Walker then cane for me.

Do the PT, and ice packs will be your friend, also take the pain meds and stay ahead of the pain for the first week or so..

Regarding the walker with wheels, I asked and my doctor and therapist said no as it could too easily roll out from under you. My walker for the first three days did not even have the small fixed wheels, you had to pick it up and then step. Might have been because of my age and due to second replacement, don't know. After 3 days they changed the legs and put the small fixed wheels type on the front legs. Still a pain in the butt but much easier to get around with. Just my experience and your care givers may have different opinions. I do think once you became more mobile it would be an improvement for getting around.

I still have my factory knees, but when I had a hip replaced 10 years ago it was a walker at first followed by a cane. I asked the surgeon when I wouldn't need the cane anymore, he said "when you start leaving the cane in the last room you are in, it's time to quit using it".

You come home with a walker. I went on Facebook Marketplace and grabbed another, one for each floor. I recommend unbolting the wheels and flipping them around so they are on the inside of the pipes. The extra inch or two doesn't sound like much but it made doorways easier. PT showed me that. Don't spend much on the cane. In a few weeks it will just be in the corner collecting dust. Good Luck!

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
I'm certain the Surgeon and Physical Therapist will thoroughly evaluate your needs (accounting for your home/life situation) and make a recommendation for every stage of your recovery.

I agree with this. I've had one knee and two hips replaced. I believe with the knee I used all three - progressing from a walker to crutches to cane.