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I am scheduled for full hip replacement Feb 3

Posted , 13 users are following.

KarenFisher4074
KarenFisher4074

i really want to know what to expect. Greatly appeciate any suggestions or feedback on recovery and how i can prepare. 

 

1 like, 61 replies

61 Replies

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  • Thursday_Next
    Thursday_Next KarenFisher4074

    Posted

    Hi Karen,

    firstly, please try not to worry although I realise this is easier said than done.

    you will be given help and instruction on what to do in the home, toilet risers, chair risers, graspers, instructions on the height of bed etc,  think about what levels things in the house are kept, move things used a lot to a higher level so you don't have to bend to get things.

    perhaps make some easy meals to put into the freezer for when you come out of hospital.  Do you have someone at home to help once you come home from hospital?

     

    • KarenFisher4074
      KarenFisher4074 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      Thank you Thursday i am so glad i found this forum i think its going to help me alot through my recovery. I do have my husband who will be looking after me 😀 

       

  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK KarenFisher4074

    Posted

    As others have said there are a lot of resources but those that have gone through it will give you some pointers.

    Here are my basics...

    You won't sleep that well for a few weeks - it doesn't seem to be pain that keeps you awake either.

    I needed the loo a lot at first and kept a bucket downstairs with me for emergencies

    Everyone has different levels of after pain but it is DIFFERENT to what you experienced before the op

    Mobility is different for everyone - I hobbled around for about four weeks using crutches and sticks and everything felt difficult

    I used a rucksack or a small trolley around the house to transport drinks and food

    I slept on my back for 3 weeks

    I slept lots!

    Car journeys were uncomfortable for a few weeks

    Expect tears and down days but also expect small triumphs and a whole new way of looking at the world without pain

    I drove at 6 weeks for a short distance

    Everything took a long time at first - even going to the loo exhausted me.

    My golden rule - try and be patient. This operation is massive and if you had broken your leg you would be in plaster for 6 -8 weeks. You are having a new joint and this doesn't involve the fairies popping a new one in so chill out and let your body heal naturally. It takes about 4 -6 weeks just for the joint to become stable so you need to support your walking and weight bearing.

    I am 6 months post RTHR and having a LTHR in Feb and I am trying to remember that I will need to be patient! 

     

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK renee01952

      Posted

      Thanks, Renee - I forgot to add that comparing yourself to others is not good for you. I wasn't running, biking or back to work in 6 weeks. We are all different and at different stages of our lives. I was fit and healthy before but took a long time to find a new normal.
    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Well said Kate.  It is so easy for others to say do this, do that, I do this so you should etc but we are all different.
    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK Thursday_Next

      Posted

      Thanks, Thursday, I hope I didn't scare anyone but for me it wasn't all roses. It was hard work and a struggle sometimes but the end result is amazing ......wanders off doing a little happy dance
  • renee01952
    renee01952 KarenFisher4074

    Posted

    Hi Karen, 

    Welcome to this wonderful forum of hippies in all stages of post-op recovery, pre-op and still sitting on the fence -

    We share our personal stories, give advice, tips, ask questions, voice our concerns and an occasional tantrum, meltdown and all our victories, from small to big ones -

    Karen, maybe you can ask something specific - 

    What do you know? Have you had your pre-op appointment? What were you told to prepare at home? do you have a husband,partner,someone at home ? 

    We have a lot of new hippies here, some who are about to get surgery in next couple of days and veterans like me - 1st R ight THR surgery in March 2015 and 2nd Left THR in September ....

    Hope to see you here soon again...

    warm  hug

    renee

     

    • KarenFisher4074
      KarenFisher4074 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee,

      I am 53yrs old and i have have been diagnoised with osteoarthritis in both hips but my right hip is the one causing me grief for last year and a half.

      I have lost 25kilos, swim everyday  1.5-2.0 kilometres to try and take pressure off my joint, have tried all alternative treatments but has only gotten worse.

      i have not gone for my pre op a[[pintment

      Once i saw surgeon and made decision I booked surgery in Feb 3rd for full hip replacement

       

    • KarenFisher4074
      KarenFisher4074

      Posted

      uggghh lol sorry trying to get used to writing on here lol

      i am scheduled in for my pre op appt on Feb 1st. So have not been told much more than the information my surgeon have given me. He gave me some pamphlets on HR etc. I know i will have several questions along the way and glad i found this forum because even just reading blog i am learning heaps. 

    • renee01952
      renee01952 KarenFisher4074

      Posted

      Dear Karen, 

      you will be so prepared for your surgery , however, it will still be your own experience - we are all here to tell you that you will get through it; honest and real information - 

      We have been there, done that -

      Now Karen, how did you lose 25 kg -- this is what I gained during this whole OA period - less and less mobility, medication, pain then the surgery on right hip, and within 6 months the Left hip - 

      big warm hug and know that all is well

      renee

       

    • KarenFisher4074
      KarenFisher4074 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee,

      i started swimming with flippers and kickboard and then i was able to swim laps. My husband and i also changed our eating habits by changing our portion sizes. For years i went up and down lose 1-2kilos etc but could never  lose much more but by getting in the pool it really allowed me to exercise without hurting myself and then i could do more. I swim an hour every morning and i love it ( not a chore, my time) just getting in the wayer and moving around felt good. I feel it if i dont go so i try not to miss. I think that is my biggest worry with surgery is i will not beable to exercise but my surgeon says i will be able to get into hydro pool after 2-3 weeks, i can walk in the hydro pool and then hopefully work my way up to swimming laps in normal pool that is my goal anyway 😀

    • renee01952
      renee01952 KarenFisher4074

      Posted

      thank you karen - what a big achievement - I have not been in a pool for ages and have no bathing suit (oh,, the horror) - 

      Hydrotherapy unfortunately is not offered in my small village and I am not sure if I want to drive 40 minutes to get to one - 

      angel blessings

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK KarenFisher4074

      Posted

      I feel it is important to have a goal like that - mine is to be able to walk the full length of the 13+ mile country path that circles our town - I never did it before the OA, but if I can do that this summer, I'll know I am better.  So far I have managed to complete a 3.5 mile section of it.

      ​Best Regards

      ​Graham - 🚀💃

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