This recovery is a long process. It takes, on average, a full year before most people are recovered, although people usually feel much better by around three months. It's quite hard to remain patient and let our bodies do the work needed to heal, but it's a necessary part of this recovery.
After my previous surgeries, I used a walker until I felt stable enough that I could use my cane without feeling like I was falling. Our house back then was very small, so I could reach out from anywhere and steady myself on a wall, counter or piece of furniture. Our new house is very large and there are many places where I walk that have nothing within reach to grab onto, or lean into, so I am going to use my walker for as long as it takes to feel quite stable. Not falling is more important to me than how long I end up using my walker or cane. My OS has told me he'll want me to use my walker for 4-6 weeks; that seems like a long time, but he's never steered me wrong, so unless he gives me the go-ahead to transition to my cane, I'll stick with it for the duration. I am having a different, but related, procedure this time, so that's likely why he's wanting a longer time with the walker than in the past.
When you feel strong enough, and stable enough, to put away your walker and move on to a cane, crutches, or no assistive device at all, that's the time to put it away. If you find yourself constantly forgetting assistive devices as you move about your house, that's a good indication that you are ready for the next phase. I remember I would grab my cane to walk, but after getting a drink, etc, I'd forget it, leaving it where I'd leaned it and just walk around. After doing that for a while, I put it away and would carefully walk around the house. But I used it outside my house for a while longer, as it can be challenging to walk in yards, stores and so on. A walking aid is a tool in your recovery, and there's no set -in-stone time frame for how long you'll need them. Each person is different; some need the help for many weeks, others not so long, but don't feel rushed to set them aside.
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