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I've been thinking about using a stick or crutches too - but not sure if they will help me. I have CFS/ME so I do get very tired walking, but a lot of the pain is in my hands/wrists so I'm not sure if leaning my excessive weight on them would make them hurt more.

I have hand pain too, and so long as I don't over do it, I am fine. I use the stick to balance and keep a bit of weight off of my bad ankle.

Hand-straps for sticks were highly recommended on the other thread, to get round the "perching the stick" problem.

fuzzpig, I have M.E. too, and have found a stick-seat to be the best thing since sliced cheese. I have a little sit down every time I stop at a receptionist's desk, browsing in a shop, etc.

But I don't have your severity of hand/wrist problems, and appreciate things might be different for you.

A stick with a seat? That sounds ideal for me. Do you have a link to some that are good?

Cool crutches is another great crutch company!! I have Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility and use crutches every day, I have comfy handles on my NHS crutches which reduce the redness and sores on my hands but feel that it might be time to get some nicer ones as I have been using crutches for 9 years now, I wish I could stop as the judging looks just wear me out.

I just put "stick seat" into eBay...

But googling I've just found www.shoppingtrolleysdirect.co.uk/Mobility_Aids.php, which has shoppers with an integral seat. Does that match what you were looking for on the other thread, slipper?

Thanks for that Tianc - it was more for work if you know of anywhere as I can't carry my pads of paper round anymore?

I have ordered my fancy walking stick and tomorrow I am going to use it in the outside world!!

I've added this thread to my watch list. My wonderful physio has been nagging me to get a walking stick for ages. I am wobbly, weak, sore and my ligaments are fucked <-- medical term! I'm finding it hard to come to terms with needing a mobility aid at 24. Mentally, I think I could be able to accept a crutch or two over a walking stick. I'm toying over a pair of purple ones. I'm just worried it will put more pressure on my other joints affected by my condition. I have RA in my hands, wrists and one shoulder too.

I think its really hard taking those first steps with a stick. This thread has really helped me. I bought it off a suggested website, its black with spots on. I took into into work folded up in its case and left it on my desk. It didn't go quite as I had planned there was a crowd quite quickly with everyone wanting 'a go'. everyone was lovely and I feel alot better about things at the moment. Thanks so much to everyone that replied you have really helped me move my life on!

I would happily carry a stick around, just think, every time someone was annoying you, you culd fantasise about hitting them on the head with your stick.

I think it would help me keep my temper.

I kind of know what you mean. I'm slowly going deaf, it's just age related degeneration. But I'm only thirty two, young enough for people to make jokes like "are you deaf or something" when I constantly ask them to repeat themselves, and then they get all embarrassed when I explain that actually, yes, quite deaf, and it would help if they spoke slower.

colditz My friend said a stick on the train would be great. It would guarantee a seat!

colditz has it made you see the world in a different way? I know my diminishing mobility def has.

Does anyone have any tips for being in pain all the time? How do people cope?

I used to have to travel by train and tube and at that time (12 years ago) having a stick didn't guarantee one a seat and buses in London were terrible. I was very glad when we moved and I changed jobs so I didn't have to commute - the Oxford Park and Ride was so much nicer (but even then I would have comments about going upstairs if the bus was full - and no I can't do bus stairs, the ones at home are hard enough!).

Since my DSs are now far too big to go in the pushchair (as they're at school) I now have a petite Sholley which I use as a walking aid. The only disadvantage is that they're not designed for sitting on so waiting for the DSs to come out of school is hard as there are no seats outside DS2's classroom. We live within walking distance of school, which is fine on a good day, but it's not worth driving as I'd have to park the car almost as far away as we live so I just lean more heavily on the trolley and walk slowly home . It can often take me 10 to 15 minutes to do a walk that it will take DH 3.

What size do seat sticks come in? All the ones I've found are far too big for me (I'm only 5').

I am also only quite short and am finding walking sticks tricky to find

Slipper - I'm 5' (wel just under really) and I've got an adjustable one which works well. I actually got it from the National Trust shop at Stowe gardens, so I think they're about; but I agree it can be quite tricky finding one that fits.