It's great to hear you're doing so well. Have you found the recliner to be helpful and comfortable?
Others have already addressed some of your questions, but here are a few additional thoughts:
she advised that anything that hurts a few hours later or causes swelling is too much.
Your therapist must be a graduate of the BoneSmart School of Therapy!
This is our philosophy to a "T."
Common sense and knowing your body I suppose!
Listening to your body and using common sense is always a good approach to a successful recovery. You are already starting to sense that you need to do some walking to get things moving. The trick is to listen carefully enough so you know when to stop. If if you don't and overdo things (we all join the Over Did It Club (ODIC) at times), that's your cue to take some extra down time, rest, ice, treat any pain and try again in a few days.
My right leg felt shorter than my left before surgery and now still does after surgery. I am hoping this is because for so long I basically walked on my left and that the muscles are so weak, tight and shrunk on my right that over time I will straighten out and have less leg length discrepancy.
The leg discrepancy feelings you're having are very common. As you read in the article about leg length discrepancy the culprit isn't usually muscles (although they can become shortened as your hip deteriorates), it's a tilted pelvis. The body has an amazing ability to compensate when parts do not work well and that is what has happened over time with your hip bones. When you are instantly put back into normal position, it makes sense that it wouldn't feel quite right for a while until your body readjusts itself. There is no timetable for this normalization process, but it will come with time. Walking helps with this as well.
I absolutely need the walker to walk since my right is so weak still.
Here's a good key to when you are ready to leave the walker behind: If you try walking without it and you have any limp at all, it's too soon. It's always bad to try and hurry this process up and allow yourself to walk with a limp. That tends to teach your body bad habits that you then have to unlearn to achieve proper gait. Plus it takes a ton of energy to walk poorly! You'll wear yourself out faster and could even cause other joints to hurt needlessly. It's much better not to look at your walker as nothing more than a aid to your good recovery. Using it for a little extra support will allow you to take the long strides you want and to concentrate on the proper heel-roll-to-toe gait that is your goal. As you walk with the walker, consciously try at times to extend your stride as much as you can do comfortably.
Is there a way to topically discuss things on the forum like leg length or using a walker
Jaycey is right that there will always be a few of our staff cruising around the forum's new posts no matter what time of day or night. But, we are planning in the next year or so to provide easier means for members to discuss topics among themselves. So your suggestion is right on target.
Keep up the great recovery. You're on your way to reclaiming your life again with a new hip.