Feet up

Posted , 8 users are following.

HI Hipsters

Yet another question, sorry to keep bombarding you.  I got a riser/recliner as a surpise xmas present and want to know if it is ok to sit with feet raised up and if you are allowed to prop your feet up on a cushion in bed after hip replacement.  I know hips have to be above knees but wondered is a slight raise is ok.  

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Questions - that's what we're all here for, asking and answering questions - so no problems there - keep asking away.

    I used a recliner, ahd had no problems at all in that way.  I think raised feet is recommended for swolen legs - the trouble is that everyone seems to get different advice, from hospital to hospital, from country to country.

    Best wishes

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • Posted

      Oh, forgot to say, I made up a robust box to sit under the frame of my recliner, so it's about six inches taller than a standard recliner - no-one else dares to get in what they call my 'throne'  !
  • Posted

    Me again, Toto, you can use what you want to sit on but it's the 'getting up' that is important. You need to be able to lever yourself up from sitting without breaking the 'angle' rules - that's why they recommend the granny chairs. I didn't have room for one. I used a perch stool in the kitchen but sat on my nice comfy sofa the rest of the time. I made sure that my knees were directly under my hips to go straight up to standing (if that makes sense) and had a tower of solid cushions either side of me to lever me up. Believe me you'll work it out because if you try it the wrong way you'll know it.

    When on the sofa I found I was most comfy with at least two pillows behind my knees for support and also used these in bed. My surgeon said that as long as I kept my hips straight I could sleep how I wanted. I slept on my side from week two with about a hundred pillows propping me up!

    My six week x-ray showed a perfectly placed implant so I did

  • Posted

    Hips have to be below knees. I was told not to raise the hip leg until 9 weeks and no cushion. ( just what my nurses/Physio said.xx
    • Posted

      if you are sitting up with a straight back then hips below knees would mean that you were breaking the 90 deg role!  However, if you were reclining then you would be OK.

      it would certainly be OK to put your feet on a cushion if lying flat in bed.

  • Posted

    Thank you everyone I am grateful for the advice and for this wonderful forum.  Rocketman you should write a book and put a picture of your throne in it, sounds brilliant and very comfy.
  • Posted

    Because you have to sleep lying flat on your back the heels can get sore in the first few weeks. I used pillows to prop my legs up so my heels were hanging off the end and not rubbing on the sheets.

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