Congratulations on staying motivated and active after the challenges! I love success stories - even when "success" looks different than what we anticipated.

I have a friend who had similar misadventures with her hip replacement, and felt she was never going to get back to walking because of the hand/arm pain from using either a walker or cane. She persisted, found a rehab center near her home in Nebraska where they had a wide variety of devices for her to try, and found her solution.

It is an "upright walker" where one uses primarily the forearms to propel & steer it, and you stand with a very erect posture. She is back to 2 mile walks, and as a side benefit, her husband found it works better for him (with spine issues) than the walking poles he was using. So we see them, every morning, out walking side-by-side through our winter community.

As a side note - I just spent several days at our State Fair, and noticed more people, including young ones with severe challenges, using them. Also, after several hip surgeries, I needed a cane for a while, but arthritis in my hands and wrists caused the pain you mentioned. A friend of mine recommended a forearm crutch, and it was much easier because the wrist was straight. I'll bet it could be fitted with the "sand foot"

Keep on walking - and encouraging others!
Sue

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