[rehab] Suggestions for Using a Walker Along with a Cane

[Mary Donahue]

Good afternoon everyone,

 

                I am mainly calling on cane travel teachers to answer this
question, but anyone who has suggestions can respond.

 

                Last month, I fell in our bedroom when I was getting dressed
to go to work and bumped my right side on the end of the bed frame. It might
have knocked my balance out a little bit. At any rate, I have been out a
couple of weeks from work to make sure my balance did not interfere with my
work as a braille proofreader.

 

                Last weekend, when one of my co-workers came to visit with
us, she found my old walker in the closet. I had to use a walker in 2011 for
a couple of days after I had surgery on my right knee. Currently, I am using
the walker to cross open spaces, such as from the couch to the entertainment
center and from our built-in bar to my armchair, as well as to the front
door going outside. . Yesterday, I used the walker and a cane to go to my
physical therapy evaluation and to the doctor's office. However, I have
never used a cane and a walker at the same time, and I start back to work on
Monday.

 

                If any of you have some suggestions on techniques to use a
cane and a walker, please bring them on. Any suggestion you may have will be
very much appreciated. I do not want to ggo through the Division of Blind
Services, as it will take too long to get a case opened, and I do not want
them involved. If I use a cane travel instructor, I would rather pay him or
her with the resources I have. That way, I can interview the instructor
beforehand, and I can work with someone I can trust. I have had too many bad
experiences in the past with DBS and cane travel instructors that I would
rather not go that route.

 

                Thank you for your suggestions in advance.

 

                Before I forget, the walker I have has two rails on either
side of it. This is just something added in case the question comes up
later.

 

Mary Donahue