Using a cane

Let me start off by giving you some back story. I hurt my back in May of 1997 and then again in August of 1999 while in the Marines. It started off as pain that would lay me up for a few days if I did something really strenuous, such as a MCRE which is a 50+ mile hump in full gear, and over the years has gotten progressively worse. Fast forward to now and even doing household duties has become a hurdle.

I have four bulging or herniated disks and two of them also have annular fissures , also known as annular tears. They are between L3 and L4, L4 and L5, L5 and S1, and S1 and S2. To say the least I have significant lower back pain. I also have Degenerative Disk Decease, which means that it is only going to get worse. With the bulging disks I also have a narrowing of the spinal canal. This is causing certain nerves to become pinches which is leading to sciatic pain in my left leg, that began in 2000, and in the last few year has also led to pain in my hips. When my hips flare up it literally feels like my hip is going to come out of it's socket with each and every step. I have had my hips x-rayed and there is absolutely nothing wrong with my hips themselves so the pain has to be coming from my back. Fortunately it only happens to one hip at a time, at least so far that has been the case. The hip pain has been there from the very beginning, but was usually pretty rare. It would probably only happen twice a year so it was not too bad to deal with. In the last few years that has increased to probably an average on once a month, not fun. Unfortunately it has gotten even worse to were it usually occurs on average once a week and lasts anywhere between a couple of days to a week. The pain is so bad that when it happens, at best I have to use a cane and deal with the pain, or at worst I am completely laid up.

OK thank you for bearing with me so far and that brings me to my real question. When I am using a cane I feel extremely vulnerable. Does anybody know of any good reading or sites where I can use my cane to an advantage, something preferably with some good illustrations? Even better, any self defense classes that deal with working disabled people?

Thank you for your time.
Shawn

Here are a couple pics of the can I am currently using. I am planning on getting something a little more.......shall we say stylish, considering I am only 37 and have to use a cane, I want something at least looks nice. I plan on using the same style because it is comfortable. When my left hip hurts, I place the cane down next to my hurt leg, the incorrect way. When my right hip hurts, I place the cane down opposite of my hurt leg, the correct way.

Thanks for all the replies gentlemen.

For me personally I do not want a cane or stick that could be easily construed as a weapon. I do not want something with a cane inside, gunstock looking club at the top, or a huge ball. I simply want an effective, but a comfortable, as comfortable as a cane can be, cane. I'm sure even a regular cane can double as an effective weapon if need be. I have found the ergonomic palm grip to be pretty comfy. It doesn't make my hand hurt even if I have to use it all day long. When I use my cane I actually have to put fairly stout amount of weight on it. Other canes I have tried ended up hurting my hand.

When I said I felt very vulnerable when using my cane, I meant it, but not that I could not defend myself if I was forced to do so. I think between a cane, a gun, and most importantly my brain, that I could most effectively defend myself if I was forced to do so. Where I feel really vulnerable is that I feel like it makes me look like easy prey and therefore more likely that I would be forced to defend myself. Unfortunately at times I do not have a choice.

To USAF Vet, I too felt a bit silly at first because I felt way too young to have to use a device that we generally only depict elderly people using. I will say this however, it is only us that see us this way, not the people around us. I say if a cane would help you, then you should certainly use one. On the other hand I'm not sure how much the VA with help with this. Oh they will certainly give you a cane, but most likely be that four pronged aluminum monstrosity that you see scooting around a nursing home.

I would love to find a place to learn some sort of stick fighting or even learn more hand to hand combat, but unfortunately my body could not handle the normal regime. That I why I was asking about somewhere that deals with people with disabilities. That CaneFu site has a few things and I may end up getting a manual from there. In the mean time I may try to come up with my own regime, even if it is just a few things where I can use my cane to an advantage. I can't imagine it would be that difficult and if I come up with anything that I think could be extremely helpful to others, I will make sure to post them.

One a Marine, forever a Marine is something that they ingrained in us over and over and there is always that brotherhood when you meet another former Marine. I swear I almost feel the same way when I meet someone else with bad back problems. It's almost like nobody else really knows what it is like. Some people are like, oh I have back pain it's not that bad and to a point they are right. But when you live in pain day in and day out and you literally have to live your life around your pain instead of vise versa. So to all of you out there with chronic back pain, I feel for you brother.


Here is the cane I want to get. Just a tough, but comfortable cane.

Thanks for the help and letting me ramble.
Shawn

I looked at that Stay Safe site and I think that is more like what I was looking for. Thanks.

Shawn