Advice please about preparing for hip replacement

hi, my husband also was not around a lot and there was no advice on coping at home so I researched online in advance and organised the equipment myself in advance. I planned an outside carer for a week but in the end he was around- worth calling one of the private care companies. i had low blood pressure after and was dizzy so couldn't safely do stairs for two weeks without supervision as I was fainting. so I installed a station in the bedroom before I went in consisting of a tray, kettle, teabags etc. so I could make myself hot drinks whilst he was out. He brought up milk and snacks in the am and I stayed upstairs. I also bought some tupperware containers so he could leave my lunch in them. on top of all the things everyone else has mentioned, the most useful gadget for me apart from pick up sticks and sock putter on device was a leg lifter, as it helped reduce the difficulty of getting into bed. they are cheap and you can get on Amazon and other sites. make sure it is the stiff one as that takes the impact and makes it less painful manouevering. I got a walking frame with wheels from local charity shop, as it enabled me to cook and carry things between places, that with crutches I could not do, so I cooked from day 1 back, using my slow cooker. I planned the grocery shopping online and had it delivered when my husband was home in the evenings. Also I found my crutches fell over a lot so to keep the, upright in the bathroom I put a bath mat on the side of the bath and that appeared to stop them sliding off onto the floor. BEWARE also of crutches and bare feet, I stumbled with operated leg going though a narrow door with a crutch in front, and ended up breaking a toe by falling forward banging it on the crutch. CLUMSY ME, I now wear slippers even in middle of the night. Finally get some bio oil which is helpful once the dressing and stitches are off to massage on the skin around the scar and help it. ask the nurse the best time to start using it as advice appears to vary.

Dear Margaret

You don’t say how old you are or how fit.

I’m 74, pretty fit, still working part-time. I did the exercises prescribed by my surgeon every day beforehand, and was very glad I had done. You can find suitable pre-op exercises described on the internet if you are not given any.

I had 4 days in hospital and then 7 in a specialist convalescent home. I’d very strongly recommend that if your husband won’t help. It did wonders for my

self-confidence.

The various aids suggested by others were really useful to me too.

Chair with raised seat (I was measured in the pre-op assessment and told

I needed 52 inches high or more, so we had to buy an extra chair – I’m 5ft 4”). Grabbers, long-handled shoe-horn, a thing looking like a bit like a dog’s lead to lift the leg on and off the bed (ours is high), raised loo seat, shoulder bag with long straps for carrying things around. I also bought some cushion seat-pads for sitting in other chairs and the car, useful when going out. And slip-on shoes, because doing up laces is impossible for a while.

My husband went back to work a fortnight after my op. He’s supposed to be part-time too but, because he’d been off, it was full-time for the next fortnight. I wondered how I’d manage. It was actually fine. It was quite hard to make myself go out every day on my own, but I did from day 15, the first day being the hardest as I’d had someone with me for the first fortnight. I gradually increased the distance, and also kept up with – and then increased - my exercises.

Whilst everything was harder, needed planning, and took longer than usual, there were just two significant things I couldn’t do in the first six weeks. One was drive the car – not a problem as I just walked everywhere. The other was change my own anti-thrombosis socks. Completely out of the question. So I took to showering in the evening when my husband was home so that he could take them off and put them back on again. (Showering only after the staples were out, of course.) If your husband is so much in denial that he can’t do that for you then you may need to arrange for a private nurse to come in to do them. Research that beforehand so that you know who you are going to call. The cost may cause your husband to wake up and agree to do them (it’s probably too late to get another husband!).

Good luck!

Joan

Margaret, I know this is going to sound draconian, but I think you need to hear it.

The advice about gadgets is very helpful, but before you consider being on your own for the first week, your husband needs a reality check!

I think he should be told that you will need:

Meals making.

Drinks making.

Bed making.

Assistance showering/washing ( you won't be able to wash your feet.

Washing machine ( you won't be able to bend to load and unload it).

Therefore, he needs to take at least a week off work. If he chooses not to do this, then you will need a carer during the day, which he will have to pay for. His choice. What does he want to do?

And, if he refuses any of the above, then, as night follows day, I would be telling him that you won't be helping him should he have health needs in the future. Again, his choice.

I have no family or husband! You will manage I am sure. The only extra equipment I bought online was a grabber to pick things up. Otherwise I managed to get around with the aid of a walking stick issued by the Hospital.

Have you got a friend who could help out at times? I found friendship invaluable after my operation.

I do hope all will be well in the end.

i am surprised that they dont give you a class to attend before the pre op to give instructions on what to do after surgery. HERE in Los Angeles at Keck Hospital you MUST attend a class which they pass around the actual hip rod and cup they will put in. also tell you what will happen after surgery, and when you come home for your care. We come home same day after hip surgery, or choose the next day. i have had both hips done, ( not the same time though, ha ha) came home same day. would do it all over again, knowing i am now pain free.

remember to baby yourself for awhile! take it easy, rest, - you wont feel too hungry after ward, take your meds as instructed. my doctor had said he does not believe on crutches, but walk with a walker for balance. Go slow, you will get your strength back . Dont overdo it. Your body will let you know you have walked too much. Take your time to heal. Wear your tight hose stockings! Stops blood clots. As you rest, keep your leg raised higher than your heart to keep from swelling, and ice the leg several times a day. Depending on individual persons, you will feel better about about three to four weeks. Hoped i help ease your fear a bit. Also, reachers are a god sent help HAHA

Hi Margaret

I agree wholeheartedly with all the advice given so far. However there is one other thing that might be worth investigating. I don't know whether you know at this stage what your NHS hospital policy is regarding post operative DVT prevention. I know that a lot of trusts are still advocating the use of compression stockings for possibly 4 - 6 weeks after your op.

From comments made by others I know these stockings are hated by most and are very difficult in many cases to get on. You certainly will not be able to put them on yourself in the weeks following your operation. I doubt also whether these "sockon" devices can cope with the force needed.

I had my op done in the City Hospital in Nottingham. There they have binned the use of compression stockings in favour of a daily injection of a heparin type anti-coagulant. I was shown how to self administer in the hospital then when I left for home I was give a 30 day supply. Some might be a bit squeamish about self injection but it was very easy with the kit provided.

If you have the option I would ask your care team at the hospital to give you these injections rather than the stockings. It will make life 100 times easier.