Posted , 7 users are following.
I wonder how much practical guidance is given when people have THR. I was lucky to have a lot or to work out even more ideas. A lot of this is preparation beforehand,I can share some here:-
In the car as a passeneger-
1. Tilt the seat back as much as possible, whilst you are getting in (bum first), to help preserve the right angle then return the seat to more comfortable position
2. Use a wedge shaped cushion preferably or any cushion to fill the drop at the back of the seat
3. Sit on a plastic bag to make it easier to pivot around.
Indoors
1.Whilst you sit or stand put the operated leg out in front
2. Increase the chair height with more cushions or an extra bit of chair seat foam which can go under the original seat.For the loo you need a raised toilet seat and at least one hand hold
3.Putting your crutches to one side turn them upside down which helps prevent them slipping over all the time
4.Going upstairs the good leg goes FIRST with the crutches
5.Have a grabber to hand for picking up items
6. In the kitchen if you cannot stand for long use an office type chair
but put the back against a cupboard whilst you get on otherwise it will move away from under you!
In the bedroom
1. How to get into bed ( will detai if necessary)
2.Getting dressed - the easy way to put on tight compression socks (for your helper)
3. Put the operated leg first into pants and trousers
4. Obtain velcro close shoes or elastic shoe laces if you are likely to have to do it alone
5.Use a long handled shoe horn
Anymore ideas out there?
1 like, 5 replies
beth2509 jomary
Posted
Amendment to indoors 5. Have an extra grabber to pick up the grabber when you drop it off it otherwise ends up on the floor, as they are wont to do when least convenient. And on 6, even with something begins it a chair on wheels is likely to slide - use a perching stool, or ironing stool instead as they won't move.
There's a huge list of useful things on rocketmans threads, listed in resources at the top.
annone70291 jomary
Posted
renee01952 jomary
Posted
hi jomary, thank you for sharing this list ...I think we all get some information before THR surgery, including the things we need to either purchase or rent -but to be honest, it did not mean a thing to me .... the how-to-get-in and out-of-a-chair etc. until I had the surgery ... Then there were a lot of things I didn't know what to do ... one of the most important things to me was: going to the toilet by yourself ... okay, I got the raised seat ... arghhh but then ... where is the toilet paper and .. now what? My toilet was too small to have a rack or something to support me when standing up ... anyway .... I found this forum and we exchanged tips as we went along ..Forum member Graham, aka Rocketman, put all these tips together and created this web page - https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147 (scroll down until you see A Layman's Guide to ..) Now, I live alone and had 2 THR surgeries 6 months apart ... instead of crutches I was advised to get a rollator (walker with 4 wheels) that also has a little basket and bench so I could put my cup (coffee, tea) and other things on it and move around ...I would not be able to carry anything when using crutches ... of course it is different when you do not live alone ... When is your surgery date? big warm hugrenee
kristen888 jomary
Posted
Rocketman_SG6UK jomary
Posted
That's why I started my website - there seems to be a lack of basic information.
the address is in my personal info here ...
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃 🤸
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