how to dry my lower legs and feet after a shower?

Posted , 11 users are following.

Good morning - I am almost 6 weeks post-op - Stitches were removed after 14 days which meant that I could take a shower .... I live alone and honestly, as much as I wanted to, I suddenly was so afraid that I postponed it - Got over this fear (of what???) but still need help with drying off my lower legs and feet .... any tips?  I asked my Physical Therapist and she said she doesn;t know ... nobody ever asked her this question!!!!! .... someone is still coming in 3x a week to help me - kind of silly as I am able to dress myself ....thank you 

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • Posted

    hi..try using your grabber to grip the towel and dry your feet and legs that way. I have a dressing stick with hooks at the end which was useful too. You could always use a hair drier
  • Posted

    Totally agree with you, there are so many things to negotiate. I have the largest bathsheet I could find and wrap myself in it and return to the bedroom. Sit on another towel on the bed and have yet another towel on the floor. Wriggling feet dries much of the soles. Then using grabber rub bathsheet over bits still damp of legs and feet arches, takes a while. Currently 2 weeks post op. 
  • Posted

    never thought about using the hair dryer !!!! Okay, I am going to try it ... thanks so much .... I am telling you, this forum is awesome !!!!exclaim
  • Posted

    Hi

    I used to wrap myself in a terry towelling dressing gown, a bath towel around my legs, and lie down and wiggle on the bed  for a while lol  The things we have to do!!!!

    I used the grabber as well.....holding the towel and tryibg that way.

    What we need is a "body drier" siimilar to a hair drier....that we could just step into press a button and hot air, then dry in no time  biggrin

    Oh well   I can dream.cheesygrin

    Love

    Eileen  UK

  • Posted

    Hi Renee,

    I too live alone.. had my THR Aug 2014....  I used to dangle the bath sheet down the leg and with other leg and foot rub that up and down the op leg.  Plus hair dryer for bits between toes, standing on bath mat whch is towelling too...  Oc orse beign summer helped, so was not chilled with wet skin and I am someone who keeps a very warm house... then in a week or so I found even without breaking the 90 deg ruke with both hands I could grab 2 ends of towel and sort of drag back n forth against lower op leg.  I had NO-ONE coming in at all.  So you are lucky on that front.  But then I am also an independent "bugger"!!

  • Posted

    LOL ... I am happy I asked - phew .... thanks so much  and have a great day - hello independance !!!
  • Posted

    I think drying between the toes is the hardest! I had my right THR in January and stayed at my daughters, but she was usually out at work when I had my shower.

    I pinned the towel on the floor with my left foot, help it up with my right hand so the towel was vertical and straight, then I could rub between my right toes with it. Sounds complicated but it works. 

    Also, I used the crutch to get dressed. Hung my pants off the end of the crutch, got my right foot in then grabbed the waistband and put my left foot in - the things we have to do! lol

  • Posted

    Funny you should mention that, what I do is sit down and drop the towel over my leg and foot, then with the unoperated leg manage to move the towel around to dry it off haha, it works, oh another thing that worked and it may sound crazy is the hair blow dryer
    • Posted

      Hi, not crazy, works for me. When my wife out an about and in early days following my op I had showers but unable to dry my tootsies.....my wife's hair dryer came to mind and worked a treat. Prob is she came home and caught me using it........initially not amused but it saved her drying them but I have been warned my responsibility get new one next. Keep well.
  • Posted

    thank you all .... I had my last visit today - lovely woman who just comes in to dry my feet - well, she also makes my bed while I am under the shower ... I told her about the brilliant tidbits and we practiced with the towels and grabber an hair dryer - 

    So I told her that no visits are neceassary any more .... 

    razz

  • Posted

    My house boy aka husband is very good at drying tootsies.  Also at applying body lotion to feet and lower legs.  Think I will keep him!!
  • Posted

    This is pretty easy an actually the way you can put on shoes and socks as well.

    Lay flat on your back on the bed. Keep the heel in touch with the mattress, drag the heel up towards your butt bending the knee. Now your leg & foot are close enough your hands reach them and you can do what you need to do, put on shoes & socks, dry them off etc.

  • Posted

    definitely keep him Isabelle - Jodi, I don;t think my arms are long enough !!!! 
    • Posted

      Maybe I dind't describe it well enough renee.

      Lay on your back, pull your heel up to your butt, then pull your bended knee into your chest. Your arms ARE long enough as your foot, lower leg is laying on top of your chest. Your arms reach your chest, right? 

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