Hip replacement
Posted , 13 users are following.
Hi guys , I am due for my op In December ..loads of questions but first one is when I can I go home I live alone and early fifties ? I will stay with family when released from hospital but just wondering when I will be able to go back to my own home ??
Well done to you all for the great advice on here ..not as scary as I thought , I am nervous as I had an aneurism when I last had an operation , but I'm sure they will be aware of that ..
how big is the scar , Andy how hard is it to sleep on your back I have always slept on my tummy lol ..
anyway thanks for all advice in advance
0 likes, 41 replies
Canada_Hippy Amanda1703
Posted
I live alone and had someone stay the first 3 days. Then I was on my own with people visiting twice a week at first then once a week.
At first when they leave you on your own, you will panic a little. But just do everything slowly and you will manage. Get everything ready before you go to hospital. Frozen meals, assistive devices installed, clean house, rearrange things to convenient height, etc
Scar is about 6" long. It will feel lumpy and swollen and numb at first.
I was able to sleep on my non operated side pretty much h right away. Some people can't. It's a bit of a hassle arranging all the pillows between your legs but it gave me much better rest.
Good luck!
Amanda1703 Canada_Hippy
Posted
Aw thank you for your advice ..
yes i sleep eps like that now to get the hip comfy ..so used to having the pillow there ...thanks feeling better already , did you have to wear the surgical socks ?
where did you have your op done if you don't mind me asking ...
How long long was it till you were fully recovered ?
X
Canada_Hippy Amanda1703
Posted
I am in Toronto Canada and had my surgery at local hospital.
We don't wear compression socks here after surgery. They are used to prevent blood clots in your legs while you recover. You will obviously be moving less and that's when the clots happen.
Here we are encouraged to get moving. We are up walking the day after surgery. We are given simple leg exercises to do in bed to keep circulation in our legs. Plus we stay on blood thinners in hospital then one Aspirin per day for a month after.
The recovery will be the hardest part. Not because of pain, but because of boredom and frustration. I was never really in any pain after, just achiness and weakness. Not being able to do things was harder. You'll be tired alot and have no stamina. Your hip will be mechanically perfect so you can walk around without that horrible pain you have now.
You will slow improvement weekly. Some days you will feel great, some days you'll feel exhausted and achy. Don't expect to feel close to normal for at least 6 weeks. Most people take longer. Long term recovery will take at least 6 months, but after 6 to 12 weeks you will feel stronger and more functional.
Good luck!
Canada_Hippy Amanda1703
Posted
Oh, and you should be able to sleep on your tummy. They just don't want you crossing your legs, bending them more than 90°, etc.
Amanda1703 Canada_Hippy
Posted
thank you
jo_partee Amanda1703
Posted
U will b fine on your own after few days but someone needs to visit each day if u need help with compression sox
Expect to visit batroom lots
Sleep littel eat little
Need books but u cant focus well at furst
Need huge water mug
Need confort foods u like even doup jello ice cream
Need technology
Need internet all the best
Jozie
Amanda1703 jo_partee
Posted
Thank you Jozie ..
hope you are now fully recovered
tracy196868 Amanda1703
Posted
My scar is about 12inch s long not sure why its so big i think each surgeon does it differently but is healing nicely..
As for sleeping im a side sleeper but as of yet have been unable to sleep on my side as its too sore and if i lay on non operated side it feels too heavy ive found having loads of cushions to prop me up helps but i think everyone suffers from being unable to sleep for a while after thr.So just have lots of rest through the day.
Good Luck with your op and your recovery.
Tracy xxx
Amanda1703 tracy196868
Posted
Thank you for taking the time to reply To me , you should be fully recovered by Christmas ..
i am in South Wales so it is probably down to the surgeon I suppose how big the scar Is ..
did you have to have a district nurse come to change the dressing or can you do that yourself ,
do do you have to wear the surgical socks ?
I will stock up on Dvds and books lol
Have a speedy recovery now and enjoy the rest :
xx
lors23 Amanda1703
Posted
Hi mandy
I have had both hips replaced 8 weeks apart l was 42 when l had my 1st one done l live with my husband but was pretty self sufficent from the day l got home. All l needed help with was changing my ted stocking and l made sure l had everything l needed round about me at arms reach. They will provide you with a grabber to reach things you normally could not. The 1st week or 2 is the hardest as you are very raw from the op but from.the minute l got home inbetween resting l practiced walking around the house without my sticks. Some people are diffrent and need there sticks or cruches for a while after the op. I did however sleep on the couch for a long time l tried my bed but sleeping on your back l found pretty hard and used to wake up 2hrs after l fell asleep in pain. I found tge couch much more support as it was harder and by the 3rd week l was managing to sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs l just kept trying until it was comfortable by week 4 l felt brilliant l was able to walk outside quite a bit without any aids and started driving again. I know that you are not meant to drive for 6 week but l felt ready at 4. I am not saying you will be the same as people heal diffrent but week 4 l called the hospital and asked to get my other hip done as l felt strong enough to take the weight on my operated side. My doctor was on holiday for 2 weeks so l ended up getting it 8 weeks after 1st one. The second op was completley diffrent much easier l could move my leg right away as you will see right after the op your leg feels like a dead weight and you think l an never gonna be able to move it. But you do they have you up the day after with a walker doing small bits of physio. Thats the hard part the 1st few days.
But l am sure you will be fine mandy l was terrified before my 1st op as l was told my platlet levels were borderline low and they were gonna have to give me a transfusion during the op and there was a chaace that l would lose a lot of blood. In my head l had myself written off l thought l was gonna die l was so scared. But the op went as normal and l had no issues.
So l would say you will need your family for a couple of weeks at the most as you will get stronger evertday and manage to learn hiw to dress yourself the way that suits you and everything will fall into place.
I now in the last year have had bith hips replaced and 8 weeks ago l had my 1st knee replaced. I still have to get my other done but l am holding off until l feel l really need it. I am fine now l can drive again and my walkings getting better. I still am on painkiller for my knee as it is a lot harder operation than the hip but l don't regret getting my hips done its the best thing l could have done as l was walking about for a year in severe pain. And l know a lot of people on this forum who have had there hips replaced who lived alone and managed fine. So please don't worry to much about it you will be fine.
Laura x
Amanda1703 lors23
Posted
hi Laura
wow bless you having to have all that done and so young , You sound amazing going through all that , and yes I have a certain dread of the op ..by talking on here has really eased my mind ..
I was going to ask about the driving but you answered that for me , thank you ...
Its good they supply the grabber , I hope they do at my hospital
I am looking forward to it , as you know it's crippling and the pain is indescribable ..So it will be worth it...
Is it Ostio you suffer from , my knees are now going and know they will have to been in the future , but will be glad to see the back of my hip Lol ..
thank you for all the info it really helps ..
x
lors23 Amanda1703
Posted
Hi Mandy
Yes it"s OA in all 4 joints. I had both hips replaced and then my knee started to get sore. I ended up going for an xray and found out both knee's need replacing. I suffered a year terrible pain for a year with the hip.OA now its my knee's. I had one done and by god it was hard compaired to the knee. I don't want to scare you Mandy as everyone has diffrent pain levels but it needed done and l got through it it is just harder to recover from the knee and is painful for longer but l am ok now. I decided after that op l would have the other knee in a year or hakf a year as long as its not to painful l will try and last as long as l can due to my mum having cancer and is in a 4 week aggressve treatment programme and l need a break from surgery to spend time with my parent though this tough time.
So dont be scared about your knees you will be fine if l can do it you can .
Laura xx
Amanda1703 lors23
Posted
Think I am same as you Laura . Knees are terrible at the moment so they will be looked at after the op probably ...fantastic you got through it , I ave heard the knee is worse than the hip ..but us women are made of strong stuff 👍
I am so sorry about your mum , my thoughts are with you
xx
renee01952 Amanda1703
Posted
warm welcome to this wonderful hippies forum ..
I live alone too and had 2 THR surgeries 6 months apart - had nobody stay with me but home health nurse came every morning to help me with washing and getting dressed for 2 weeks - not that I needed her for that long, because one gets pretty creative with the grabber ...
make sure your bed is high enough -
before you get discharged you will be to do a lot already and getting out and in to bed is one of them ...
what I am trying to tell you is that you can go home whenever you feel like it -
do you have stairs in your home - bedroom upstairs?
I live in a bungalow so no stairs ---
let us know how you are getting on, okay ?
you are not alone anymore !!!
big warm hug
renee
Amanda1703 renee01952
Posted
hello Renee
aw thank you , I will be going to my mums first but there is nothing like your own home , so it's good to know I can come home after a week , I hope ...
I am so glad I came on here as you are all lovely and have really eased my mind ..I have been waiting for a bungalow , but I am lucky as I have. A stair lift , though I will try not to use so I can strengthen the hip ..
I am so glad you are recovered , and thank you so much for taking the Time to write to me
xx
renee01952 Amanda1703
Posted
still use them when I have to get something from under the couch or a far away corner -
There are big advantages in having stairs - very good excercise -
also had a sock-aid - it took some practice but used it for a while because putting on socks was challenging for a long time -
no compression stockings though -