Information needed about hip replacement recovery. Please help.

Hi Peter

The hospital do not do much follow up at all - physio is unusual - just organise the loan of equipment from the local social / community health people - beds and seats and loos need to be at the right height. They may organise more for her if she is unable to help herself - you could contact a care organisation called Home Instead - they have a good reputation for carers who come in and help - my parents use them. They are national but pay above the min wage so get better folk. Not sure if you could ask for her to be referred outside the region - but if you did end up asking for the West Midlands (if this is local to you) then you would have the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital which only does bones so had a lot of expertise. Recovery is individual but she would struggle to wash and get dressed for 6 weeks without help - possibly longer 

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It can take 6 months to recovery fully and the pain relief can be mind bending so if she needs this then it could make her more vulnerable - I lose things, try to pay twice in shops, cant work - and am a sprightly 51 year old but the medication and pain really hits home. I went in for my op in Dec really fit apart from my hip - it has not yet settled and I can barely drive, cant work and on full meds. So recovery really is individual. Plan pessimistically and hopefully she will be one of the many old folks people tell me about who are back on their feet in 2 months 

~If you do plan pessimistically then this will take the pressure off her feeling that you have allowed only x amount of time for interim arrangements. Otherwise she may try to do too much and be in a worse state. Waiting times are not too bad and you may be able to make a special case due to care issues. The trick with the NHS is to push push push. If you dont hear anything push again - the systems are creaking and paperwork, appointments, etc get lost and add long and unnecessary delays to waiting times. So you may be quoted 8 weeks but if you let up on pushing through the admin mess then it could become 20 weeks. Thats it from me...hope it is helpful

 

Hi Peter. Whereabouts is your relative in Oxfordshire. I had my hip replaced 6 months ago in a Private Hospital in Oxford at the age of 57. My local hospital gave me all the help I needed on the NHS by raising my seats portable commodes that fit on your loo at the right height and other things. They offered me physio and offered to come out and walk with me whenever I needed. This is not common knowledge if you have private treatment but you have a right to this on the NHS. If you need any help then get back to me. It has been successful for me but also very tiring even still after 6 months. Happy to give you any other advice. Anita

Hi Peter

I can tell you my experiences and then I'm afraid you'll have to judge for yourself.

Everyone is individual and as such so is the healing time and meds that have to be taken.

Previous to my Hip Replacement, I saw a physiotherapist, who made a note of the things I would need at home for recovery. A chair {proper height etc} I only had 2 seetees, Raised Toiled Seats, A grabber, A trolly so if my husband was out I could push this into the kitchen and make a meal or at least a cup of tea and push it back.....no worry about crutches.....there were other things but I think those were the main ones.. They were delivered before I went into hospital.

I went into hospital on Friday, had op that day and came out on Mon. As far a physiotherapy was concerned afterwards all I got was a piece of paper with exercises on it, shown how to do it and then told to do them at home.

For 6 weeks there are restrictions {We are talking about the UK here.....some people from other countries differ} Sleep on your back, certain ways you cant turn, things like that but she will be give a booklet on do's and dont's So for that 6 weeks you do need looking after a lot of the time. Make sure things are sorted before she goes in.....she is not allowed to bend and cant stretch either so the important things at waist height.

I had a district nurse come out about twice a wek during that 6 weeks to check my scar. There was a dressing on it and they dont like to change it {incase of germs}

I cant remember when exactly but she took the dressing off and the staples out but still continued to come for the rest of the 6 weeks to keep an eye on the scar.

My first lot of pain  relief tablets didnt agree with me so I asked the GP if there was something else and they were changed and I was fine...well as fine as you can be....to start with

If there is anything else you want to ask just shout.....I probably havent covered what you want to know. Oh yes I was 62 when I had my first hip replacement.

Love

Eileen

Assuming this elderly relative is in good health (besides her bad hips) she will need a minimum of 4-6 weeks as a first  just getting used to her new situation.  If she is open to it and really wants to be independent and above all, if she is recovering normally from the surgery itself, she will be able to do a lot by herself for herself after 3-4 weeks.  I did it, i was alone, i had my youngest daughter who stayed with me for one week after surgery after that i felt i did not need the extra help.  Hospital is providing PT - you call physio i think - for a length of time, so there will be someone there to check on her.  I had PT for 2 weeks, to show my exercises and check on vital signs.  

Difficult.  Depends age and state of health, weight, type of procedure.  I am 62 in gd health and I wouldsay 10mos. But others will be fit in 10 weeks.

She will need a lot of help daily for 6 wks min. She will need staples out at 10days. If lucky she may get 5 days in hospital. 

I would contact gp for after care as some are eligible.  Do this soon as she may even be eligible for rest home recovery. Speak to social services. I paid a local girl 10p.h. to come in daily 1-2hrs and it was worth every penny.

If you accompany her to pre surgery.appt you can cover all these points then. It will be worth yr investment in time to be at that (those) appointment (s). And you can resolve many of yr points there and then. It is a major operation and shd not be underestimated. Everyone shd be aware of gravity and vulnerability following surgery.  I had 4 days of parslysis lower body as needed epiduraland anaesthetic combo. Catheter,  constipation,  emotional shock.   You shd be able to choose the hospital to best suit your location and commute. Keeping her positive with reassurance and no fears will be invaluable. Trwat her as you may wish to be treated in similar circumstances. But you can only do what you can do. So tell them at consultation stage ASAP. 

Everybodys recovery time is different.  There s not always physio follow up at least not in my area (North East) but exercises given to do at home.  When I had my done I got all the equipment I needed before the op and because I don't have anyone living with me the ward organised a carer to come 3 times a week to change my surgical socks.  You could speak to the ward before hand to find out if they can organise anything or perhaps get in touch with her GP as mine has been very helpful.  I am sure something could be arranged for her to receive help.  You could ask SOcial Services