Chairs! - What do I need?

Hello

I'm in the UK were are you

Don't you get a pre op to explain what you need ??

The measurement from the underside of your knee to the floor

this measurement gives you the height for a chair and toilet and bed

Mine was 20 inches

Your knee needs to stay below the 90 degree angle to you hip

So if you stand up and lift your knee don't allow it to go above you hip always keep it just below this also includes when sitting down

If my measurement is 20 inches my chair and bed are adjusted to 22inches so as to keep my knee below my hip at all times

Hope this helps and makes sense all the best Andy

I wasn't told about any special equipment. In fact, I wasn't even offered crutches or a wheelchair to leave hospital. I limped out to the taxi stand carrying my heavy bag.

I bought a shower seat and some non-slip mats.

In my bathroom, I have a strong towel rail and a sink unit right near my loo, so I would use those to get up after using the facilities.

Slept on my couch afterwards, on my back for the first 9-10 months... at least I could watch TV.

Yes you have to have a raised toilet seat. My doctor authorized everything I needed. I wish you well and I pray all goes well with your surgery.

Yes, you’ll need the toilet chair riser with the arms to help you get up.   It was a few weeks before I felt like I could lower myself to the regular seat height.  Get a large ice pack too and something to elevate your foot while you’re lying down, which will be most of the time at first.  I put a couple of pillows together in a cloth bag.  Sorry,  but I also used the reach tool the first couple of weeks that the hospital recommended.  It was worth all the investment because I’m having my left hip done in July.  Best to you!  Sounds like we’ll both be having surgery about the same time.

Yes, your going to need a high chair. Also your going to need a toilet seat. And a handle for the shower to hold on to. Make sure to remove rugs that you might fall on. Good Luck with your recovery.

Hi Beth,

If you are in the UK do not get anything until you have been to joint school, who should supply everything you need. At the joint school you will have given them the measurements of your toilet, chair and bed, after measuring you, they will tell you what you need. I did not have a toilet raiser as we had a new comfort toilet anyway which is 2 inches higher than normal.

Do have a trolley as it is invaluable to put your personal items on. You will need things like TV control, book, magazine, drinks etc, near you, being able to pull them close to you it will make life easier. I made the mistake of not having one, as they asked me if I had a dining table near the kitchen which we do, so I said I did not need a trolley to wheel food around.

Hi Beth

Others have told you about toilet risers etc and it is true that the height of anything you sit on is important. However it is also useful to have something to push on to get up and down (like arms on a chair) If your two seater couch has nice solid arms you will at least have one to push on and you could raise the whole couch with blocks (sold fairly widely) but a chair with arms is much better.

I bought an electric riser chair on Ebay for £60 which is great but might not fit in your small appartment. But suitable chairs tend to be quite cheap on Ebay. And you can put it back on Ebay when you no longer need it.

Similarly you can get toilet risers with a frame (and arms) which are much easier than seat risers without.

If you are fairly active and fit everything is easier.

Hope this helps and your surgery goes well

Mike

 

Hi Beth, you will really need a chair with arms as it will help to get you standing. I think a couch would be very difficult to get out of. I actually was loaned toilet raisers by the NHS. I know some people have bought or rented them.

Must haves: Mobile phone, toilet raiser, raisers for at least one comfortable chair, long reach grabber, walking stick clips, things to make meal times easier.

Look at my website "Home preparation" page for some suggestions of useful things that you already have or can adapt.  My website 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 - 🚀💃 🤸    ¯\_(?)_/¯

Hi Beth - ok I am 3 1/2 weeks post op - and I’d say from my experience you only need a higher toilet seat for the first week or 2.  If you have something like a sink or rail that you can use to help get you up and down off the toilet then you may not need anything - try getting on and off your toilet with your bad leg straight out and see if you can sit down and get back up  without going over 90 degrees - if you can then you may be ok - but I had a toilet seat with hand rails and for the first week it was very helpful!!!

As for chairs - I sat on my sofa straight away - as long as you can lean back so you avoid going over the 90 degree angle and can get up and down without compromising this then you should be fine - try putting a big cushion or 2 to raise the height and see if this helps!  Practise now and see if you can manage - you’ll be amazed how quickly things get much easier!!! Good luck with your op!!!!

I sat on a 2 seater sofa. It was fine, had it raised up to the correct height. 

Good luck!

Hello

To help with a faster recover try to do as much physio as possible to make sure your as fit as possible when you go in for your operation.

Take all the pain killers as prescribe

to reduce the pain which will also help you with the physio after the operation easier to do the physio with little pain

get you moving faster

I find after exercise i put ice on and this helps

Good luck