@aurynn I'm sorry to hear that.

When my knees were giving me more trouble, I picked up a cane and found it very helpful for sending folks a nonverbal message of "don't make me dodge you, it might injure me".

I'd suggest getting one before you "need" need, if you can. I've found mine handy around, and since they're based on your leg length/ height, it'll probably be good for a while. You can get removable ice spikes and such, too, for winter. My cane was nice because it helped prevent my knees from over-exerting and getting further injured.

I got mine from fashionablecanes.com because of course that's a website, and the older people in my life recommended it.

I got a solid wood one that isn't adjustable, but it is very sturdy and I've always felt a bit safer carrying it at night. It's the kind with the smooth, curved handle, rather than a more ergonomic grip. It's easier to put on my arm for a bit, or to flick up to gesture for someone not to run into me. I used mine a lot to claim space near me (preventing me from doing a pivoting motion that was causing damage to my knee), or as a way to reduce some pressure on a leg if i was standing for a while. There's a chance that this kind of handle might not be as useful for you, but it was just what I needed.

My advice when looking for one is to follow your heart/ body and listen to what it wants, to try out grips in person (if feasible), and to measure the length based on how you want to use it.

If you're thinking about it, my unsolicited suggestion is to go for it when finances allow, if you can. I found mine to be liberating, but it was a positive experience for me, so I might be biased. :p