What to Rent After Knee or Hip Surgery — First 6 Weeks
Complete equipment checklist for the first 6 weeks after knee or hip replacement — walker, commode, raised toilet seat, hospital bed. Delivered across Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
A knee replacement or hip replacement is one of the most routine orthopaedic surgeries in Pakistan now — thousands of patients across Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi have the operation each year. The surgery itself is reliable. The recovery is where families usually get caught out — the patient comes home needing specific equipment that was not arranged beforehand, and the first week is spent improvising when it should have been spent recovering. This page lists exactly what to rent for the first 6 weeks after knee or hip replacement, in order of priority, with honest guidance on what every patient needs and what adds on for specific situations.
Why Equipment Rental Makes Sense After Joint Surgery
Most equipment needed after knee or hip replacement is used for only 4 to 12 weeks. Buying new is wasteful when the walker will sit in storage for the next five years. Renting:
- Pays for itself within the recovery period
- No long-term storage problem
- Equipment delivered, installed and picked up on return
- Flexibility to upgrade or downgrade as recovery progresses
- Service included if anything fails
- Rental allows a better-quality item than the family would buy for a few weeks of use
For most patients the complete first-6-weeks package costs less than buying the walker alone new. Rental is the standard approach in Lahore now.
Essential Equipment — Every Patient Needs
Walker
The single most important piece. Used for all walking in the first 2 to 4 weeks after knee or hip replacement. Standard walker without wheels is lighter but requires lifting with each step. Wheeled walker (rollator) is heavier but rolls — easier for older patients. The surgeon or physiotherapist advises which is right for the specific patient.
Our walker on rent options include both standard and wheeled models. Sized at delivery so the handles are at the right height — too low or too high causes back strain.
Rs. 1,500 – 4,000 / monthCommode Chair
Essential for the first 1 to 2 weeks. Bathroom trips at night are the most dangerous moments for a fresh joint replacement patient — the risk of fall is highest in a half-asleep state in low light. A bedside commode avoids the trip to the bathroom entirely in the early days.
Lightweight, with removable bucket for easy cleaning, armrests for support when standing.
Rs. 2,500 – 4,000 / monthRaised Toilet Seat
Standing up from a standard low toilet or Pakistani commode is extremely hard with a fresh knee or hip replacement. A raised toilet seat (fitted on top of the existing toilet) brings the sitting height up by 10 to 15 cm, which is often the difference between manageable and impossible. For hip replacement patients specifically, keeping the hip above 90 degrees of flexion matters for the first 6 weeks.
Models with armrests give extra push-off support when standing.
Rs. 2,000 – 3,500 / monthGrab Bars (Suction or Wall-Mounted)
Bathroom safety upgrade for the first 6 weeks. Suction-cup models install without drilling and work on most tiled walls. For patients who want permanent fitting, wall-mounted bars are stronger and are often kept after the recovery period.
Rs. 500 – 2,000 (purchase)Shower Chair or Stool
Standing in the shower with a fresh knee or hip replacement is unsafe. A plastic shower chair or stool with non-slip feet lets the patient bathe seated with family or caretaker assistance. Reduces falls, which are the main reason joint replacement patients end up back in hospital.
Rs. 2,000 – 3,500 / monthIce Packs
Not glamorous, essential. Ice applied to the operated knee for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours in the first week dramatically reduces swelling and improves pain control. For knee replacement specifically, dedicated gel ice packs that mould around the joint work better than loose ice in a bag. Reusable, kept in the freezer, cost very little.
Rs. 1,500 – 3,000 (purchase)Highly Recommended — Depending on Patient
Hospital Bed
Not every joint replacement patient needs a hospital bed, but many benefit from one. Benefits specific to joint surgery recovery: head elevation for comfort, knee elevation to reduce swelling, correct height for family carers to help with transfers without back strain, side rails for safety. For elderly patients, bilateral knee replacements, or patients living in homes with low beds that are hard to get in and out of, the hospital bed makes a real difference.
See our hospital bed on rent options — semi-electric is usually enough.
Rs. 8,000 – 15,000 / monthWheelchair (for Longer Distances)
For the first 2 to 3 weeks the patient will not walk far on the walker. For doctor visits, going to the mosque for Friday prayers, family outings, a standard wheelchair saves exhausting a tired patient on their walker. Not needed if the home can be managed with just the walker.
Our wheelchair on rent options include standard folding chairs that fit in a car.
Rs. 3,500 – 5,500 / monthAir Mattress
For bedridden patients recovering slowly or elderly patients spending significant time in bed, a basic bubble air mattress prevents pressure sores. Not essential for most knee replacement patients walking from day one, but worth considering for older patients or complex cases.
See our air mattress on rent options.
Rs. 3,000 – 5,000 / monthCompression Stockings
Prescribed by most surgeons to prevent deep vein thrombosis (blood clots). Worn on both legs for several weeks. Not usually rented — bought in the right size at discharge. Sized to the patient's calf and thigh circumference.
Rs. 1,500 – 3,000 (purchase)Reacher / Grabber Tool
Simple extended-arm tool that lets the patient pick up objects without bending. Essential for hip replacement patients in the first 6 weeks — bending at the hip is restricted. Also useful for knee replacement patients avoiding low squats.
Rs. 500 – 1,500 (purchase)Long Shoehorn and Sock Aid
For hip replacement patients especially. Putting on socks and shoes requires bending the hip significantly — restricted in the first 6 weeks. A long shoehorn and sock-aid device avoid this. Small items, large impact on independence.
Rs. 800 – 2,000 (purchase)Specific to Hip Replacement Patients
Hip replacement patients have specific restrictions in the first 6 to 12 weeks — do not bend the hip past 90 degrees, do not cross the operated leg over the other, do not rotate the leg inward. Equipment that supports these restrictions:
- Raised toilet seat — keeps the hip above 90 degrees
- Firm high chair for sitting — no low sofas, no soft cushions that sink
- Reacher tool to avoid bending
- Long shoehorn and sock aid
- Abduction pillow (wedge pillow between the knees) for sleeping — prevents the operated leg from crossing the midline
- Hip-friendly car entry — a cushion to raise the car seat height, non-swivel seating
Specific to Knee Replacement Patients
- Ice packs — more essential for knee than hip because of greater swelling
- Leg elevation support — a wedge pillow to keep the operated leg elevated above the heart when sitting
- Continuous passive motion (CPM) machine — a motorised device that gently bends and straightens the knee. Some surgeons prescribe for the first 2 weeks; others do not. Follow the surgeon's instruction.
- Exercise bike (stationary) — introduced around week 2 to 3 for continued range-of-motion work. Not usually needed in week one.
Complete 6-Week Package
For most patients, a bundled rental saves money and simplifies logistics. The common package:
| Item | Duration | Approximate monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Walker (standard or wheeled) | 6 weeks | Rs. 1,500 – 4,000 |
| Commode chair | 2 weeks | Rs. 2,500 – 4,000 |
| Raised toilet seat | 6 weeks | Rs. 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Shower chair | 6 weeks | Rs. 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Hospital bed (optional, elderly) | 4-6 weeks | Rs. 8,000 – 15,000 |
| Wheelchair for outings (optional) | 2-3 weeks | Rs. 3,500 – 5,500 |
Approximate total monthly cost for a basic package without hospital bed: Rs. 8,000 – 15,000. With hospital bed and wheelchair: Rs. 20,000 – 30,000.
Many families setting up care in the home for a parent after joint surgery combine equipment rental with visit-based nursing and physiotherapist support — one call for everything through our Shine Medical group's home nursing services.
When to Return Each Item
Equipment needs change through recovery. Returning items when no longer needed saves rental cost.
- Commode chair — return after week 2 to 3 once the patient can safely use the bathroom with raised toilet seat
- Walker — most patients transition to a cane around week 3 to 4 (keep walker in reserve for another week in case needed)
- Raised toilet seat — return after week 6 to 8 (hip replacement patients may keep longer)
- Shower chair — return around week 6 to 8 when the patient can stand confidently
- Hospital bed — return around week 4 to 6 when sleeping in a regular bed is comfortable
- Wheelchair — return after week 2 to 4 when the patient tolerates walker for longer distances
Call us when any item is no longer needed. Same-day or next-day pickup, deposit refunded within 24 hours.
Delivery Across the Cities
Same-day delivery for most Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi locations. For hospital-discharge cases we can usually have the equipment installed before the patient arrives home.
| City / Area | Response window |
|---|---|
| Lahore — DHA, Gulberg, Cantt, Model Town | 2–4 hours |
| Lahore — Johar Town, Bahria Town, Askari | 3–5 hours |
| Islamabad — F, G, E, I sectors, DHA, Bahria | 2–5 hours |
| Islamabad — outer sectors | 4–6 hours |
| Rawalpindi — Saddar, Westridge, Bahria, DHA, Chaklala | 3–5 hours |
All deliveries include free installation, sizing (walker height, bed height, raised toilet seat fit), and demonstration for the family. For older patients, the technician also walks through safe use with the primary caregiver.
Equipment + nursing + physio
For most joint replacement patients the right combination for the first 2 to 4 weeks is equipment + a visit-based nurse for wound and blood thinner management + a physiotherapist 2-3 times a week. Through our group, all three can be arranged on one call — the nurse and physiotherapist arrive briefed on the equipment setup and work with it from day one. This home care help saves running between three different providers.
Why Shine Medical Equipment
- Part of the Shine Care group — Pakistan's largest home medical equipment and nursing network
- Same-day delivery across Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi
- Equipment sized and installed at delivery
- Free demonstration and family training
- Replacement guarantee — faulty items replaced within hours
- Transparent monthly rent plus refundable deposit
- Nursing coordination — one call books equipment, nurse and physiotherapist
- Pickup same day or next day when items are no longer needed
- Deposit refunded within 24 hours of pickup
Preparing for a knee or hip replacement in your family?
Call or WhatsApp before the surgery. Equipment arrives the day of discharge or just before, so the home is ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I rent equipment before the surgery or after?
Before. Equipment delivered the day of discharge or the day before means the home is ready. Trying to arrange after discharge means the first day is spent waiting for a walker.
Do I need a walker if the surgeon says I can walk from day one?
Yes. Walking from day one does not mean walking without support — it means using the walker from day one. The walker allows safe weight-bearing while the knee is still healing.
Can I use a crutch instead of a walker?
Only for younger, stronger patients. For most patients over 60, a walker is safer than crutches because it does not require upper body strength or coordination.
What if the rental equipment does not fit the patient properly?
Call us. We re-size the walker or exchange for a different model same day. Correct fit is important — a walker at the wrong height causes back pain and poor gait.
Can I also arrange nursing and physiotherapy through the same team?
Yes. One call to 0344-9226778 can book equipment, home nurse visits and physiotherapist visits — all coordinated by the same group.
Do you deliver to Islamabad and Rawalpindi?
Yes. Same team structure, same prices, same equipment range across all three cities.
Equipment lists are typical patterns, not individual medical advice. The specific equipment your patient needs is decided with the operating surgeon and the physiotherapist. External reference: NHS — Knee replacement recovery.