Posted , 20 users are following.
This is my first post on here. Total right hip replacement 11 days ago. Recovery going Ok with the usual not sleeping etc. My consultant directs that compression socks are to be worn for 6 weeks. I am finding that towards the evening they drive me nuts and I am wondering what harm would be done by removing them for say 30 mins just to obtain such relief. Or maybe someone here has some other advice ?
1 like, 35 replies
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judith12644 Jillie001
Posted
I had very swollen legs above my socks, and when I mentioned that, at 1 week post op, I was told to just wear them during the night. (I had minimally invasive surgery, and I was very mobile during the day.) I stopped wearing them at 4 weeks.
Good luck!
Anne68156 Jillie001
Posted
I think it's more like the doctors' insurance! I don't believe there is proof that the compression hose work, but some doctors will continue to prescribe them to save themselves if something happens. Strange that most of the doctors in the US do not believe in them and most in the UK do! Rather like the doctors who wanted anyone with a hip replacement to take antibiotics before having a dental cleaning. Now the American Dental Association says that is an unnecessary use of antibiotics. And my surgeon agrees. But there are still doctors that insist on continuing the practice. And in the US, most hip replacement patients are told to take a baby aspirin a day whereas in the UK people are having to give themselves blood thinning shots!
bridget32982 Jillie001
Posted
two hip replacements in New Zealand and never had stockings. just foot pumps in hospital and aspirin. I was active from the beginning including stairs numerous times a day and had no problems
Anne68156 bridget32982
Posted
Yes, Bridget, that is exactly the same protocol for my two hip replacements in the US. I don't know why the UK has such different requirements. To ask patients to inject themselves with a blood thinner for many days would simply not fly over here!
ptolemy Anne68156
Posted
Not everyone has to inject, in my case I was just given anti coagulant tablets to take. Perhaps injections are cheaper so would be looked on kindly by the NHS.
Anne68156 ptolemy
Posted
Aspirin is even cheaper and that is what most of use in the US use!
ptolemy Anne68156
Posted
There may be some reason the NHS is anti aspirin at the moment or they are being ripped off by the suppliers.
judith12644 Anne68156
Posted
I didn't have to inject. I think the majority of people take blood thinning meds.
Lilylou1 Anne68156
Posted
is it maybe because in the US people can be sued for anything and everything? So there is probably a lot of protocol that is followed even if it isnt necessary due to the culture?
Anne68156 Lilylou1
Posted
I would say that the UK way of doing things seems more geared to doctors not wanting to be in trouble! In the US we buy our own aspirin and it is very inexpensive. So we do not have the compression hose protocol and we do not have the blood thinner protocol. Just OTC aspirin. Very simple.
ptolemy Anne68156
Posted
Of course under the NHS we get the anti coagulants free, the socks free, the painkillers free. Anne you are probably right.
Anne68156 ptolemy
Posted
And the socks would also not be free in the US. Or the painkillers. Or crutches or whatever else is needed for recuperation. I think a lot of people in the UK do not appreciate all that they get from the NHS. There are people in the US who absolutely cannot afford to have hip replacement surgery because they do not have health insurance.
Lilylou1 Anne68156
Posted
Are you able to sue in Britain for millions if something goes wrong? Sorry i dont know how it works over there.
ptolemy Lilylou1
Posted
To sue in UK is possible but it seems much more uphill work than in the US. We do have no win no fee lawyers, but it seems it may still cost you money if you lose. Probably the payouts are not as much either. The trouble is a lot of people do not sue for smaller things as everyone says poor old NHS they need all the money they can get.
penny08987 Jillie001
Posted
Hi
This is my 2nd hip replacement I'm 6 weeks. I got rid at 3 weeks. I was taking them off for a hour a day for the first 3 weeks. If you are up and about then you don't need them but if you are stuck in bed or sat down for long periods then continue until you can move around.
Good luck