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For those who had anterior approach:

Posted , 5 users are following.

betty07083
betty07083

About what week were you in before getting rid of the toilet riser and being able to bend over to put on shoes & socks without help from any device.

Speaking of devices, for "newbys", the hip kit  from Amazon and "the grabber" were the greatest inventions!

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie betty07083

    Posted

    I got rid of my toilet riser abt 8 weeks but that was because I had nothing else to hold onto. Used the soxon for around 3 months mainly my knee on other leg is badly osteoarthritic and was having trouble getting tights on. As for shoes I think it was around 3 months but that was because I had velcro shoes. I found putting foot on one of the stairs and leaning in the opposite direction helped to tie laces. A long handle shoe horn also helped.My hospital gave me everything I needed equipment wise, including the grabber.
    • betty07083
      betty07083 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      Hi auntiebeanie,

      I can understand your still needing the help if your other knee is osteoarthitic. Do you plan to have knee replacement in the future?

      Thanks for the tip on tying laces. I will try it when I'm ready. Right now I'm still wearing slip on's with help with shoe horn.

  • chrisa306driver
    chrisa306driver betty07083

    Posted

    Never had a toilet riser. Never used a cane or crutches. Could tie shoes day after surgery
    • betty07083
      betty07083 chrisa306driver

      Posted

       Chris, just curious but could you bend over to put on shoes & socks before your surgery?

  • carol26733
    carol26733 betty07083

    Posted

    Hi Betty. I got rid of the toilet riser at about 4 weeks. I am 9 weeks now and still use the long shoe horn for my shoes and socks are a real pain but am managing to g them on by myself with no help. I'm wondering how in the world to trim my toenails lol. Good luck. It keeps getting better.

    • betty07083
      betty07083 carol26733

      Posted

      Hi Carol, I'm going into my 4th week so will try ditching the toilet riser and see how it works out. I've been fearful of being out in public too long as I don't want to have to use a public restroom until I know it will be OK.

      I'm still fearful of bending over too far to put on shoes & socks without the aid. Worried my hip might pop out 😨

      Good luck with your toe nail trimming. Can you go somewhere for a nice pedicure? 

  • KarmaMama
    KarmaMama betty07083

    Posted

    Hi, Betty, I had anterior approach on January 31, 2017. I didn't need the toilet riser for more than a week, but I have a relatively high toilet to begin with, and it is between the bathroom counter and a wall, so it was not difficult to use those as helpers.

    I also had a grabber, a long handled shoe horn, and best of all, a long-handled sock device. I used those for about 3 months, as I recall. But I have had an unusually slow recovery (just now getting tests after seeing a second doctor to see if I anything can be done at this point so I can get better) so you may not need them that long. Just listen to your body, as everyone here will tell you. No rush, just listen to your doctor's and PT's advice as to the 90 degree rule, if any. (I had no restrictions at all, not even that one.) But better to go slow and be comfortable rather than rush it.

    Good luck!

    • betty07083
      betty07083 KarmaMama

      Posted

      Hi,

      I agree 100% about going slow. Even though I can't wait to be "normal" again, I'd never forgive myself if I rushed into it and ended up back at square one again!

      Thanks for your response. 

    • betty07083
      betty07083 KarmaMama

      Posted

      Hi KarmaMama,

      I'm just checking in to see if you have heard any results yet from the tests you were having done to see why your recovery is going slow.

      I'm in my fourth week now and I'm doing well except for pain in my knee & surrounding area. I had this knee replaced over 3 years ago so don't know if it's really coming from my knee or connected to my hip ? 

      I hope you are doing better & keep us updated on what the second doctor says.

      Betty

  • KarmaMama
    KarmaMama betty07083

    Posted

    Thanks, Betty. I got one test yesterday, a CT scan of the hip. But unfortunately, I could not get in for the nuclear medicine scan until the 16th. So I still have to wait another week for that and then to see my second-opinion doc.

    Hope you are feeling better every day. The knee pain is probably not related to your prior knee surgery as much as to the stress of surgery and especially, the change in gait as a result of the hip. I actually have more knee pain now than I did earlier on. But it seems a lot of our fellow hippies have pain and swelling in the knee after surgery. Hang in there - cheers, Janna

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