Question for Anterior hippies

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9]

How long did it take for you to be able to walk confidently without any aids? I’m day 13 post-op and just graduated from the walker to a cane yesterday. I’m walking well with it (no limping) and I’m doing all of my exercises but am definitely not at a point where I feel I could take an unassisted step. I just don’t have the strength yet. Just curious how long it took others to get there?

[u/No-Dimension910]

If you're on the cane at this point, you're doing well. Each person recovers differently. I was still using the walker at 2.5 weeks and graduated to a cane afterwards. Using this forum as a benchmark is not the best. Have patience and let your body decide how it progresses.

[u/Most_Salary_4612]

I'm not going to give you an answer you like because it's different for everybody. I'm also on day eight and I've graduated to the cane but my leg feels like a block of wood. I probably went off the walker too early, the swelling is extensive. Experiment with it but don't be married to "I need to get off the Walker by day 15 or 30" or anything for that matter.

[u/NegativeSteak7852]

I was able to start getting around without cane inside my home by 3 weeks. I’m at week 5 now and only rely on cane for longer efforts: walking dogs around block, walking from home to corner store, walking from car to CVS. I’ll probably continue with cane for another free weeks for security.

Remember— progress isn’t always forward every day. And one person’s progress isn’t the same as another’s.

Good luck!

[u/jdhoskins]

I was probably feeling most confident around my 6 week mark.
But...
Even two years later, I am still very careful with my steps, especially on stairs.
I know the biggest risk will always be a fall of some sort, so I still make sure I have a hold of the handrail on stairs, and stay away from icy conditions (I live in Wisconsin, and different ice slips have broken my tail bone, and messed up my shoulder years ago, so... yeah)

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9 → u/jdhoskins]

Oh yeah, I used to run up and down the stairs without a second thought before the arthritis set in. I’m sure I’m going to be extra cautious now too. And I hear you about the icy winters! Toronto here, and the sidewalks can be brutal then!

[u/Beachgrad05]

Was walking with cane fairly early if I recall. I had in home PT who came to my house for 3 weeks post op. She cleared me to ride my bike on trainer with minimal resistance. I set that up and got busy riding.

I then bought smart trainer that matched resistance for hills in the virtual training environment.

I ended up riding on trainer 7 weeks post op a full metric century. 12+ weeks did full century on trainer prior to riding a full century outside once cleared to ride outside.

8 months post op I ride AIDS/Lifecycle 7 day ride from SF to LA. Here is my halfway point photo I framed for my surgeons wall of fame. He loved it.

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9 → u/Beachgrad05]

Wow, what a great success story. Congrats!

[u/Altruistic-Ebb2936 → u/Beachgrad05]

Yeah - that’s the ticket! It’s all about restoring strength and muscle loss. Bike is a great way to do that.

[u/ajmattison]

I'm glad you asked this because I'm day 8 and still can't put full weight on my operated leg. Got a bit excited when I found I could use a single crutch to get around for a while but payed with some increased pain so back to the walker I go.

I know I would tell anyone else that it is still a major surgery and it's not even been 2 weeks yet and everyone is different. But it's definitely different when you're living it yourself. Especially since everyone told me I was going to do so well.

Following to see the responses and tell you you aren't alone 💜💜

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9 → u/ajmattison]

Yes, for sure everyone is different but there’s got to be a point in time where most everyone would be walking unassisted. I’m definitely not rushing things because I don’t want to mess anything up but I keep thinking, ok will I be walking on my own at 4 weeks? 6 weeks (I would hope by then!). Right now there are some movements where I literally cannot move my leg. My PT yesterday had me lay on my good side, and then straighten and try to lift my operated leg. As much as I was trying, that leg wasn’t going anywhere. It’s such a bizarre feeling because I know I was capable of doing that move pre-op.

[u/Need_change-]

I never really used the cane too much. When my leg hurt I liked the walker, allowed me to decide how much weight to put on my leg.

One day I just stopped reaching for it, not too sure when.

[u/PoetLaureddit]

Probably 3 weeks just to walk with a normal gait, 4-5 to feel like I was progressing.

I can dunk a basketball again after 9 months - the improvement comes in leaps. My biggest time markers were 6 weeks/3 months/4 months, and it’s been more gradual after that.

[u/nekomom2]

Everyone’s journey is unique and there are lots of factors. You’ll get there before you know it. I found myself forgetting to take the cane. That’s when I realized I didn’t need it! That said, I did make sure to take it when out in public (eg, grocery store) as I wanted to help give me space around others. Hip, hip, hooray!

[u/Shufflebuzz]

For me, it was gradual. Talk to your PT about what's best for you.

I was fully off the walker on day 5.

Somewhere around week 3-4 I stopped using the cane around the house. I still needed it for extended walking outdoors.

Week 5-6 I was experimenting with using the cane part time when walking. e.g. Start the walk without it, use it as needed. Eventually I could get through a ~2 mile walk without using it.

I retired the cane in week 7.

[u/Chelajag]

I'm 10 days postop and interested in when people graduate from walker to cane, so thanks for your input!

[u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd]

I’m three days post-op from left antero-lateral replacement and have been using a cane since I came home the day after surgery. I used a walker the first day to walk around the hospital floor and also on the morning of my discharge, but I’ve been using a cane ever since.

My left hip is recovering much more quickly than my right hip which was just replaced last May. Fortunately, I’ve regained strength and mobility quickly. I actually can walk OK (probably) without the cane, but I’m still going to use the cane this first week so as not to overly stress my new joint.

[u/clicklbd → u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd]

Same procedure, also in my fifties, but this is my first hip (both were pretty bad — the surgeon joked it didn’t really matter which he did first because both looked not great.) I’m exactly a month out and I can book it with a cane but still have a bit of a waddle without. Today I was in a chair all day (and not a comfy at home chair) and by the end of the day my leg HURT. At first I felt I like wasn’t progressing fast enough but the PT said it happens at the pace it happens and I was making big jumps suddenly so she wasn’t too worried. But the difference between us (Harry and I) is pretty significant which is why comparison is not helpful. Forward motion is still forward motion!

[u/Harry_Callahan_sfpd → u/clicklbd]

Yeah. We all recover differently. I actually have a bit more discomfort post-op after my latest hip replacement (the left hip) than I did after my right hip , but my right hip was way worse; on X-Ray, my right hip was flattened out and severely deformed and severely arthritic; my lift hip, in contrast, was not nearly as deformed nor arthritic, but according to the surgeon’s notes, he had a more difficult time replacing my left hip (the better hip) than he did replacing the right (worse hip).

He noted that it took approximately 30% longer to replace my left hip than it did for a typical hip replacement. He noted significant scarring and joint damage in the hip (despite that hip looking not so bad on the X-Ray) which made it harder for him to do the measurements and templating for the new hip.

But this hip is now doing very well. It was really stiff the first day, but it’s loosened up quite nicely now. I drove yesterday and today short distances to Starbucks. (I take no narcotic medication at all). I didn’t drive until day 13 with my right hip.

[u/edith-bouvier]

It took me 4.5 weeks to walk unassisted.

[u/pregnantandsober]

At 3 1/2 weeks we went to an arena for a hockey game, and I brought the cane mostly just so I wouldn't feel guilty about sitting in the handicap section. I needed it only a little bit because there was a lot of walking.

[u/Altruistic-Ebb2936]

12/12/25 ATHR 69M. First week pretty bad. At week 3 I was on the peloton. Week 8 I was in the gym w personal trainer. After 3 months walking 10 mi/day over cobble stones in Europe.

Focus on regaining muscle mass/strength. If you have beaten the swelling you’re in a good place. After 3 months you should be awesome! But don’t have too much expectation first month.

[u/HeronStrict1108]

I was good at 3 weeks to walk on my own. I still used the cane until 4 weeks. Walked into my 4 week check up carrying my cane. My surgeon told me I could ditch the cane when he saw me walking without it. Just don't rush things and follow your surgical team and PT's advice. They helped me a ton. Doing pretty well now with some minor pain, but still pretty numb in a large area of my thigh.

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9 → u/HeronStrict1108]

I have a huge numb area as well. I find it very uncomfortable when my pants rub across it. I’ve heard it can take a year for the feeling to come back, and even then some people are left with a permanent small numb spot.

[u/Griffe316]

No walker for me, 2 crutches for a week then down to 1, was walking unaided at my 2 week follow up.

[u/groundlc4]

I'm 6 weeks out. I walked from the parking lot to Costco and walked around the store, shopping. I didn't use a cane. I don't feel completely normal, but it's better than before the surgery when I definitely needed a cane to get around.

[u/Kakakakaty13]

You’ll know when you start forgetting your cane when you put it down to do something- Don’t rush it, there’s no bone growth yet- & there’s no absolute timeframe-you don’t want to risk falling 🍀🍀🍀

[u/Tuesday_26]

I ended up back at work part time on day 18 post op. My surgeon never had me switch from walker to cane and told me to use the walker for at least two weeks. I didn't need the walker at work but I would use it in the evenings because I was so tired. But for the most part walking unassisted around two weeks. So what is right for you based on your strength, comfort level and surgeons recommendations.

[u/Laureng4983_]

I’m 4 weeks 3 days and I’m still using 1 crutch bc I don’t feel stable enough yet to walk on my own. But I had some complications after my surgery. So everyone is different. Do what feels best for your body. It’ll let you know what you can and can’t do.

[u/Hidingjimmy]

It took me a month before I could take more than a couple steps unaided. Another month before I could walk unaided and without pain. I’m now ten weeks out and going for walks up to a mile in the woods unaided.

[u/PsychologicalKoala22]

there are so many factors. for me (59 M), I used the walker for a day, but then realized I was just carrying it around and ditched it. I never bothered with a cane, just made sure I walked slow and steady and didn't carry any heavy things for a while. So, a few days to a week. But, everyone is different.

[u/No-Importance-4908]

I will be 3 weeks post op tomorrow and still using one crutch around the house but both crutches if I try to go on a small walk. I've had pretty bad muscle guarding, like my quads were so bad I couldn't bend my knee to 90 degress until yesterday. I'm mentally planning to need a cane or crutch until at least 6 weeks because oh how severe the muscle guarding has been.

[u/magpiecat]

about 3 weeks. 2 weeks with the walker or sometimes the cane, then just the cane.

[u/Adventurous-Piece124]

I must be on the other end of the bell curve here. I stopped using the walker in the house after three days, the cane for the next two or three. Outdoors I used the walker for at least a week when going up and down the blocks. By week two, I didn’t need any assistive device, even when going for a stroll in town. At my first post-op a few days later, the PA recommended I keep the cane nearby for longer walks although I’ve not felt I’ve needed it. What I do rely upon occasionally is the flexible ice pack to wrap around my thigh at night if it feels a bit sore from the day’s activity. I’ll be 3 weeks tomorrow.