Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDeciding If You Need a CaneEmotional ConcernsFinding the Right Cane
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Deciding If You Need a Cane
Emotional Concerns
Finding the Right Cane
Using a cane is one of the ways to cope with the decreased mobility ofmultiple sclerosis(MS). You might want to use a cane just intermittently to help with balance, such as when you are taking a walk along a rugged path, or you may want to use a cane almost all the time if one of your legs is substantially weaker than the other.
Aside from the practical aspects of deciding whether you need a cane and how to safely use it, you may experience some apprehension about it. Thinking through any ambivalence might be a big part of your decision. If you decide to get a cane, you will have a new tool at your fingertips to help you maximize your capabilities once you select the right type and fit for you.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
If your MS is limiting your ability to get around and do the things you like to do, a mobility device can assist you in staying active. A cane is the least complicated type of mobility device, providing you with just a touch of balance and support to help you get around.
You can talk with your healthcare provider or therapist as you consider whether you could benefit from using a cane, but ultimately the decision is up to you.
Some questions to consider when deciding whether a cane would be beneficial for you include:
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you might want to try a cane in a physical therapy setting. You can learn how to use it safely and get an idea of whether it improves your mobility.
It is probably the right option for you if you feel more stable and balanced with a cane.
As you are deciding whether you should get a cane, what youdon’twant to do is wait until you have an accident. Be honest with yourself and carefully weigh the benefits and shortcomings of using a cane.
Using a cane can feel like a major change in your life. You may have a number of emotional concerns, and it is important that you acknowledge these issues.
Common ConcernsSome concerns that may cause you to avoid a cane even if you need one include:Feeling self-conscious, embarrassed, or less competent in front of othersA sense that a cane represents losing your freedomFear that a cane means that your condition is decliningAssociating a cane with being oldConcern that relying on a cane will weaken your muscles
Common Concerns
Some concerns that may cause you to avoid a cane even if you need one include:Feeling self-conscious, embarrassed, or less competent in front of othersA sense that a cane represents losing your freedomFear that a cane means that your condition is decliningAssociating a cane with being oldConcern that relying on a cane will weaken your muscles
Some concerns that may cause you to avoid a cane even if you need one include:
Consider talking about your feelings, whether with a trusted friend or loved one, your healthcare provider, your physical therapist, in a support group, or with a licensed mental health professional. Talking it out can help you sort out your misgivings and put them into perspective.
Remember, too, that while you may find certain aspects of using a cane undesirable, doing so might make opportunities that are currently difficult or out of reach (like going on more outings with family) real possibilities. That can have tremendous value in terms of your overall outlook on your life with MS.
Using a cane is not always intuitive. Depending on what MS symptoms you’re experiencing, you may need to move the cane in unison with the affected leg or the opposite leg.
How to Walk With a Cane: Post-Op and With Pain
A Word From Verywell
Living with MS has its challenges. Getting past your limitations is often possible, but it requires some deliberate lifestyle changes. A mobility device, like a cane, can give you the extra boost you need to get around. The emotional process of getting to that decision can be tough, but once you have a cane, you can gain freedom, which can be empowering.
How to Safely Use a Cane
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
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