Need help finding a cane

[nanalisa]

I am having total hip replacement surgery after we return from our 10 day trip to WDW in July. My doctor told me if I insist on going, I'm going to have to take a cane to help deal with the pain. They have some at the pharmacy, but (please no ond take offense) I don't want an old lady cane, I'm a young 48! If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[Meezers]

My brother uses a cane and got his online...really nice wood that is carved. He says to just "google" canes and you will find a whole bunch. They can become quite pricey very quick. Be sure to find some instructions for measuring and the different types of handles. Also how much weight the cane will support...it needs to support your entire body weight. One type of handle is better....I think they are "derby" and "fitz" or "fritz"...the second one is recommended for women....

Hope this helps.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

A few years ago we were at WDW while my wife was waiting for her hip replacement. She rented an ECV which she found very helpful. She could ride most of the time, yet still park up and walk into attractions (with her hospital issued 'granny' cane) to excercise her hip when it was getting stiff.

If you decide to go the ECV route, there's a ton of information about off-site renters in this forum's FAQs. You can rent at the parks, but July is likely to be busy and you stand the risk of them all being taken.

Andrew

 

[Talking Hands]

First I agree with Andrew that an ECV would be a good idea. As to getting a cane, check some of the medical supply places. I have some beautiful slowered ones I've gotten at the local independent pharmacy as well.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Go onto eBay and do a search on "Walking Sticks". You will get about 1000 items listed which will primarily include canes but also quarterstaffs and even some sword sticks.

 

[RaySharpton]

I am having total hip replacement surgery after we return from our 10 day trip to WDW in July. My doctor told me if I insist on going, I'm going to have to take a cane to help deal with the pain. They have some at the pharmacy, but (please no ond take offense) I don't want an old lady cane, I'm a young 48! If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thanks!

Hi, nanalisa. www.costco.com has a nice folding metal and wood cane for only $11.69. I like to use this one so I can fold it up when I don't need it. I can also put it in my scooter basket folded up.

But rent a scooter, too. Believe me, you won't believe the difference it will make, especially outside of the parks.

www.costco.com/Images/Content/Product/756237.jpg

Ray

 

[zumbergc]

If your getting a hip replacement, your really going to want to rent an ecv. You don't want to be in lots of pain with all the walking at WDW. If you want to take small breaks off the ecv by all means, have someone in your party drive it for 10-15-30min breaks so you can get some use of your legs. If your still fairly able to walk, it may not be desirable to spend the entire time in the ecv, you still want to walk some and keep up the leg strength. Take time on, and time off the ecv.

The ecv will probably make things a lot easier. My aunt used an ecv, the last time she was there. Then she had only 1 replacement hip then, but now she has had both hips replaced.

I can't walk the whole time, so we rent an ecv. I'll have my husband drive and i'll walk some of the time. But generally its only for 10-15 minute periods, sometimes longer sometimes shorter.

I'm just 32, and quit young to have all the leg, back problems. I remember my first trip my legs hurting so bad, ankles hurting really bad at the end of the first day, then a constant ache the rest of the trip. Then when i'd get back home it would take a couple weeks to get back to normal. Now that things are a lot worse, i don' t even try to not to the scooter/wheel chair.
The last time we did a half day, and my legs were all knotted up for 3 months.

Of course I would much rather just be able to walk all the time and be pain free at home. However I don't do a lot of things i used to and many things most people take for granted everyday I can't do anymore.

Connie

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Just wanted to say good luck with the surgery. I had a THR in May 2004 and have never looked back. The pain before the surgery was intolerable and I couldn't sleep, concentrate or just live an ordinary life. I had used a walking stick for about 5 years prior to surgery as I just couldn't walk under my own steam anymore as the pain was so bad.

After the surgery, my life has completely changed and I feel 10 years younger (I am now 46). It was the best thing that could have happened to me.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me and I will do my best to answer them.

Jackie

 

[disneyfor3]

The last two trips we have taken to Disney, we have gotten my father-in-law the most beautiful canes at the Animal Kingdom marketplace. They are handcarved with an animal in the top area under the handle (one I believe is an elephant and the other a giraffe), he uses them all the time. I bought the rubber tips at my local pharmacy to put on the bottom of them. They were under $20.00 each. If you contact disney guest services they might be able to locate one for you and ship it to you. My father-in-law gets comments on his all the time and he says they are the right height and comfortable to use. In the alternative you could buy the rubber tips for the bottom before you go and make the AK shop your first stop (the shop is located right before the Kilamanjaro (spelling) safari ride on the right.

On a side note, we took my mother-in-law last Fall and she has very bad knees. We rented her an ecv from Walker Mobility (she was very concerned she'd be the only one on a scooter and she'd run somebody over with it); she was very pleased with it and enjoyed using it so much she's actually agreed to go back with us this coming Fall.

 

[nanalisa]

Thank you all for your help and concern. Why didn't I think of ebay and google? I have seen the canes at AK, wish I had bought one when I was there! I'm 5'10" so I can use a "man size" cane. I have thought about the ECV but thought that a bad hip wasn't a good enough reason to get one. I guess it's more that I don't want people to judge me and they think I don't need one. And, (don't tell anyone this) my dh is a great man but really hasn't gotten onboard with this hip thing. I think he feel like I should be stronger and suck up the pain. That makes him sound terrible but he is the type that never sits down, works all the time - even when he's sick.

The way I feel today though, I'm not sure I could walk from the bus to the park. Thanks again for the great advice.

 

[brack]

I just had a THR 13 days ago. When planning for this I knew that I did not want a "wimpy" cane. I started looking for a walking staff. My 32yo DS goes to Ren Fairs in costume and had the perfect staff. So I now have a 5 foot curved staff. I expect to look cool.

 

[nanalisa]

Brack, I think you will be the coolest person with a cane! I found one on ebay that is cobalt blue with and antishock tip, and it's adjustable. I plan to be adorable!

13 days now? How are you doing? Do you have a lot of pain? I've always considered myself with a high tolerance for pain but I have to admit, I'm starting to feel a little anxious. Can you do this yet?

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad to hear that you found a really nice cane. It sounds besutiful.

Brack, you may want to email WDW about the 5 foot staff. This is going to sound silly, but I'm sure they don't see many of those and security might interpret it to be considered a possible weapon.
It also may be difficult during the times you are on attractions and would be hard to carry if you plan to rent an ecv. I'm thinking of rides like Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion where you are in a ride car with a "roof" and probably don't have 5 feet of height or width. If you board at the exit, the CMs can store it for you, but then you would not have it while getting off of rides (which sometimes is the hardest).

 

[brack]

13 days now? How are you doing? Do you have a lot of pain? I've always considered myself with a high tolerance for pain but I have to admit, I'm starting to feel a little anxious. Can you do this yet?

I'm not quite to the banana yet but I am doing very well. We took a trip to mall on Saturday early for good walk and I have been out twice since for shorter walks. The only pain I have had is the muscle stiffness from the operation. Therapy has helped with that everyday. I tapered off the pain med and stopped completely Sunday (12 days post op). I expect to have a full recovery and be better than I have in years.

Keep me up to date on yours. Blessings.

 

[brack]

Glad to hear that you found a really nice cane. It sounds besutiful.

Brack, you may want to email WDW about the 5 foot staff. This is going to sound silly, but I'm sure they don't see many of those and security might interpret it to be considered a possible weapon.
It also may be difficult during the times you are on attractions and would be hard to carry if you plan to rent an ecv. I'm thinking of rides like Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion where you are in a ride car with a "roof" and probably don't have 5 feet of height or width. If you board at the exit, the CMs can store it for you, but then you would not have it while getting off of rides (which sometimes is the hardest).

Thanks for the insight. I had not thought of any those possibilities. I'll keep that in mind and give a report when I return.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am having total hip replacement surgery after we return from our 10 day trip to WDW in July. My doctor told me if I insist on going, I'm going to have to take a cane to help deal with the pain. They have some at the pharmacy, but (please no ond take offense) I don't want an old lady cane, I'm a young 48! If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thanks!

Especially if you're planning to use the cane primarily for your Disney trip (and, trust me, at some point during your recovery! ) you might want to consider buying one of the wooden "old people" canes - decorate it with Disney stickers, then polyurethane the whole thing.
I don't know if most people are aware, but there are height recommendations for canes- when you hold your arm loosely straight down by your side, the grip/top/handle of the cane should be at your wrist. Although since you'll only be using it temporarily, this may not matter much.

 

[nanalisa]

Thanks for all the cane advice. Now let me tell you what I did with it. First day at WDW, we head for MK. Me in my comfy shoes, light backpack with little in it and my cane. First ride, Buzz Lightyear. The cane falls between the front panel of the car and the floor. A CM has to ride the ride with a flashlight and a pole with pinchers at the end. He comes around with my cane. Yay! Next we head off to ride BTMR. I'm in a car by myself (the front car of the last section) with DH and DGD in front of me. As we take off, my cane slips through a crack (no, I didn't learn from the last ride) on the side and is clicking along the tracks! I yell at a CM, but she doesn't hear me and the cane finally slips all the way out while I'm worrying about the train behind us derailing. We get off at the end of the ride and I tell a CM what happened. BTW by now my husband is threatening to put me on a plane. A CM makes an announcement that the ride will be shut down for 3-5 min and a load groan rises. They send me outside to wait, sparing my life from angry train riders. A couple of minutes later the CM's emerge with my cane, bent in half with the tip missing. I'm am a disgrace to the mobilty challanged. The first day! Now I have no cane for the rest of the trip but I got along pretty well. DH rented a wheel chair for me on our EPCOT days. I saw the canes at AK but since they didn't have tips I was afraid it would slip (you know it would have slipped or at least slipped out of another ride) and I would have fallen with it. Anyway, I'm looking for another one.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm sorry to do this, but

It sounds like anything that could happen wrong, did, and you wrote about it so entertainingly, that I could not help laughing. The same thing happened to me one year with sunglasses - I lost my first pair in the bathroom (hung them on the hook and forgot to take them when I left). The second pair was taken off by my DD while we were on the train and she threw them while we were in motion. Every time I bought a new pair, something happened to them.
So, I guess one of the criteria for your new cane is too big to fit thru the gaps in rides - it must happen fairly frequently for them to be ready with a grabber to rescue them.

 

[homer424]

I am sorry for all the mishaps! Sounds like something that would happen to us!

I know I am late in giving advice but I bought my mom a beautiful cane from a catalog-I think it was Potpourri? It was printed with an english garden scene all over it. They also had paisley print. She loved it and used it for her trips to WDW (this was around the time of her second bout with cancer) and got quite a few compliments. (don't meant to toot my own horn ) This was 7 years ago but I know I have seen them in the catalog recently.

 

[nanalisa]

I'm sorry to do this, but

It sounds like anything that could happen wrong, did, and you wrote about it so entertainingly, that I could not help laughing. The same thing happened to me one year with sunglasses - I lost my first pair in the bathroom (hung them on the hook and forgot to take them when I left). The second pair was taken off by my DD while we were on the train and she threw them while we were in motion. Every time I bought a new pair, something happened to them.
So, I guess one of the criteria for your new cane is too big to fit thru the gaps in rides - it must happen fairly frequently for them to be ready with a grabber to rescue them.

LOL what can you do but laugh? I could have used the wrist strap at the top of the cane to hang on to it, but I'm afraid it would have pulled me down with it.

I lost my sunglasses too, but not until the last day.