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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/23/2009 Posts: 431 Points: 1,314 Location: No. Las Vegas, NV
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I want out of my wheelchair! My husband is willing to help me walk and I have an ugly wooden cane that I can stick into my L hand that isn't all curled up. I have some exercises from my old PT guy and have been doing them for months. I also exercise in my bed trying to strengthen my legs. So, ................ Does anybody know where you can get canes that aren't ugly????? This probably sounds awful conceited of me for wanting a pretty one. But, life is so ugly with RSD, I wanted something pretty for a change. thematrix777"Living with RSD" Radio Show"I am Not What Happened to Me; I am What I Choose to Become" Carl Jung
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Rank: Newbie  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/4/2010 Posts: 5 Points: 15 Location: Dallas
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CVS and WalMart both sell really pretty canes. They between 20 and 35 dollars.
Good luck on the walking thing.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/12/2009 Posts: 387 Points: 1,191 Location: Sterling, IL
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You can make a cane, a walking boot, a cast, crutches anything you want them to be --- I have! I have added racing stripes, decals, rhinestones, bling things intended for your phones. I just experiment. I find what I like. I had so many walking boots (they only last so long) and they are so ugly that you just have to make them better than what they are. My doctor always enjoyed the experience; he never knew what to expect from me. For the shiny bling I'd get the items you'd find on your nails and dress up cane handles as well as my walking boots. You could probably decopage as well. Just make certain you create a durable surface since canes bange and hit and chip. Wherever your hand touches you'll want that surface to be smooth since your hand will callous and eventually become smooth. I've found that the foldable canes are just as durable as any others so check those out. The handles are wooden and the shafts are metal they fold down or you can keep them as they are. The handle can be repainted. You can pick up touch up car paint and repaint them easy enough, they have clear coat top paints that will seal whatever you put on them. There's so much that you can personally do to make a cane, crutch, walking boot, cast, personally yours. It is unlimited. You could even search for these ideas on line. I've had other people offer to trade me their canes. The trades usually don't happen. I just bought a new one and kept te changes simple yet my doctor and his assistant noticed right away. It's all black so I put lace on this one, or the look of lace and then blinged out the handle. it just looks nice. It's a little bit of fun and I keep looking for new ideas. I no longer wear a walking boot but when I did I was always looking for different ideas, the last one I made it look like a Harley Boot. Good luck to you, get creative! You can do it and make it fun!! Rhonda
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrators
Joined: 5/22/2009 Posts: 1,321 Points: 4,100 Location: Dallas, TX
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Shai, Too funny you mentioned blinging the cane. I just sent her a PM. I've got so much craft stuff upstairs I could probably bling up everyone's cane in the group. Clear nail polish does work well to seal stuff. There's also clear spray on acrylic you can get at Walmart or any craft store if you need to seal something large. Matrix, Is your cane wood or metal? One stick or the 4 prong kind? If you want to jazz it up I can either send you some supplies or I can do it for you. If you want me to do it, it may be cheaper for me to just buy a cane here and bling it up than to send yours here and then me send it back. I have seen lots of pretty fold up canes and some of the one foot ones. All the 4 prong ones are always ugly though. Haven't seen a pretty one yet. My grandmother needs to use one but vanity gets the best of her. I found a pretty metallic kitty cat one at the drug store one day that folds into 4 and fits in your purse. Had planned on giving it to her for Christmas and then couldn't find it at Christmas.  But now my knee keeps giving out. I've fallen on my butt twice and caught myself countless times so I may be next in line.  I don't need it all the time. Stupid me, I know when it feels weak and wobbly. I'm just too stubborn to let it slow me down. Let me know if you want me to make a pretty one. (free of charge of course for being such a wonderful moderator) If you do, I'll get to work on it. I can use it as an example for the website anyway. There are times when parenthood seems nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you.
(Peter De Vries)
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/23/2009 Posts: 431 Points: 1,314 Location: No. Las Vegas, NV
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Steph, be careful. That's how my legs started. I started falling for no reason and then I couldn't get up without help. Other than the neuropathy, they didn't really find a specific reason why my legs just stopped working. They ran all the tests and my nerves are compressed inside my spinal column and there are some bone spurs sooooo. maybe they did find out.....I forgot about that cause I'm always more concerned with my RSD. Personally, I think it was from the years in bed (actually on the couch) and my legs started to atrophy. But, then I'm no doctor. My neurologist started me on Cymbalta and that seemed to help quite a bit at the time. I was already taking zonegran so the two together was good. Now, that I exercise more and NEVER stay in bed for an entire day, I haven't fallen down for a while.....keep your fingers crossed. Great idea about making the canes pretty. If I start to use it again, I'll do that. I have some craft stuff here from when my daughter was home. Lots of sparkly's. But, I would have never thought about fixing up my ugly cane. I was looking online at the pretty acrylic canes which are expensive). Thanks for the offer Steph. You are so giving. thematrix777"Living with RSD" Radio Show"I am Not What Happened to Me; I am What I Choose to Become" Carl Jung
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrators
Joined: 5/22/2009 Posts: 1,321 Points: 4,100 Location: Dallas, TX
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Amazon has a ton of canes too. They have the cool folding ones. I think that's what I'm going to use. I'm scared about the falling too. I've had bad knees for a long time. They have always popped and hurt. Then I got in the car accident and that completely blew out the left one. So far no RSD in either of them. I'd bet money if I have surgery on either of them that I will get it though. I'm just praying it doesn't travel on it's own. I wish I could get my right knee fixed. I could kick myself for not doing it years ago. It's the weirdest thing. They feel wobbly, best I can describe it. I know when they are weak but I can't stand sitting still. I've never been a couch potato and it would kill me if I was forced to be one. I really hope I don't end up like you were. What helped you build them up again to start walking? Any specific exercise or med.... anything? There are times when parenthood seems nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you.
(Peter De Vries)
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/23/2009 Posts: 431 Points: 1,314 Location: No. Las Vegas, NV
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The meds made it worse. I was so wobbly and dizzy from the medications I fell even more. Except when it first happened, the Cymbalta helped me at least be able to move. For a while, before Cymbalta, I could not walk one step...Mel had to carry me, even to the bathroom. It was the worst time in my life. When I started the Cymbalta I was at least able to walk with him holding me up. Now, I don't take anything except vitamins. The best thing has been able to start stretching and moving my parts....I started in bed and now I can do some stretching standing up. I had to move them manually (legs, arms and hands) but now I can move them without help. It's just going to take time... thematrix777"Living with RSD" Radio Show"I am Not What Happened to Me; I am What I Choose to Become" Carl Jung
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/12/2009 Posts: 387 Points: 1,191 Location: Sterling, IL
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The best thing you can do is low impact workouts isometrics -- you can find exercises on line. Only do exercises that do not create pain. Start out small and reps of 5 at a time. Limit the amount that you start with but this will save your knees. I know -- I blew my knee a few years ago while on my crutches. I had the crutches and I was wearing the walking boot. I had gotten very fast with the crutches but it took one sideways move to blow out my knee. Two weeks later I counter something with my shoulder. Oh my gosh I was a messsssssss!!!!! My ortho did not want to do surgery with my foot full blown RSD and my knee a mess. I didn't even want to talk about my shoulder blow out because I just couldn't stand it!!!! NOT ONE MORE THING!!! I started therapy they told me that one side i had 99% muscle use and on the opposit of my knee cap i had 1% muscle use, my knee cap was being yanked from one side to the other and bruising my femur. The crutches were creating outside muscle strength, the inner muscles were wasting away. So they taught me the isometrics then taught me how to tape my knee. That was a lifesaver as well, kinesio tape. You can learn how to tape your knee with about three pieces of tape and man does that make a difference. Within a year of conitnued working with my knee (eventually you just start doing it all at home) I was no longer looking at the possiblity of surgery for my knee. It was no longer collapsing out from beneath me. I ride an exercise bike for a few minutes a day, when I can. My foot determines how much I can. The exercise bike is great for strengthening knees. Hope somehting helps! Rhonda
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/2/2010 Posts: 1 Points: 3 Location: Phil
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You should try to go to some medical stores to find some canes that could suit on you. It might be better for you to search on local store rather on online stores. You could fit those medical supplies for you to see if they suit on you. SEO Services
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/23/2009 Posts: 431 Points: 1,314 Location: No. Las Vegas, NV
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Very true. I have an old cane I had bought years ago at the drugstore. I bought it because of a back problem at the time and used it for just a few weeks. However, after being in a wheelchair for so long, the correct fit for a cane is now more important. I notice when I use it (which isn't very often) that it tweaks my shoulder awkwardly. If I get to a point where I depend on it heavily, I will definitely go to a medical supply place and get a proper fit. thematrix777"Living with RSD" Radio Show"I am Not What Happened to Me; I am What I Choose to Become" Carl Jung
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/9/2010 Posts: 71 Points: 216 Location: Seattle, WA
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This is a great idea! I have a floral cane, but it drives me crazy that it doesn't match everything. (Silly I know, but in my former life I was very much into fashion. Plus, this will give me something positive and fun to do. I will buy a plain cane to decorate tomorrow! (I'm excited to start  ) Matrix, I hope you are able to get out of your wheelchair soon! - Tammy
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/12/2009 Posts: 387 Points: 1,191 Location: Sterling, IL
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recently did an upgrade to my cane, took about 1/2 hour and a few dollars. These are metall sticky dots and some rhinestone strips. Something simple. File Attachment(s):  P1000541.jpg (932kb) downloaded 4 time(s). P1000542.jpg (1,396kb) downloaded 4 time(s). P1000543.jpg (401kb) downloaded 4 time(s). P1000544.jpg (304kb) downloaded 3 time(s).Rhonda
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrators
Joined: 5/22/2009 Posts: 1,321 Points: 4,100 Location: Dallas, TX
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Rhonda, That is just too cute! There are times when parenthood seems nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you.
(Peter De Vries)
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/9/2010 Posts: 71 Points: 216 Location: Seattle, WA
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Hi matrix. Did you ever find a pretty cane? I just bought one on ebay. I think that this is going to be my new hobby. (I used to collect pretty shoes, but my RSD foot has pretty much destroyed that hobby!  ) I got an elegant brass and black victorian style cane. I also have a bid on an antique teak and glass cane. The handle is a pretty glass flower. There are hundreds available on ebay. Some of them feature scary themes, but most of them are beautiful. Someone is decorating crook style canes with flowers, ribbons, and beads too. So many to choose from!!
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 7/12/2009 Posts: 387 Points: 1,191 Location: Sterling, IL
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Add photos Tammy - we want to see your fancy canes!!! Rhonda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/9/2010 Posts: 71 Points: 216 Location: Seattle, WA
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Okay, I can do that. (I'm supposed to learn how to post pictures this weekend.) Tammy
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Rank: Administration  Groups: Administrators
Joined: 5/22/2009 Posts: 1,321 Points: 4,100 Location: Dallas, TX
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Tammy, If you have problems loading them on to the jabberbox just let me know. You can always email them to me gracie@thejabberbox.com also if you have issues and I can post them for you too. There are times when parenthood seems nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you.
(Peter De Vries)
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/9/2010 Posts: 71 Points: 216 Location: Seattle, WA
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Thanks Gracie. I will take you up on that.  (They haven't arrived yet, but I am looking forward to it.) Tammy
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