Hip operation 😖
Posted , 12 users are following.
I'm waiting to hear about my date I have all equipment fitted and delivered I'm still in to minds if I want it done as I'm very worried I have a few things playing on my mind so any advice would be grate
1) how long till you could have a bath as I've been told 3 months 
Also not allowed to get into shower as it's in bath only allowed to go in walk in shower can any body tell me what they did pls
2) do you have to rest up for first week or two or is it best to keep self
Motivated and walking
3) how long till you could put your own socks and shoes on
4) I'm confused with the 90 degrees thing they have told me I've got to sit up with feet flat on floor knee above hip dose that mean your not allowed to put leg up at all on stool or foot rest I know in bed it's to be rested on a pillow finding it all mind blowing
5) how long did you use toilet aids and raises for
thanks in advance for looking and any advice appreciated xx
1 like, 22 replies
kimberley38758 karen66694
Posted
Hi Karen,
I'm almost 8 months post FRHR. I can tell you that I'm so glad that I had it done as I'm no longer in pain. To answer your questions, I can tell you what I experienced.
1. I was able to take a shower by the 5th day. It sounds as though you'll have to step into your bath tub to get to your shower. With assistance I could have done this within 2 weeks.
2. My surgeon wanted me up and walking the first day with the aid of a walker. I went home the second day. By the end of the 1st week, I was walking without aids of any kind. Slowly and carefully, but walking by myself. It's important to get those muscles working asap, or the recovery will be much more of a challenge.
3. I was advised to buy slip on shoes prior to the surgery. This worked very well for me as for the first few weeks you will not be able to bend. I was told that it takes 12 weeks for the soft membranes and tissue around the hip to heal. So there are restrictions until that point. You will probably need help with the socks at first.
4. The 90 degree thing is a precaution for the first 2-3 months. You can put your feet up and you will need pillows under and around your legs to help keep you comfortable when lying down. The pain should be kept under control my meds from you doctor for the first several weeks.
5. I used the toilet aids for the first couple of months. everyone is different in the rate that they heal, so it my be a little longer for some.
All of these things are temporary and not to be concerned about. The time will fly by and before you know it you will be happy that you had the surgery done
RichardKen kimberley38758
Posted
I've been practicing ahead of my hip revision surgery with a sort of a sock aid .. Very cheap but effective, elastic shoe laces which,makes getting,the shoes on,so easy and a very long shoe horn.
For drying between my toes I've bought a padded plastic tool but have yet to try that. Got a formed slab of foam to raise my leg for when I have the other revision to my total ankle replacement so it's all slowly coming together here!
Cheers Richard
hope4cure RichardKen
Posted
kimberley38758 RichardKen
Posted
Richard,
Very good advice. You'll be one of those patients who come through the procedure with ease because you did your homework
Best of luck!
RichardKen kimberley38758
Posted
Thanks for your support. Although naturally I'm not looking forward to the two revisions, I accept the inevitability of it and just let it all happen whilst being positive and doing everything I can to have an excellent outcome.
Cheers Richard
judith12644 karen66694
Posted
Hi Karen, I'm mainly agreeing with everything that's already been said.....
I was out on day 2, and I had a shower that morning, before I left hospital. I had a see through plastic dressing, so that was easy. At home, like you, the shower is over the bath. I used a series of 2 plastic kids steps to get into the bath, but I had my husband to help me to do that. I managed to have a shower at home from day 3. I didn't actually sit down in the bath until 3 months. I found it tricky to get up from sitting, but it would be easier if you had some grab handles.
Re going out, I walked outside (using crutches) from day 4. I was very uncomfortable in bed, was much happier strolling around!
Before the op, apart from my hip, I was healthy and reasonably fit, and I had a very straight forward recovery.
Good luck!
nick88041 karen66694
Posted
Hi Karen:
1) I have a shower above the bath also and was told 'no climbing into the bath for 3 months' and that I would have to strip wash. I suspect that this is the standard advice that applies regardless of how old, fit or careful you are. As it was, I climbed into the bath on my 2nd day home - obviously taking a great deal of care in doing-so. This did not involve significant bending of the operated hip.
I stood sideways with good leg touching the bath side. Tip toes on the operated leg while I folded the good leg backwards at the knee and moved it over the side of the bath. Once the good leg is in the bath...it is much higher than floor level so relatively easy to fold the operated leg backwards and lower it into the bath. The window sill provided good support to help with this and good support is key. My legs are perhaps quite long which also helps.
2) The advice that I had was to both exercise and rest from the off. The proportion of both I am sure varies for everyone, but I have a list of exercises and frequency of exercising that I stuck to, with rest between when I felt as if I needed it.
3) I was able to put shoes and socks on also from the start. A sock-aid is useful unless your socks are particularly loose-fitting. I have just used my normal lace up shoes, but use them as slip-ons, with knots pre-tied tightly to a loose fit.
4) I have not found the 90 degree thing to be too big an issue. You soon get used to it and avoid getting yourself into difficult situations.
5) I am 3 weeks post-op. I still have the toilet raiser, but was thinking earlier today that I could perhaps now manage without it. I'm not in a hurry to remove it though.
It is evident from this forum that circumstances and recovery can differ significantly from one person to another. I offer my experiences to hopefully give another perspective! Nick