Tkr-shoes for PT and wearing out of the house

@nance80 I didn't have knees replaced, but both hips. My PT was with a rehabilitation specialist because after surgery I had knee and back pain and gait issues.
First instruction (pre-visit) from PT was to come in NEW well-fitting, cushioned shoes with non-slip soles, that closed with ties, velcro or buckles. I was also told to get new real shoes to wear in the house, but these could be closed slip-ons (no clogs, CROCS or flip-flops.)

NEW because you have been limping/walking crooked and that pattern is worn into shoes - even if it doesn't show on the outside. This can cause issues in PT & while walking.

With closures because as you heal, feet may swell or swelling may reduce - you want them to fit.

This was before Skechers and their dozens of choices, so I chose Adidas because they fit my narrow feet.
Since you have a few weeks, maybe get out and buy them now but save for after surgery?

Sketchers and Orthofeet make hands free athletic shoes which are a godsend until you can bend and tie shoes again; being able to put on my own shoes gave me a small sense of independence and allowed me to get out on my own for those important walks in those early weeks. My shoe size did not change pre and post surgery. Remember to celebrate the small victories like being able to put on your own socks without help.

I just read your comment "My PT was with a rehabilitation specialist because after surgery I had knee and back pain and gait issues." I realize yours was hip surgery, not knee surgery. I am 14 months out from double knee surgery and still have back pain, gait issues and balance issues. And I still think one leg is a little shorter than the other, but all the professionals say that rarely happens, it's probably just a weak muscle problem. I didn't notice any balance issues until 6 months after surgery. I went back to PT and he gave me some exercises and sent me home. Fast forward 9 months after surgery and it's not any better. So I go back to PT again for 3 more months. This time to address balance and strength. I finished the PT but do my home exercises faithfully. It's rare I miss a day. But I am not noticing much improvement with my balance. It's better some days than others. I really don't know what to do at this point. Nobody mentioned that at 14 months after knee surgery I would still be dealing with these issues. Would you feel comfortable sharing what you are doing to address knee and back pain and gait issues? Good luck!

@lawanna85 Well...these are ongoing issues for me because in addition to having had both hips replaced & then revised, I have arthritis pretty much everywhere, including my spine. And degenerating discs. I have been dealing with these issues for over 40 years, and it is something new all the time.
What do I do? Keep moving, no matter whether I want to, no matter whether I hurt. See a PT who does manual manipulation to put things back. Stretch, do senior Yoga (some seated, some standing) and balance exercises. I recently had my wrist replaced and cannot do weight-bearing poses/exercises on the new wrist, so am trying to figure out how to adapt.
One thing - it isn't enough to do the exercises, it is also a matter of staying active throughout the day, walking, gardening, doing chores, dancing... Today I really challenged my balance walking in the surf and on the sand on a day trip to the Gulf of Mexico - my legs are tired tonight.
In addition to your PT directed exercises, how do you work activity into your day?

@sueinmn Thanks so much for your reply! You are a true role model! I am 86 and fairly healthy for my age. I have macular Degeneration but still have good eye sight. I also have Meniere's and deal with regular headaches and occasional dizziness. But nothing I can't handle. However, I am not as active as I need to be. I do 30 min of stretching, weights and movement with Senior Planet every morning. I have done that for the last 7 years. I truly believe that made it easier to go through the knee surgery. I had a remarkable recovery at 85 with a bilateral knee replacement. I also have a recumbent bike that I ride 30 min every night and have done that for a year and a half. Plus, my PT daily. Right now I am also doing exercises to improve my posture. I am not a walker by nature unfortunately. Never have been although I played 4 years of basketball in high school so I became aware of staying active at a young age. I wear a pedometer and keep an eye on how many steps I take every day. If I don't meet my goal, at least I know it and try to do better the next day. I get out and about with friends once or twice a week. I guess all of it counts. I started doing water color during the pandemic to keep my sanity. And have ventured out into Acrylic, Zentangle, pencil drawing, etc. I try to take local painting classes when they are offered at a reasonable price. So that is pretty much how I spend my week. I certainly welcome any suggestions or feedback.

Being a Floridian I am barefoot most of the time. I like a zero drop shoe. Zero-drop shoes mimic the natural alignment of your foot standing flat on the ground. I chose the Altra Lone Peak shoe which also has a wide toe box. I feel like my balance is much better. The only drawback is they are a lace up and you will need help getting them on. I am 3 weeks in from a TKR and can put both shoes on and tie them now. It gets a little better every day...

@lawanna85 I am 9 months post TKR. I am having the same issues as you. I have had two steroid epidurals & did have about a month of hip pain relief with each injection. I am getting ready to start PT again for the third time. Please let me know if you discover anything that helps & I will do the same. @susettet

@susettet Slow recovery is so frustrating!
Since you have been through PT twice, were you referred to a rehabilitation specialist this time? These are highly trained PT's who can evaluate your overall movement and often pinpoint the issues. For me, after 5 hip replacement surgeries (long story not relevant here), I had hip, back, knee and foot pain...for many months. The ortho sent me to a rehab PT who did a thorough evaluation and figured out that I had been in pain and limped for so many years that my gait was affected - in effect, I had to learn to stand and walk straight! Plus I had some weak muscles and other muscles that were too strong, leading to imbalances, so I needed specific exercises to target the weak areas.
The results took months, of in office & water PT plus work daily at home. Now, 15 years later, I have other physical issues, but the training back then taught me to realize as soon as things are getting out of whack. I call my ortho or rheumatologist for a referral, and get back to work with my PT. But at 75, it takes a lot longer than it did at 60...🫤

Do you feel confident that the PT will work with you to find the underlying cause so you can improve?

Thanks so much for your reply. Sounds like you have walked the walk! No, I was not refered to a rehabilitation specialist. In fact, I am not sure the PT really took me seriously. So I will pursue that and see what happens. But doing PT every day and not getting the results you want or need is not very motivating. Since I have Meniere's and have been on low dose Diazapam (2 mg 2x a day) for years, after reading about the long term effects of diazapam, I am now wondering if it is causing the balance issues. But like I said in the first post, I am 86, have had double knee surgery last year and have Meniere's. So the imbalance could be attributed to any of those. But I am not a Dr. so I don't have a clue which one is causing the problem. But I think looking for a good rehab specialst is a good first step. I know that every time I am out and about I am really fearful that I will fall so I use a cane just in case. Some days I am steadier than others. Thanks for your information and support. I will look into this next week and report what I find out. You have been so helpful.