I need a cane but feel so anxious using it in public
My Ankylosing Spondylitis is flaring up so bad. I’m on steroids, Norcos, etc and still struggling with pain. I can’t walk more than maybe 2 minutes without feeling pain and I’m limping around a lot of the time. I try to hide my limp as much as I can, though.
Getting up and down out of chairs etc hurts.
Stairs are impossible without my cane or gripping on hard to a railing, too.
It’s also difficult to walk, get up/down, etc with the stiffness and weakness I have right now.
I only say weakness because I’ve basically been either sick or my UC and/or AS has been flaring since November... So, I weigh 105lbs at 5’7 currently and I’m exhausted.
I bought a cane after my PT recommended it, and I’ve used it a few times. It really helps with pain, and I’m able to walk much more. I don’t need to grab onto walls either.
I’m just feeling anxious to use it in public. Every time I have so far, people have been weird.
EXAMPLE: Went to the dispo and the lady offered me a chair and was being overly nice and apologized **incessantly** because I “must not have seen the handicap parking and button to open the door”.
I didn’t see the button, which is my fault, not hers! And at that point in time, I hadn’t gotten my handicap placard yet.
I’ve also had men be super creepy and white knighty… it makes me very uncomfortable to get this attention.
Then other people giving me looks/staring as if it’s unheard of for a 26 year old to be disabled. I hate to call myself disabled… but i’m trying to be blunt.
Anyway, I don’t know what to do. I want to use my cane because it’s way easier getting around and I’m limited right now without it… but people treat me weirdly in public and I feel judged also. And my biggest thing is worrying I seem like a faker 😭😭😭
I’ll realistically need this cane until I can get my joints injected and get back on my infusions.
I also don’t know how to talk to certain friends about this.
TLDR: I need a cane for right now realistically. People treat me weirdly when they see me with it. How do I handle this? What do I do? Also, how do I tell friends?… thank you!!