Is there anything you wished you had done/or so glad you did prior to surgery?

Hi Hannah-

  Earplugs. Hospitals are noisy places, you need your rest.

At home, keep a cell phone velcro'd to your person at all times. Gotta be able to yell for help.

HTH

Thanks to all for their wonderful input and advice.  Have a walker (have basket to attach when I get home to carry things),had all ten toenails removed a couple of years ago--pedicures not an issue , the Amazon hip kit--grabber, sponge on a stick, shoe horn and sock aide,   Have purchased multi-socket power strips to put by the bed, etc.  Will be buying infant diapers for ice packs--you slit the diaper and insert ice, then use the tabs to make a nice little packet.  No leaks and holds the cold a long time. Also have adult 'pull-ups' and continence pads along with disposable underwear. 

A

I will go completely against the grain and recommend that you do not jump right up and start exercising. In fact I read on this forum that the Mayo clinic has stopped recommending any exercises other than as much walking as you can do without over exerting yourself. Back straight, shoulders back and most important, heel then toe, heel then toe. You are much better off to walk just a little with correct posture than to walk a lot with poor posture.

I didn't do any exercises at all until the 4th week, just laid around and let my body heal back up. I had ILLIPOSAS tendonitis and my physical therapist came 3 times a week and basically just massaged my leg, he wanted that psoas muscle completely healed up before I did anything. With the psoas muscle injury I really couldn't sit comfortably so I just laid on my back in bed or the sofa. Then at 4 weeks I got up, and stopped using my walker, used crutches for 2 maybe 3 days and then threw those away and walked unaided, but always as my therapist saidm, heel then toe, heel then toe.

I actually think you need to give your body time to heal up, let things knit themselves back together. I didn't take a shower until 4 weeks, just stood with my walker at the bathroom sink and washed up with a soapy wash cloth. For my first shower I had my husband sit in the bathroom on a chair and just be in the room with me when I took my first shower. I did a quick hair wash at the bathroom sink to, and that was enough. I was exhausted just doing that.  You don't have to push yourself, let your body heal, when it has healed up pretty good you will find the energey then, no need to worry that you should be doing more. I didn't do anything, my husband waited on me and brought me everything for that full first month. Walking, only as much as you feel comfortable doing, that's really all you need. Initially my only walking was from the bedroom to the living room sofa and that was it. More exercising can come later after you have healed up. I know this is totally against the grain of what most people on here say but I'll be brave and say it.

There are also really good podcasts, you might want to try some out and subscribe to them now. Podcasts are nice because you can keep your eyes closed and just listen. I have a small bluetooth speaker that I ut under my pillow, that way I can adjust the volume so I can listen to it through the pillow yet it is not loud enough to bother my husband's sleep. I got it on Amazon, it's a really great little bluetooth speaker, it is about 6" long and is triangle shape, It has a ton of excellent reviews on Amazon. You can get that all set up before you go in so that it is ready and you don't have to fuss with it once you get home. Just Google Highest rated Podcasts, I like Best Case Worst Case, that is a good podcast. Also This American Life is excellent and also check out the Serial Podcasts. I enjoyed that more than watching television.

Hannah,

?Thanks to this forum I realised sleeping on your back was what we would have to do post surgery, so was able to 'train' myself over the weeks leading up to the operation. As a lifelong side sleeper I am so glad I found this advice, otherwise it would have been a complete nightmare! Even 'trained' I struggled at times with the regime. I also invested in a really good mattress. The irony of it all now is I find myself waking on my back very often, as even now I'm not entirely comfortable on my operated side for extended periods and I can feel the tell tale signs of future trouble in my 'good' hip.