[Blind-rollers] Walkers and White Canes

[Becky Frankeberger]

Welcome Susan, I was sitting in the physical therapists office where I just
got finished.  I sat waiting for my ride when a seventy something lady drove
up in her car, she told me, she walked in the office filled out the forms,
so we had time to talk.  She was a week out of knee replacement surgery and
all she used was a support cane, plus she was driving with her other foot
obviously.  I was shocked out of my mind. But really you are up and only
walking a short time with a walker, under the supervision of a therapist,
until you are strong enough to care for yourself.  So some do indeed go to
in patient rehab, as people recover at there own speed, but not all. Do your
exercises as the therapists told you pre surgery.  The stronger you are the
better recovery is post surgery.  

After smashing my foot, it really is a balancing act to put your hand and
balance yourself enough to move the cane, in my case anyway, back and forth
using the front part of the hand grips.  So strongly recommend some practice
sessions.  I recommend just sliding the cane as balance is more important
then perfect technique with the cane.  So I think I was nearly right between
the hand grips. One of my hands was backbut stil on the grip, while the
other was kind of forward and sliding the cane.  They want you to put some
weight on the knee so that is to your advantage for balance.  I think the
sore knee was more forward and the stronger knee was more behind like a
steadying peg.  Take one step and slowly another, until you get a rhythm
going. Take your time and feel steady while you move.  That first bump with
the cane after surgery well, I felt it through my whole body, but I was
scared.  When I reached determination is when I was able to move and the
bumps did not bother me, but only delayed me      

The physical therapists should be able to teach you how to use your support
cane, and you are familiar enough with the long cane.  Again, it is a rhythm
you need to develop. The support cane moves with the step and so does the
long cane. Sweep step, sweep step, if I am remembering how you use a cane.
So the long cane sweeps, you move with your support cane.  Now if they want
you to put the support cane in the same hand as the long cane, stand firm.
Your safety with the long cane is priority.  They have to think out of the
box positionally where to put that support cane to give you the best use of
its support/balance in the other hand. 

Two weeks post surgery my friend Larry was at a Lions Club meeting with me
with no support cane.  I was shocked again.  Larry was determined to golf at
a charity event in just three months.  He reached that goal by the way.  

Be determined and you will win.

Oh hey I am Becky from Washington state and my bus is here.  By.

Becky and guide dog Jake     
-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-rollers [mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Susan Tabor
Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 9:50 PM
To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blind-rollers] Walkers and White Canes

Hi, listers:

 

I am Susan Tabor from Lawrence, Kansas.  I am planning and preparing for
joint replacement surgeries; my right knee the end of February and my left
knee sometime this summer.  I will be using a walker for a significant
period of time during my rehabilitation after each surgery.

 

Does anyone have any tips on using a white cane with a walker?  I'd like to
travel as independently as possible but I'm trying to get my mind around how
one would use a white cane while using a walker.  Thanks in advance for your
input!

Best Regards,

Susan Tabor

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