There’s nothing like needing a walker to tell you that you are officially old. I had some back surgery last year and decided that a walker would keep me from stumbling or falling. I hated the idea of needing a walker though. The very definition of old was pushing one off those classic walkers or even the fancier rollators.
Classic walker:
Fancy rollator:
In the community where I live, the number of walkers has increased by at since the pandemic, and there are more now because of the Eaton fire from which we were evacuated for almost three months. Most of my friends use the fancier Nitro Drive style with larger wheels and a seat. Once my husband no longer needed his “tall” version, I appropriated it. It keeps me from hunching over and it zooms along smoothly. I tell myself I probably don’t really need it— but the truth is sometimes I do.
Since I no longer walk with those long strides of youth and cannot lope along like Obama, I’m not sure whom I am fooling about a walker. Falls at my age are way more dangerous and debilitating than having a walker. And falls are the cause of many hospitalizations.
We all know we susceptible to falls as we age, but do we really take precautions we should? This Mayo Clinic article provides some important tips. If you have fallen in the past year or so, take a look at the cause. Were you not watching where you were going? Was the light low or were you in an unfamiliar place? Do you have any loose rugs in your home (rugs you love but slip)? Do you have the proper shoes? Did you stub your toe on something because you didn’t see it or just couldn’t lift you foot up appropriately?
I thought that stubbing my toe was just something that happens. But there is a condition called “foot drop” that is not only common but can be serious. I learned I have “foot drop,” which apparently is not unusual at all.
“Foot drop (also called drop foot) happens when you can’t raise the front part of your foot due to weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift it. It’s a symptom of several possible underlying conditions and can be temporary or long-term chronic.” Cleveland Clinic
I did not realize it was a problem for me until I tripped and fell and realized I was stubbing my toes without being aware of it. My back surgery had released much of the compressed sciatic nerve in my hip but didn’t do anything for my calf and right foot, which have become somewhat numb and tingly. I have searched for the appropriate shoes to wear but have not had a lot of success finding something that mimics walking barefoot. When I am barefoot or in socks inside my apartment, I don’t trip. I don’t stumble at all. But the minute I put on any shoes, I get the foot drop stumble. You can find a number of so-called shoe solutions online, but it’s best to consult a physical therapist or an orthotics expert if you are having serious foot drop problems. Some people with neuropathy or foot drop have to wear braces called AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthotics) that keep their toes stable; others can do with less bulky “soft” AFO braces on their ankle. Whatever the solution, the problem of foot drop cannot always be solved by strengthening foot and leg muscles. Sometimes the damage to those nerves is irreversible. Thus, the brace becomes necessary for stability.
What about the use of a cane? Some experts recommend canes or walking sticks for stability and balance, but consult an expert before you invest any money in these assistive devices. The idea is to use the cane in your nondominant hand or in the hand opposite to the foot that is causing you trouble. I have tried a cane but don’t find it sufficient if I start to trip.
I took my first plane trips alone last month after the 2024 surgery, and I didn’t know if I should even bring a walker or cane, because I am easily walking in my own apartment. I didn’t know how long I would have to walk in the airports or what terrain might await me. My main question was whether to check my walker with my baggage or bring it right up to the plane door (which you can do even if you are in a wheelchair and let them stow it like they do a child’s stroller). I ended up checking it in a big bag on one trip, and bringing it right up to the plane door in the other. Both worked. I used a wheelchair from curb to plane door and back on all the trips, and believe me the wheelchair is the way to go! When you travel internationally it is even more important. They take you through customs and security so easily. I do strongly suggest you tip well, however. Apparently, according to one attendant with whom I spoke after I tipped him, people sometimes don’t tip at all or just give $5. I tip $10-20 depending on how long they have to wheel me around and how helpful they are in terms of stopping at bathrooms, etc. Air travel is relatively easy these days when you need assistance. The key is to admit you do need help and reward it graciously!
I am back to using a walker in situations where I have to walk some distance or do not have anything to hang onto (like someone’s arm). I am also doing a lot of strengthening and balancing exercises now in the hope that I may ultimately not have to use one at all. Whether I do or not will not be an issue of vanity, however. If I have to use a walker to get where I want to go, then so be it!