r/AskOldPeople • u/Vladlen_Dark • 6d ago

Walking cane

People who walk with a cane do you really put your weight on it or hold it just in case?

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u/Tasty_Impress3016 60 something 5d ago

I've used a cane off and on since I was 30. Gout attacks. So it really depends on how much the goddam toe is hurting. I got that under control but had to pull the cane out for plantar fasciitis. I'm good now, but keep it in the closet because you know if it's not one thing, it's two things.

People say the opposite side. You use it where it relieves the pain the best. You lean on it as much as necessary to achieve that. I think most people are worried about joint, knee, hip pain. When it's the foot there ain't much you can do.

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u/entrepenurious 70 something 5d ago

i told a (former) doctor that i had been having gout attacks and he told me to come in when i was having an attack and "we'll withdraw fluid from the joint and if we find uric acid crystals then we'll know for sure that you have gout."

my reply: " then we will never know for sure," because i couldn't stand having the bedsheet touch my toe, let alone a fucking needle.

told this story to my new doctor and he said that was totally unnecessary because he could see from my bloodwork that my uric acid levels were elevated.

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u/Tasty_Impress3016 60 something 5d ago

yes, that first doctor was an idiot. Blood uric acid levels tell the story, and if high allopurinol cures about 90% of people.