to be considering getting a walking stick?

[EvilEyeButterPie]

The baby is nearly one year old now, and I still have SPD :( Most of the time I am fine, but I have to plan all outings so I do minimal walking and if I get at all jolted or do my physio I'm limping all day, and it really hurts and is exhausting. I'm not so bad if I lean on the pram or street furniture.

AIBU to look at walking sticks and crutches with envy? They took my crutches away when I had the baby :(

OTOH, I think I would feel like a faker, because most of the time I'm fine. When I get bad though, I really struggle.

[MaimAndKilloki]

Get it, there's no point struggling through the pain on bad days, just because you sometimes have good days.

I have to do the same, some days I cannot walk/stand without the stick, somedays I can walk a little way. What others think is so much less important than looking after your health.

[pippibluestocking]

Go for it - dh has one, no-one will look twice

[EvilEyeButterPie]

Where do I get one? Are those foldy ones good?

[MaudOHara]

Yes use one if it makes your life easier. A lot of small independent chemists sell them round here

[pippibluestocking]

Would physio give you one?

[Poledra]

Why not? My grandfather resisted having one for years and, when he finally got one, regretted his stubbornness. He hadn't realised what a difference it would make to him. Why would it make you a faker? You'll only use it when you need to.

[EvilEyeButterPie]

I have no idea, I need to ask her for a new support belt anyway, I'll ring her tomorrow and tell her:

a)the exercises are crippling me
b)I need a new belt
c)can I use a walking stick or will that be bad?

[ValiumtheConqueror]

evileye, I'm so sorry you are still at that point with your SPD. DD2 was born in Feb after 6 months of agonizing pain that kept me wheelchair bound so I can only say that I understand the product-envy. I used one of these and didn't care what people thought (and trust me, people have very odd comments to make about pregnant women and sticks). FWIW they come in very handy for
a) tripping up idiotic commuters who are in too much of a hurry to see that you are struggling with stairs
b) 'accidentally' thwacking teenagers who, despite seeing you coming, think that you will magically evaporate so that they can walk along six in a row
c) fetching things that the baby puts under the sofa
d) whacking the fire alarm with when it goes off for no good reason in the middle of the night

I rest my case

[SirBoobAlot]

Get this one - mine arrived on Saturday and it is such a cool colour Its lightweight but sturdy, folds up small enough to fit in a handbag / top of changing bag / top of buggy, has five height adjustments and arrived within three days of ordering. Plus it was super cheap.

Do it if it will make your life easier.

[poppyknot]

I got one a year or so - Timpsons have the foldy ones (but the one SirBoobalot shows is much cheaper! )

It helps to be able to whip it out (as it were....) and will often be useful just to indicate that you are a bit wobbly.

I have a frend you is a fellow MSer and I recommended one to her. She is not as dependant on it as me but finds it useful especially on slopes and long walks.

[EvilEyeButterPie]

It just feels a bit ike admitting defeat- this is a pregnancy complication, surely if I just hold out for a few more weeks?

It gets to the point though, where I think I have to accept that I need to get one or I'll be stuck in the house forever, or sat away from everyone else, or limping about.

It's odd, but I get embarrassed when I limp. I'm usually quite outgoing, but my limp is so silly looking- I look like I've pooed myself because I have no "wriggle", if that makes sense. And then I end up injuring my back or knees because I start trying to walk normally but without moving my pelvis. :(

[EvilEyeButterPie]

Hmm, so what is the deal with sticks then? Can I get a fancy cane, or are they only for show?

[sharra162]

Honestly, it will make things easier and is worth it even if temporary. I have one and only have to use it a couple of times a year if that these days, when I end up walking unsteadily/really slow, but it's been worth it. Helps partly for support/balance, and partly as a signal to people to watch out for me being slow and not assume I'm actually trying to naff them off on purpose (grrr!). I found a coloured one was better, people don't notice black ones so much.

I felt weird about using it too, but people use sticks for all kinds of reasons - my friend with M.E. says he can balance more and it stops him using so much energy in walking, and he just feels much healthier after a walk than he would have done without it.

If you're in pain and knackered (and it helps you adjust to the limp, which is affecting your posture and making things more tricky), it sounds worth it.

[SacharissaCryptlock]

I have a foldy one - it's great as I can keep it in my handbag.

Just be warned - your children WILL steal it and ride it around like a broom/horse!

Get one. I wish I'd gotten mine years ago and not felt weird about it.

[Scuttlebutter]

Do get one. I borrow my friend's stick occasionally if I need to stand for a long time - still find that hard after my cancer surgery. Don't care what people think - it's brilliant, and has made the difference between going and enjoying things to not going at all to certain events.

[ValiumtheConqueror]

Get one. Get a fancy one. If you've got it, flaunt it.

I get why you are embarrassed about the limp but you are genuinely in pain. It's about making your life easier and more bearable though. If anyone asks, tell them it's an old kitesurfing/freediving/marathon-baking-session injury that flares up when people stare at it from time to time!

[EvilEyeButterPie]

I always say it is a hip injury- I am embarrased to say pelvic.

That is pathetic, coming from a hairy, combat booted, badge wearing, public breastfeeding type such as myself, isn't it?

[shodatin]

My stick is the folding metal type with floral design and really useful on a bad day, particularly for leaning on in shops, etc. It came from a charity shop, still packaged. Suggest you start looking out for one, as the postage for the ebay one seems to be £3.55

[ValiumtheConqueror]

I'd go all out, in that case, and tell them it's your Pubic Bones. They'll never ask another soul what they've done again!!!

FWIW I got my switchstick through ebay....