Can using a cane or walker be addictive?

I was visiting in Florida this past week and I noticed a woman hobbling on obviously uneven hips while holding onto the furniture. It not unlike a child that cruises when learning to walk. I asked the woman if she was experiencing back pain and she answered that she was. I asked her why she wasn’t using a cane and she said that she was told that she would get too used to it and would not be able to walk without it. She said that she could become addicted to the cane.

This particular woman had undergone a total hip replacement recently and the legs were of different lengths. She was obviously causing back pain due to the uneven height of her hips. In addition, she was unsafe in her walking which was evidenced by her need to hold onto the furniture to walk safely. Walkers and canes are not addictive. There is no chemical that will cause withdrawal if you stop using them.

When someone who needs an assistive device stops using it because of vanity or worry about addiction, they become more dependent on others, can potentially cause back pain and even more seriously can potentially cause a fall due to lack of safety while walking. There is no good reason not to use an assistive device if one is needed.

Using a cane or walker is not addictive but it is the safe alternative for the individual that wants to be independent. A broken hip or even a head injury from a fall can be far more damaging than a bruised ego from using an assistive device.