Hi Janeen...I have been living without a hip for 21 months. I do daily exercises given to me by PT to strengthen my legs and I tend to spend time just standing, putting more weight on my affected leg to help build strength also. I use a walker in the home to get around and crutches when I go out. I can take a 10-15 steps with no aide at all. Sometimes it hurts afterwards, sometimes not. I do move about in the kitchen with just holding onto countertops, cooking and cleaning up. The past few months, I started using one crutch and the upright sweeper to vacuum the house. My husband was doing that before then. I'm riding an upright bicycle 4 miles a day. I was up to 10 miles a day, but I tore my meniscus in my good knee late summer, so it's been healing up and had to take it easy. The more exercises you do to get those quad muscles and buttock muscles strong, the easier it will be to walk with a crutch or a few steps with nothing. I'm hoping to eventually get to just one crutch or a cane all the time. I can go very short distances with that, but wouldn't trust myself outside, especially on uneven ground. I'm 71 years old in Michigan. If you are on Facebook, there is a good support group you can join if you want called "Hip Replacement Complication Forum" . I have met several other people living without a hip through this group and we offer each other support. Wishing you wellness....Cindy