Gregory House commonly uses a cane because of chronic pain in his right leg.
House’s limp and cane are among the character’s most recognizable visual traits. The pain results from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right thigh, a medical crisis that damaged the muscle and left him with lasting impairment.
The series begins after House has already undergone treatment for the injury. He uses a cane while walking and takes pain medication, especially Vicodin, to manage the chronic pain. His dependence on the drug becomes a major continuing storyline and contributes to professional, legal, and personal problems.
A cane is the specific everyday mobility aid associated with House. It is sometimes described generally as a walking stick, but “cane” is the standard term used in character descriptions. His limp is not simply an affectation or a minor injury; it is tied to the infarction and its consequences.