

That way you can swiftly disembowel anyone who makes fun of you for having a cane. :D

[billyskank]

17. Yes, definitely. Absolutely.

Make it a black one, like another poster suggested, and then keep it even after you don't need it any more. Maybe get a monocle too. :)

[jukes]

18. apsitively

*chez* style w/ this 1!:

http://store.yahoo.com/csstoreonline/88scm.html

[Robeson]

19. Here are some that are sturdy...

...and rather stylish. They're at: http://www.fashionablecanes.com/store/elegant_handle_walking_canes.html

[Deja Q]

27. Thanks!

:yourock:

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

20. YEEEES!

:evilgrin:

Oh...did you mean for mobility purposes? Whoops. My bad.

Um.....you should if you want one. :shrug:

[REP]

21. I Have A Black One

Actually, I started out with an ugly-ass silver aluminum one, because it was free. I also have a very nice bamboo walking staff, but it's a bit big for every day. After losing my aluminum one, I thought, oh well, I don't use it that often, so of course my arthritis went into overdrive. My nondescript, not too dorky black one was under $20. No sword in it though.

[lazarus]

22. Of course

Silly not to.

I have three canes (psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia).

I've got the original one I bought, fairly cool metal, but the handle isn't very comfortable. It's light and small, though, so I use it for short jaunts to the store.

I have a larger black one with a nice padded handle I use if I'm going to be out for a while.

And I just got a beautiful handmade knotted (well, spiralled) wooden cane from my sister. This thing's damned near a shillelagh, so I'll be using it as my dress cane.

[HEAVYHEART]

23. Go for it

I think canes are cool as hell. I collect them myself although there's no need for me to use one. I just like canes. Do it!

[sbj405]

24. Don't know about the cane, but I'd get a new counselor.

Thinks you're making stuff up? Doesn't seem like a relationship to have w/ a counselor if this is his/her typical reaction.

[name not needed]

25. pimp cane

:D

[Cuban_Liberal]

26. I dunno.

While there's no harm in buying and using a cane, finding out exactly why you collapsed should take precedence, IMO.

[Deja Q]

28. Klonopin had...

The Psycho THINKS that's why it happened. And I must agree.

He's not the worst I had anyway...

[Cuban_Liberal]

29. I'm concerned about ya, HT.

I've kept up with all the things you've had go wrong with you, and were I in your shoes (which I'm obviously not), I'd probably be jumping up and down screaming for an accurate diagnosis. Maybe it's a misunderstanding on my part, but it's my impression that the various medical/psychological folks you are seeing are all saying 'piece of pie' about their own narrow field, while none of them are considering the possibility that there are more 'pieces' than the one they see, i.e., a whole 'pie'.

IIRC, you live in MN; have you ever considered going to Mayo's or the UM Hospitals/other university teaching hospital, and having a complete diagnostic workup done by folks who have no prejudice/predisposition about you or any problems you might have?

Just something for you to consider.

:hug:

[UTUSN]

30. Here's a Green Man Cane

But not made for weight bearing. It also doesn't fit with my apparel, which is in the haute-REDNECK tradition.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=111x41424

But Shrub might want to borrow it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2842523

[zanana]

31. Canes not only help you balance...

They're also a weapon!

[burrowowl]

34. Get a cane with a dagger

in it or a nice silver handle with a whiskey flask.