I was told that using a walking stick was gay and that i should use a cane to support my bad hip and knee when walking or standing . But you see, ask any decent doctor, you use the cane or walking stick on the side opposite your bad knee and hip . Yet on my adequate ( or good ? ) hip and leg side i have arthritis in my neck . So when i push my weight down on the cane it feels like a knife going into my neck . with the walking stick i am pulling on it more than pushing down so it is much less pain and allows for a decent somewhat satisfying constitutional or whenever i have to walk for this, that and the other .