For those that don’t know me (everyone here, I suppose), a little background:
I have bad joints. Not weed, mind you, knees. And fingers. And elbows, etc. In the last few weeks, they have gotten much worse. My knees are no longer reliable indicators of coming rain. Now I feel like its going to rain pretty much all day (Its sunny, BTW). Pain getting worse. I am 23, and beginning to hobble around like im 83. No offense intended to those of you who are 83.
In short, I am thinking about getting a cane. I want something respectable looking and sturdy. Preferably ambidextrous because both knees are bad, but usually one is worse than the other an any given time and I’d like to be able to switch hands when I need to. I’m not sure how people are fitted for canes, but if it helps, I am just under 6’2" with my shoes on.
So if you know of a good online place to buy canes, or a brick-and-morter place near Sacramento, and can suggest a model, I’m all ears. Thanks.
You may want to try some antique stores. Sometimes, they’ll have a big bin of them, priced next-to-nothing, so you could get several to suit different needs and occasions. Some of them are very sleek and understated, others (Victorian ones, especially) are ornately carved, sometimes with mother-of-pearl inlay.
I’m not sure about fitting, myself. It seems to me that you’d probably just want to select one which feels comfortable when you walk, but there may be some kind of formula on the internet which tells you what length you need based on your height.
I personally prefer an el-cheapo cane of the traditional bentwood type as issued by the VA and with the tip cup off to fit my height. And be sure to add a non-slip rubber tip or polished floors can become a hazard.
Like everything else, in the end it comes down to what you prefer and what you can get around on best. I’ve seen some wooden walking sticks that were both useful and artistic. My father preferred what he called his staff – a straight stick with a knob on the top. (A great weapon, too.) Many people like the adjustable aluminum ones, but I never did. If possible, I’d recommend you try several and see which you’re most comfortable with.
I have bad knees as well. (Skiing and vehicular injuries.) A few years ago I slipped on some ice and severly sprained my ankle. I went to a place called something like The Walking Store (they sell hiking/walking stuff in malls) and bought a cane to use for a couple of weeks. It looks pretty cool. It’s a long, blonde root of some plant; so, while it’s not straight, it’s straight enough and perfectly functional. (A similar one can be seen in my friend’s film Cut Up. One of the actors had bad legs and used his own cane. We showed him being injured in the film to explain it.)
I still have that cane, but I no longer use it. I went back to the store and bought a 5-foot hiking staff that I use when I go hiking.
Re: Kreekurmudgeon’s post. I’ve always wanted a walking stick with a heavy silver wolf’s head on the top.
You don’t say anything about possible treatments or solutions for your problems. Forgive me for asking, but are all such avenues already known to be of no avail?
In the meantime, though, I’ve often seen canes for sale in drugstores. Independent, or small-chain stores seem to have better quality, and offer canes with some actual panache. Seriously. Some of the walking sticks I’ve seen are really attractive and interesting. If you were in L.A. I’d tell you to go to Horton and Converse; if they do business in your area it would be an excellent place to start. If H&C aren’t in your area, just look for the nearest equivalent…i.e., any drugstore that’s either independent or part of a small chain, open 20 hours a day if not around the clock, and perhaps a bit more expensive than a Rite-Aid or Longs.