Hip replacement

Hi, my friend is nurse works in ccu & had hip replacement, went back after 6 months on phased return & used holls. Took her a full year to get back to normal. You should self refer to occy health & tell them your issues, they are duty bound to accommodate you with appropriate role/job taking into account your restrictions for probably a year in which time you will have improved. Also see your gp & get them to write a letter supporting your case in that you can work but will need restricted duties for a period of time. I was a nurse & had bilateral hips done in dec last year am making good progress but no way ready to fully undertake all physical duties had I been still in service (I retired). Also if your in a union get input & support for them, don't meet management without some union support or someone you trust who has insight & knows what's what.

Management are actually duty bound & have a duty of care to accommodate your needs for a realistic length of time, either in an alternative role or restricted duty in your current role.

Mary UR body has been thru a lot with THR. I have both hips replaced and each one was different thru recovery.one hip twice... Walking too long, standing ,sitting, bending are all things that can aggravate the healing process. It takes a lot of healing months to do on a daily basis. Let alone nursing. I can sympathize with UR issues. It's painful for at least the first year. My doc wouldn't let me fly or sit thru jury duty the first year. PT really is a blessing the therapists teach how to move without causing more pain and strengthening techniques to build tendon and muscle to support a new hip.

In the US After rehab if a patient qualifies can go back to work and the doc prescribes light work only. Then the employer must find light work & accommodate the request at regular pay for the returning employee.

Can u ask for light duty at work? Ask UR doc if he can help u out to write a script and accommodate UR needs. I can identify with u my first hip there was no returning to work clause for patients in this situation. I just had to do what I can and sit and rest as mush as possible. Ask others if they can help u out. It's always risky to return to regular functioning to soon.

Take care & take it slow... We need nurses like u...not chase them away when they need help from us. There should be a support program for u available thru a hospital near u. Keep in touch let me know how u r doing.

healing thoughts sent UR way.

 

Hi Mary,

             I am a health care support worker at my hospital and had a left total

hip replacement november 2013 and was started back to work on 24th february 2014 phased back over a month and back full time 24th march 2014 

I also live on my own and yes money is an issue but fortunately my brother helped me out .

          Yes for quite a while my hip ached a bit by the time my shift finished and still to a fashion I manage to do my shoe laces up but it is a lot easier now I still have some nigglely pain and it aches (not so bad) in my groin and across the top of my thigh if I draw my knee up .  I make sure I am as near to something as

possible like the patient's bed or chair and then raising my self up if say after helping the patient put their slippers on .

                    Hang on in there and as ealier advice liaise with occy health they are there to help. every one's pace of recovery is individual to them no right or wrong    you will get there just be carefull and patient with yourself.

                                 good luck       

I had two wks superumary then phased return for 4 more weeks. I was told i could only be supernumary for the 2 weeks...so i struggled week 3 and 4. Hr said was i saying i could not do my job!!! I said no i wasnt saying that. Just that my back and spine muscles needed time to adjust to straighter position and to get used to physical workload!! Colleagues understood and supported me with physical workload over the first month or so. 6 months on I have no problem with physical workload on a busy ward ..as long as I use handling moving equip appropriately and am sensible in knowing when I need assistance when moving pts.

I can bend etc..but have found i must remember not to twist!!!..otherwise it is uncomfy for a while..mainly muscles etc being pulled i think and then hip feels strange. ..whatever you do..remember to build up stamina slowly for whatever you want to achieve.

Plenty of walking..use of steps and slopes and uneven ground...will help develop your muscles to cope. Donr overdo it...excercise in this way regularly and build up slowly. ..and yoy will benefit. Everyone is different. Maje use of occ health support and moving and handling team support. They advise your employer..but the employer can decide they cant accomodate suggestions!!! Use your union for support too!!! Good luck...and uf it is too much there are options !!!