Using a walker after shoulder replacement

You should have a physical therapy evaluation before you are discharged. They can evaluate your safety and show you how to use the Walker with one arm or if there is a better way for you to ambulate. Your doctor should not ignore your concerns about using the walker with your health issues. I had to briefly use a walker after hip replacement and I can’t imagine using it with only one arm. Good luck to you.

Thank you. It’s outpatient, so doubt anyone from PT will be there. It’s a small resort town, not many year round people.

Could you use a cane instead? I just had major repair on my shoulder in November. There was no way I could have used a walker post-surgery. In fact, I had to have the shoulder done and healed before they would revise my knee due to not being able to use a walker!

If you are given an arm immobilizer instead of a traditional sling, you may be able to hang onto the walker lightly, though of course your operated arm should not take body weight or pressure. The immobilizer is a wide fabric band that goes around your waist to chest with velcro, it has a side band of velcro that straps your arm above your elbow tightly to the waist band, so your arm is totally rigid from shoulder to elbow. Then there is a separate small velcro wristband that allows you to stick your wrist onto the waistband in the traditional sling position. However, when needed, you can easily unstick your wrist to swivel your arm into a forward position for small tasks and perhaps to hold onto a walker. Do ask your doctor to explain if this is the type of sling you will be given.

I’m less stable with a cane, than a walker.

Thank you.

I'm six months out from a Reverse Shoulder Replacement. The only way I can imagine using a walker is to raise the height so that it's waist high and you can glide using your non surgical arm for balance
I will tell you that my surgery arm felt very heavy for a few weeks and it did affect my balance.
Also before your surgery ask your surgeon for a Home Care PT referral.
I also highly recommend an Air Cast Cryo Cuff and motorized machine. It's amazing!
Good Luck!

Thank you, for all your advice! I’m also thinking of raising the height of the walker. Had the nerve block & not so sure I’d do that again. Had to have EMS get me up my 5 steps, to get in the house. With the block, you’re REALLY short of breath, when short of breath, due to only using one lung.

Wishing you all the best! Please post updates!