Walking stick or not?

[17leftfeet]

I'm only 35 but have altered sensation in my foot and chronic back pain (damn you MS!!!)

I'm pretty secure when I'm walking by my god it hurts

But walking sticks? They are for old people aren't they?

I don't think of myself as having a disability because I don't, so don't really want a visible cue to everyone

What to do?

[valiumredhead]

God that's awful Joy

[Showtime]

I wouldn't be without the stick, particularly when just needing to lean on it, and my reservations about feeling elderly only lasted the first day.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I'm 25 and my physio had been pushing and pushing me to use a stick to balance me a little and prevent falls thanks to my severe and aggressive rheumatoid arthritis. I resisted until one day, I woke up and couldn't walk. I am a little better now and using either one crutch or two, usually the latter. My transition as a youngish person without a mobility aid to a youngish person with a mobility aid has been relatively smooth. I don't view myself as being dependent on it but rather more independent with it. I use bog standard NHS grey ones but I'm on the prowl for affordable coloured ones. I don't know if anyone has linked to this fab site www.facebook.com/Blingsticks but the lady who runs it has MS herself and is very talented and lovely too!