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Looking for my new doctor far away.

Posted , 8 users are following.

mike37250
mike37250

Need some help with a question. My hip doctor just retired and I do not feel comfortable with any other doctor in my small town doing the surgery. So I am looking at a great orthopaedic center 2 1/2 hours away. My first appointment is next week with my potentially new doctor and I wanted to know how crazy is it to do my lthp and then be driven home after surgery ??

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • linda38528
    linda38528 mike37250

    Posted

    Where are you based Mike?
    • mike37250
      mike37250 linda38528

      Posted

      I live in Kennewick, Washington. The orthopaedic center is in Spokane, Washington.
    • linda38528
      linda38528 mike37250

      Posted

      Thanks. Unfortunately I don't know the centre's in this area. I live in eastern Canada.

      Good luck though.

  • cindy48619
    cindy48619 mike37250

    Posted

    Are you having the anterior or posterior approach? I had the posterior and came home after 3 days. It is a 20 minute ride and I can say it was uncomfortable. Going over bumps was especially touch, My hip area had just been cut open and everything josled around. I needed time to heal and made sure I did nothing that might compromise that. Most people I spoke with who had the posterior were exhausted by the time they got home... me too! I hear the anterior approach is a total different recovery
  • cindy00429
    cindy00429 mike37250

    Posted

    Hi Mike. I had lthr a month ago. Posterior approach. The hospital was an hour away. However, I was heavily medicated. You may be also. The ride didn't hurt. You will need to go back for x rays and check backs, so that is something to consider post op. Best of luck to you.
  • patricia_63418
    patricia_63418 mike37250

    Posted

    Wow, surely they will keep you in hospital for at least 2/3 days. I was in for 7 days but I also had to have a blood transfusion as my hemoglobin was very low but they only discovered that 4 days later after bloods tests. I did not feel great - very tired.

    Personally I would not even contemplate going home the same day, this is a major operation.

    So from me......no no no!

  • bini31328
    bini31328 mike37250

    Posted

    Hi Mike

    I guess your surgeon can guide you on that at your appt - I can't imagine going home same day but I,m in UK and had posterior approach . If he says it's not feasible then are there options ie a suitable hotel you could go to ? Alternatively nursing homes often offer respite packages following early discharge from hospital post joint surgery and would have the correct equipment . Do let us know what he says xx

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK mike37250

    Posted

    If you are in the hospital for a few days, then you should be fine, as long as you are well-medicated for pain before you leave. 
    • mike37250
      mike37250 AnnieK

      Posted

      Thank you Anniek.

      My experience so for has been the surgery takes place at a surgery center if it is routine and you have no complications. And you leave or are discharged in less than 24 hours. If they think you need longer they will do surgery at the hospital.

      Either way I hope the meds are good on the way home.

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK mike37250

      Posted

      So, Mike, I am assuming that a surgery center is separate from a hospital? If you do end up with a complication post surgery, or low blood pressure, or something that needs medical monitoring or treatment, do you then get admitted to a hospital? I sure wouldn't want to have as long a drive as that within 24 hours of a hip replacement. I felt really awful and wasn't really ready to leave the hospital until after 4 nights. I hope things go well for you immediately post-op, but you should be prepared for anything! You can't know ahead of time how your body will react to the surgery.
  • HollyHop9
    HollyHop9 mike37250

    Posted

    My husband had a THA (posterior approach) and was on the hospital's accelerated hip program which for him meant walking twice on the day of surgery (first time from the trolley to the bed after coming from the recovery room and a longer walk later in the day) and coming home the day after the surgery. Our journey home was only about 30 mins and it was a bit uncomfortable for him (I was desperately trying to avoid potholes but the Boston roads are riddled with them) but he did fine. 

    ​Hope me that everything goes well for you too

  • renee01952
    renee01952 mike37250

    Posted

    Hi Mike, 

    To undertake a journney of 2 1/2 hours drive after THR (or any major) surgery is challenging, to put it mildly - unless perhaps you are knocked out - 

    do you have any help at home?

    Does your insurance cover rehab or at least home health care? 

    I agree with Bini about going to a nursing home or rehab or even a hotel until you feel a bit stronger and are in less pain - 

    and consideration of follow up appointments too - Do they have an ortho department in your local/regional hospital? 

    make a list of questions when you see the surgeon next week -

    love to hear back from you 

    big warm hug

    renee

  • deborah080815
    deborah080815 mike37250

    Posted

    Hello Mike

    I can’t imagine your surgeon would countenance a same day departure, if that is what you’re thinking.

    I’ve just had my second thr ‘out of county’ (UK) 3 weeks ago, first last August, and I would certainly say Good/recommended trumps Handy - one rough ride home and you’ve got your lovely hip forever hopefully. I went in both times on public transport 3hours car/train/train/taxi and returned by taxi first time on day 4 and car second on day 3 probably c. 2.5 hours.

    Here are my top tips: 

    Do check out and follow the instructions for getting in/out of a car. You should get full pictorial info from your physical/surgical team, especially make sure your chauffeur has the cushion plus slippy plastic bag;

    Do not look at the road - you will feel strangely vulnerable with your poor leg stuck out towards the oncoming traffic. take a floppy hat with a big brim, wear eye-shades listen to music, lie back and let it wash over you - whatever works for you;

    Take all the various pain meds they have given you as you are picked up in the ward, they’ll just about be kicking in as you get on the road;

    Do check out in advance somewhere to have stop if necessary which has disabled toilet just in case - actually that is not something I thought about - and we’re too rural to have any such thing anyway, but might have been reassuring.

    Very best of luck

    • mike37250
      mike37250 deborah080815

      Posted

      Thank you Deborah.

      Good info. I meet the new doctor tomorrow and hope all goes well. I have heard great things about this orthopaedic group and I agree I want the best to do it. The city is bigger than mine and I feel I will be in good hands here. I will find out tomorrow. My current orthopaedic group will not have a new hip doctor for 2 1/2 months and the one left misdiagnosed my hip and will not feel comfortable with him.

      I will deal with the pain as best as I can for a good surgeon.

      Thanks,

      Mike

    • renee01952
      renee01952 mike37250

      Posted

      hi mike, 

      would love to know your findings ...

      safe travels and listen to your solar plexus or gut redface - it is the best advisor 

      just saying 

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