Shoulder/hip/knee pain, should I use a tub or shower?

A walk in shower with a removable seat seems the safest. I had them take the bathtub out of my mom's house and put a nice walk in shower with 4 handrails...one on either side so it doesn't matter which door you slide open to enter...one straight ahead [in the widest wall of the shower]...and one a couple feet above that to allow another towel or the bathmat to be hung up. It may sound like overkill, but it really isn't. Also the shower head has a semi shut-off valve on it so that she can turn it off when she's done, and until she stands up to leave the shower, and actually turn the water off.

She and her (then 98 year old) boyfriend made it a habit to take their showers at her house, and both really liked it. It was so unsafe to just have a bathtub she had to step in and out of, and looks so much nicer than the old beige-pink tub she had in there previously (1900 house).

And I agree on the hot tub, if you have a place for one. Clean up in the shower, but soak in the hot tub.

Bedridden

Not knowing more about your situation, I would really wonder how long you will safely be able to get in and out of a bathtub. On the other hand, walk-in tubs are a considerable investment and you need to be sure you would use the tub feature for it to be worth your while. Most of the time when I’ve seen them, people use the shower head.

Of course you can get a shower head with different settings, and I realize it wouldn’t be the same, but way more economical. That might be challenging though with your shoulder issues.

mahmen: What worked for me instead of an expensive walk-in tub was a detached seat in my shower stall as I have arthritis. I also get corticosteroid injections bilaterally in my knees 3× per year (Medicare approved).

You can place a shower chair inside either one of them. But the walk-in shower is probably the best. This way they are able to bathe however long it takes while being able to sit down. I l

I have arthritis in my knees. I had one replaced which fixed the pain problem. The other I ice it for 15 or 20 minutes on, then off for same, then on. You need to reduce the swelling.

Have you had cortisone shots? 2 per 12 months covered by Medicare.

Gel injections for your knees? 1 set (I think) per knee per year covered by Medicare. It usually requires 2 or 3 shots as a single treatment.

If you have the space consider getting a hot tub, no ****ng around with expensive renos and indoor changing indoor plumbing

A walk in tub so there's no bending down to get in and out.