Get Out of the Car on Your Own After Knee or Hip Surgery

After my first knee replacement, getting out of the car was something I dreaded every single day. My husband practically had to lift me up after physical therapy. When I scheduled surgery on my other knee, I knew I needed a better solution. My neighbor mentioned this little handle, so I decided to try it. I was surprised how quickly it fit into the metal latch on our Honda. No installation or adjustments needed. I just put it in place, press down on the grip, and use it to help myself stand. It's made those trips to therapy much less frustrating. Wish someone had told me about it the first time around.

I never realized how difficult getting out of a passenger seat could become until my knee surgery. There was nothing sturdy within reach, and grabbing the open door didn't feel secure. This gives me a solid place to put my hand while standing up. Small enough to carry in my purse too.

I'm three weeks into recovering from knee surgery and still using a walker. Getting out of my pickup was giving me more trouble than almost anything else. My son bought me this handle, and it fits right into the latch on my Ram 1500. I can push down on it instead of reaching awkwardly for the dashboard. Even my therapist was curious about it when I showed her.

Before my knee replacement, I bought just about everything on the hospital's suggested equipment list. Walker, shower bench, ice packs, you name it. The one situation I hadn't really thought about was getting in and out of the car. My husband drives me to therapy three times a week, and every time we arrived, I had to figure out how to get myself standing without putting uncomfortable pressure on my knee. My sister found this handle and ordered one for me. It slips into the latch of our Toyota in seconds and gives me something sturdy to press against. I leave it in the center console between appointments. Such a small thing, but I'm glad to have it.

Getting my husband to accept any kind of assistance has always been difficult. After his knee replacement, he insisted he could manage everything himself. I left this in the car for him to try, and now it's part of his routine. He puts it into the latch, uses the grip to steady himself, and puts it away when he's finished. No fuss, which is exactly how he likes things.

Just had my second knee done. This fits in the car door latch without any trouble and feels secure when I use it. Does exactly what I bought it for.

My mother is 76 and had her hip replaced earlier this year. Before we got this handle, every doctor appointment involved me walking around to her side of the car and helping her up from the seat. She absolutely hated needing that much assistance. I saw one of these handles online and figured it was worth trying. At first, she wasn't convinced something so small would make any difference. But after showing her how to place the metal end into the door latch, she started using it herself. Now she keeps it in the side compartment of her Buick and reaches for it before getting out. Seeing her feel more independent again has been wonderful. It's one of those simple purchases that actually gets used.

Had my left hip replaced in August, and my doctor warned me to be careful about twisting during recovery. Getting out of our SUV was especially awkward. With this, I have a convenient support point beside the seat instead of trying to grab the door. Took a little practice the first few times, but now I use it without thinking.

I'll admit I wasn't expecting much when I opened the package. It's a pretty compact gadget. But the metal end fits securely into the door striker on my truck, and the grip feels comfortable in my hand. I've been using it for several weeks now with no issues. My wife tried it and immediately asked me to get another for her car.