The best advice I can give you is from my experience. I had to use a cane and I found it easier to use one with the four little legs on it. It was more stable in the snow and on the ice.
It is something that is hard to decide on. It is just what seems comfortable to you. Go to a store that has canes and try them out.
I have two. One regular and One with the legs.

I have a wonderful walking stick that I picked up for 5 bucks all wood, I use it for balance issues.The only thing canes help me with is balance, when my legs are weak and shaky canes offer me minimal support. I would find a cane or walking stick with a rubber tip that has tread on the bottom of it, and one that would make you feel comfortable. A four legged cane is a good thought also.
Hugs
Morgaine

YEA HONEY GET THE CANE THE 4 PROG WAS SOMETHING MY DR. SPOKE AGAINST I DON'T KNOW WHY BUT THE STICK IS GOOD I HAVE TO FIND ONE NOE I USE A CANE YES IT'S BALANCE FOR ME JUST DO IT HAVE A BLESSED DAY

YEA I WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO FIND A STICK CANE DO I HAVE TOM
AKE ONE DOES ANY ONE KNOW?

i felt bad when i bought my first cane. it took me taking a pretty bad fall to really start using it. if i had known before how much it would help with fatigue when i went places i would have used it sooner

Yes, it is hard to accept the fact that you need a cane, but look at it this way, would you like a broken hip, those were the words from My Docter and I went out and got that cane. I have a 4 legged one, it is really stable and should be much better in the snow. It give you a good sense of balance. I use it all the time now, and in between on those really horrible days, I am succumbed to using a wheelchair, which is still a major depressing thing to me...but I do it. Take Care.

CURRENTLY I USE CRUTCHES IT HELPS WITH BALANCE.FOR THE ICE AND SNOW I GOT A CANE FROM QVC,IT'S CALLED THE SURE STEP IT'S LIKE AN EXTRA FOOT ON THE BOTTOM IT'S A NON SLIP RUBBER.THE CRUTCHES HELP ME WITH BALANCE AND MENTALLY AT THE AGE OF 41 IT'S BETTER FOR ME THAN USING A WALKER.

I got a cane after my first hospitalization, and have used it several times in the last six months, on "shaky" days. I went to a med supply place and got a lovely hawaiian flowered cane, adjustable, with a wooden handle. More often my three year old uses it to try and beat on my six year old, and occasionally we use it as a putter for whacking the cat's ball across the room. Multiple uses made the cane a worthwhile investment.

One issue I found, when I do take it to work, people who don't know I have MS inevitably ask me if I got hurt, what happened, etc...so I end up telling them about the MS. That's a pain.

Completely agree about the four prong! That one works much better for me when I go out in public and don't need the walker. I have a regular walking stick cane I use around the house or just to go out on the back porch, but the four prong was the better to go out to the store and such.

I bought one at Wal-Mart for about $20 that is four prong. The PROBLEM I have found when using it is that it CAN get caught in your pant leg or your foot may get under it when you move. TRY to find one that has short prongs to avoid that. I found this website great and will order my new one there.

www.fashionablecanes.com

Go to specialty and Ice/Snow grippers.

They also have something called Able Tri-Pod base, something I'll be getting to see if its better than the 4 prong as I have tripped with it when it got caught in my pant leg or I stepped under it :(

The hardest decision I have made in regard of MS, was to use a cane. I put it off for 2-3 months, even tho I was falling daily. I finally bought one at Walmart. Since I have made two in my shop. Bottom line is this, a cane offers more stability. If there is snow and ice, cane tips are available which are pointed steel to bite into ice. I can point you to sources if you are interested.....

Thank-you, everyone, for your experiences, insight, and advice. I greatly appreciate it and knew that I'd get some answers!

Michelle

My mother in law has this can that is just beautiful...it isn't like the big huge wooden canes...if I can remember what store we went to when we bought it I will pass it your way!

I also have two. One is a wooden one and the other is a quad (with four small legs). In fact I own two quads (one is left side and the other is a right side). When I really have hard days I have a quad for each side. Now I am using a rollator.

Buffey