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getting into bed

Posted , 18 users are following.

laura88064
laura88064

Had my left hip done a week ago but I find it impossible to get into bed by myself, I cannot move my left leg sideways it gets too painful , is this a worry?

3 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • LDW
    LDW laura88064

    Posted

    Hi Laura,

    they taught me a trick in hospital to hook my good foor under my operated ankle, and use the strength of good leg to lift operated leg up.

    other technique is to wear baggy pants and grab the material at top of pants and lift leg that way.

    did the hospital give you leg strengthening exercises to do in bed?

    if you look at rocketman's website (I'm sure he'll be answering you soon anyway), he may have some of these exercises on there. These will help strengthen your muscles at side of leg.

    can you phone physio dept where you had the op?

    lindsey

     

    • linda38528
      linda38528 LDW

      Posted

      Thanks Lindsey and Laura for the Q & A. I have surgery to my left hip on Friday and this is the single most intimidating element I anticipate (and i have been practising). I like the two suggestions here plus the one below from Lallydye to use a plastic sheet under the left leg to reduce the friction of the sheets.

      I also wonder about the weight of the sheets and blankets on the foot when required to sleep on our back (tried and failed to sleep on my back earlier this week). Any suggestions for coping with this position for sleeping?

      Thanks to all for the reassurance that this is just all 'part of the normal process of healing' - even if it sucks!

      I have to say that my surgeon says that he has lots of patients living alone who have had this operation and managed. Wow - not sure I could contemplate this and hats off to those who 'go it alone'!!!  

      I guess we need to adjust our natural mantra for the next while from:' I can do this myself' to ... 'yes I do need some help, thank you' - even if I have to growl inside. 

      Good luck Laura and everyone else as you manage your recuperation and thanks all for the advice and encouragement. 

         

    • LDW
      LDW linda38528

      Posted

      Hi Linda,

      im 5 days post op, and whilst these last few days have been really challenging (and am sure will continue to be for sometime yet), it's definitely better than the trepidation and anticipation of the pre-op lead-in, when you have no real sense of what to expect. I didn't understand what others meant when they congratulated new "hippies" on being on the other side - I do now.

      onto your questions/comments:

      1. Yes the plastic bag under the whole of your lower leg when doing bed based exercises is a must. You'll be wearing knee stockings so bag needs to be big enough.

      2. Good question about quilt/covers. In hospital you'll have a sheet and lightweight blanket. Try to mirror that at home. We've got rid of the duvet, have sheet over whole body, and a couple of light blankets over body as far down as is comfortable. Pyjama bottoms are a good idea to keep lower leg area warm, as are bed socks (suggestion from my physio).

      3. Sleeping on back - mmmmm probably no ideal solution. Lots of feedback on this forum of how different people have coped. The pain meds if pretty strong can keep you knocked out. Others have used lots of stacking pillows.

      just before leaving hospital I sent my husband out to buy a memory topper for our mattress and a memory foam pillow (I use a normal 

      pillow beneath this as well). I do think that both these are helping a lot.

      re accepting help - take all that you can get for as long as you need it. Especially the first few days I needed help with absolutely everything. But just 5 days later I can already do some little things myself, and it feels good.

      like you I say hats off to those who go it alone from day 1.

      any other question please ask, but I'm very much a newbie.

      lindsey

    • linda38528
      linda38528 LDW

      Posted

      Thank you - very useful thoughts. Keep the faith. I will see you on the other side soon.

       

    • alice85142
      alice85142 linda38528

      Posted

      Very good all the answers but one I must add re the TED socks..I didn't have them as had daily ( very tiny) injections in my tummie which I had to carry on for 35 days at home. It was not difficult or painful. They are not awful and I would prefer them to those ted socks/stocking as they are so hot!  Just to let other pre op hippies know in case they get a choice!... Also if you are sqeamish and have a partner they could do it....I had no choice but did and do cope very well despite being worried that i wouldn't be able to...

      Cheers to new hippies!

      Alice

    • sue50140
      sue50140 alice85142

      Posted

      I have both sox and injections daily Alice.  Nobody said I could take sox off.  Will ask my physio on Friday would love to get rid of them.
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK sue50140

      Posted

      I had pills and stockings - it seems that every hospital and consultant has a different opinion on what you need.

      Graham

  • Nomorerun
    Nomorerun laura88064

    Posted

    Hi Laura

    i am also a week post op left THR. I am getting quite mobile but getting into bed is still the hardest thing to do. I tend to sit down the bed side then shuffle my bottom as far back onto bed as I can before trying to move legs round together onto bed. It will improve with time. I always had to take painkillers after doing this after a loo visit at night but now I don't.

    hope rest of your mobilising is going well. Are you doing any exercises?

  • Soxy
    Soxy laura88064

    Posted

    Hi Laura

    I am 11 weeks post Hip Replacement op on my left hip.  It was at least 3 to 4 weeks before I could manage to get my leg up high enough to get in bed by myself.  My husband had to get me in and out of bed every time.  I think this is fairly normal and nothing to worry about.  It will get better but does

    take time I'm afraid.  Try hooking a long towel or piece of material around

    the leg to lever it up into position.  

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK laura88064

    Posted

    Laura, I needed help swinging my surgical leg around to get into bed for a couple of weeks post-surgery. There are such things as "leg lifters" which are long and have a loop at the end that you put your foot into, and then you use your arm holding on to the other end to lift your leg up. I was never able to use this, as it was too painful. But it might help you. They aren't very expensive. 
  • Lallydye1
    Lallydye1 laura88064

    Posted

    Hi Laura

    This is quite common but you will begin to get mobility in ur operated leg in a few days.  Please keep up the excercises you were given in hospital as this is crucial for getting muscle strength back in your leg.  Practise the sideways movement of your leg whilst lying in bed.  If this is too difficult get someone to put a tray or a board or even a bit of plastic under your lower leg as this will reduce the friction on the bed sheets which can make this difficult.  Good luck! x

  • LDW
    LDW laura88064

    Posted

    Hi again,

    and I have also just checked on a document that the physio gave me .... Getting in and out of bed by yourself is a "by end of week 3 goal".

    im on day 5 post op, and have to keep reminding myself of the things I can now do that I couldn't do on day 1.

    i thought I would never again be able to move my leg!! But each day gets a tiny bit easier, and I/my leg get a tiny bit stronger.

    good luck with your recovery.

    lindsey

  • gail2910-US-MI
    gail2910-US-MI laura88064

    Posted

    Totally normal. I needed help for 2 weeks at least. I found I was able to use momentum, lying down and using abs to swing leg up but not right away. Hang in, it gets easier.
    • jill89470
      jill89470 gail2910-US-MI

      Posted

      I had my left leg done last Tuesday and struggled untill Saturday to get in and out of bed but can do it now.I am struggling sitti g in the armchair as I ussually sit on the sofa.I am getting about quiet well and my husband has told me off for moving a bittoo quickly on my crutches.I start physio on Thursday which I am not looking forward to and have been doing the leg exercises in bed which is probably more than I would normally do.

      I am sure you will get stronger each day and we all do different things at different rates. Good luck on your recovery.

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK jill89470

      Posted

      Jill,

      It's amazing just how fast you can get around on your crutches isn't it.

      Sounds like you are doing well just one week on.

      I was never one for exercise or gym, but I must  admit to liking the physio sessions, particularly the group physio in the hospital gym.  I think it was actually meeting other hippies that made it so good.

      Best wishes

      Graham

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