Hip replacement restrictions

Go to the MD office for a BP check.  Explain to the MD the 19” rule I have never heard of or read anything about.  More than likely they will have you sit on a cot that is much higher than that.  On your leg, I would just stand straight up.  Since you are only a few weeks out you should use your crutches to stand or to get up out of a chair.

I was able to stand with my leg straight.  Try to use a higher vehicle like an SUV to sit in the passengers side.  It is much easier on your operated hip

I had my THR over a year ago now,but I remember that for 6 weeks post op I had what was known as hip precautions. This was where you are not allowed to bend the hip joint more than 90 degree angle. Hence the reason for having raisers on the chairs and bed etc. This applied to getting in a car (as a passenger, not driving until after 6 weeks) as well. I was told to push the car seat back as far as possible. With car door open sit with both legs out of car and your bottom on the seat. Then still observing the 90 degree rule swing both legs together into the car. I was not able to do this as my car was too small . So the hospital arranged for the district nurse to come to me to check the dressing etc. Then for physio appointments I used hospital transport. Also with hip precautions you are not allowed to cross your legs. You should use your crutches to help get up from your chairs.

6 weeks is the magic milestone. Until then follow the precautions. I hope this helps. Just one other tip...make sure you do all the exercises regularly. I was told to do them 3-4 times a day. It really works. Now 1 year on I forget I ever had the op. Its brilliant. Good luck.

Mary

They told you to use a 19inch high seat as that is the length of your lower leg - foot to knee. So sitting on a chair at that height with your knees bent your knee is at the same height as your hip and your hip is bent at 90 degrees.

It's the 90 degree hip bend which you should keep to.

So if you stick your leg out a bit the knee goes down and your hip bend is less.

So you can sit on the chairs in the surgery (or indeed in the car) provided you keep your operated leg sticking out. If the chair has arms it is reasonably easy to lower and raise yourself just using your good leg.

Hope this helps

Mike

As others have stated for a posterior approach you will have precautions for typically 6 weeks. With regard to the car ride. Recline the backrest this will increase the angle between your trunk and thigh which should not break 90 degrees. Also depending upon what leg and what country you are in it is easy to break the other precautions (don't rotate the foot in, or cross midline) so what that as well. Even then dislocation is rare.

Over here in the States, although I am a Kiwi, for a posterior approach the precautions are no hip flexion past 90 degrees, no crossing the legs or passing midline of the body, and no hip internal rotation ie pigeon toed. I always tell people especially with turning to turn away from the surgical side so if the right hip is done in order to turn to the right turn all the way around turing to the left. 

The reality it is mostly the combination of these movements that dislocated the hip. My mum did it twice.

With a posterior approach the incision compromises the tissue the would normally stop a hip from popping out backwards and the side.