Anxiety about walking without rollator 7 months after tkr

Perhaps you have done this but can you practice very short walks with something like the kitchen counter close by to hold onto when needed. Set a little goal for yourself and practice it until you feel more confident, and then increase your goal a bit. I use a rollator some of the time and not others.

I’m 75, lost my husband 3 years ago and live alone. I’m 6 months from surgery on both knees. I have a hard time letting go of my walking stick when I go out. I fear falling . It makes me less anxious about it wearing a medical alert that has fall alert.
When I first started walking at home without the walker I used a cane and used walls and furniture for stability. Like a baby learning to walk. First few times I went outside without the walker I had a friend come lend an arm to walk 1/2 block.

Thank you. Amazing you had both knees done. I have had such a hard time with just one. Walking has definitely been one of the hardest things for me. It’s all been a very slow process.

I thought I had responded but don’t see my comment so I must not have hit the right button! Thank you for your advice. I think I expected this to be a much faster recovery and this fear of walking has made me very nervous. I will try to be more patient.

As long as you are getting out and about and the rollator does not stop you or prevent you from doing anything I would think what is the harm in using …… maybe when you are places let go every now and than see how you feel .,….unless dr thinks it is hurting your recovery do what feels good for you……awesome 120 I definitely know how hard you work for that

I would say that keeping your TKR knees active and moving is more important than whether you are holding onto something. Since you were dependent on the rollator long before you had surgery, your muscles and nerves are imprinted on using it and it feels wrong and unsafe to not have it there now. It will take time to re-educate your body to a new way of walking, especially since you mentioned you had a difficult recovery. Your knee muscles and ligaments need to regain strength so they can support you safely. If using a rollator allows you to move faster, steadier and longer to get this type of weight bearing exercise then do it. Hopefully as your legs get stronger, you will feel more stable and decide on your own when you should let go.

I am 75 and had my TKR one year ago. Although I still have a lot of clicking and feeling that the appliance is shifting in my knee, my ROM is good and I don’t have pain. I think you should continue with PT. If you don’t think they’re working you hard enough to gain strength and more confidence in walking without the rollator, I would change PT people. If you have regular Medicare, there is no limit of PT you can have as long as you need it. I went an extra 4 weeks beyond the U&C weeks after TKR and I was very glad I did.

Good for you! you're doing all the right things and should feel some confidence and accomplishment from that. You've got a good plan and that's more than most people who have had TKR can say. Keep up the great work!!!!!

Appreciate your encouraging words! Thanks so much. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and three back. Quite a process. A day at a time.