Carex doesn't care about you!

[elfs]

This afternoon I went to the local department store in order to buy a cane. Hopefully, I'll only need it for a couple of weeks, after which the ankle will be healed and I'll be back to my full-strength athletic self.

We went to the store and bought one, a brand called Carex. It's a fairly nice cane, with a purple metal outer shell, good adjustment, and a cushioned handgrip. I feel old just using it.

The Carex label was affixed to the cane with a pair of zip ties. The zip ties were so damned tight that we asked for a pair of scissors to cut them off. "How the hell is an eldery person supposed to deal with this?" Omaha asked as we wrestled with it, and then just as I got the last tie, the scissors slipped and I sliced the two last fingers on my left hand open.

There was much bleeding.

The damage turned out to be less than initially expected. Some BZK to clean, fresh bandages and a butterfly for the ring finger, and I was more or less back to fully functional.

The universe really doesn't want me to enjoy a week off, does it?

The cane worked well enough, and I was able to get around Seattle without too much hassle.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Jeez, Elf, it don't rain but it pours?

But bork would like the cane... hers are purple too. :)

And butterfly bandages FTW... cflute saved me an ER trip with a few of them once... (bleah. I'm glad I haven't had breakfast yet, just *thinking* of that incident is making me feel woozy... )

Don't feel old!

[laplor.livejournal.com]

My everyday stick is in a teal and black chequered pattern and has been beat to crap and my fancy stick is purple with black flowers. I love them both - my ankles and feet are pathetically poorly designed and I find that using a stick allows me to walk so much farther faster and without pain that it's worth putting up with an odd look or two.

I had been hesitant to adopt using one, but I took stock and realized that I was limiting my activities due to pain and fatigue as well as leaning on things whenever I could. I have nearly everything wrong with my feet that can go wrong. I even had THREE bunions removed by the age of 16.

When someone asks me why I use a cane, I either explain, or if they're rude, I just say, "pain."

[whatthehay.livejournal.com]

My canes have come in very handy and are always useful to have around. My first was just because my feet hurt so much and I had trouble walking. It's amazing how much more polite people are to you if they can SEE a reason why you walk slow. Feet got better, but have happily used them after each surgery I've had and whenever I need a little support.
They're great at airports, but not so good on planes (they take them away).
Once when I was sent to Colorado for 3 weeks training, a co-worker's husband was mugged at the bus stop (he was in his late 60's, early 70's). He beat the kid off with his cane.
Canes are great.