Occ Health visit on Tuesday 10th Feb

I was in a different hospital but same group. And I agree with almost everything. Surgery fantastic, care wonderful, food great. I had to have GA though - they couldn't get the needle into my aarthritic spine. But I had no problems. I suspect it's down to individuals. 

Also physio follow up not great. I am lucky and have my own, and she said they were at least 20 years behind the times. There were two group sessions, one at two weeks and one at six. I was so shocked at the way they acted in the first one I didn't go to the second. They sent me a121 instead which was ok but pointless! 

I was walking and out at 36 hours; and discharged to annuals at two weeks.

Hi Sandra - thanks for the reply. I have already had cortisone injections at the Nuffield and was amazed to be admitted into a private room and given a menu to choose lunch from. I am certain the facillities will be second to none. Mr Roberts averages nearly 300 THR per year including revisions and has done something like 3500 in total. I can only find this information on google but no comments on his skills positive or otherwise. He does seem like a good bloke though with very powerful hands if this is a positive thing ? I dont want to trawl the depths of the internet for mud at this stage as I think it will be frightening enough.

 Do you mind me asking what alterations and gizmos you had once at home please ?

Thanks again Paul

Thanks Beth

you have got me thinking about physio afterwards now which is good. I have found that the Nhs is absolutely brilliant so long as you research what outcome you want and how to get it. (ie. if you dont you are stuffed !!)

Hi Paul

Sounds like your guy has plenty of experience. What did I need. The raised toilet seats and bars were a must. A couple of grabbers were good. One upstairs. One down. I was always dropping things lol.

A V pillow was great for the horrible sleeping on your back as it meant I could sleep semi sitting up. Also the car. There is a great gadget on Amazon which fits into your car door and is something to pull yourself up with when getting out of the car. I will get the name of it for you. Also a turning pad for your car seat. Still using mine. A high firm seat in the living room. When you can't wait to be able to lie on the sofa.

That was about it for me. Some people like a long pillow to sleep with between your legs but I couldn't do that. Also lying on your back can make your heels quite sore so a pillow to support your calves so that your heels don't touch the bed. I will get back to you with the name of the car door gadget. Sandra.

Hi Paul. Me again. Gadget is called car bar handy bar. My Best Buy as getting in and out of the car.

I didn't leave the house at all for first 3 weeks but then had to go back to Nuffield for physio appointment. This and the turning cushion were a god send to me. X

Brilliant - thanks

A shower seat! It means you can have a proper shower without having to worry about balance and stretching.

?And for physio I wasn't NHS but it really was rubbish. But I suppose that deoends on where you are and who you get.

In my area it is said that the after care is much better in the NHS hospital than going private. 

My care is still provided by the Nhs so potentially I can get aftercare from Nhs if I am not getting it as part of the contract given to Nuffield (or unhappy with it ). This is the case with  occ health coming to do a home assessment - Nuffield just offered crutches so I did some chasing round different Nhs departments and eventually got my referral.

Hi Beth

did you have an occ health home assessment please ?

The NHS have just contracted out to the Nuffield, so you are really NHS, which us good news. A friend actually went privately for something and had to pay rental on the crutches! 

I had a brilliant older physiotherapist as it was the weekend. She was lovely. At the pre op assessment I saw a physio to discuss home needs. I had already provided for most of my own needs. She provided the bars for round the toilet and a perching stool.

I left the Nuffield with a sheet of exercises and a phone number. These exercises were really good in the first 3 weeks and a set of crutches.

Went back 3 weeks later. They checked how I was walking and were really pleased. I left with 2 walking sicks which to be fair I never used. Oh and another sheet of exercises. I then developed awful groin pain. Quite common but the exercises just made it worse. There was a great guy on this site that told me what it was and told me to stop all exercises as I was aggravating the condition. I googled it and treated it with rest and massage.

It took about 3 weeks but he was right and I'm fine now. I did phone physio before Xmas but to be honest he reluctantly offered another app. Told me if I was in NHS hospital there would be no physio follow up. I declined this app.

This site as I say was a life saver for me. Even in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep there was always someone there to respond and chat too. Sandra. X

Thank you Sandra - you are so helpful. I am starting to get a picture of how things will be post op now from reading different experiences. I expect that there will be plenty of ups and downs to cope with but sitting here so uncomfortably tonight I am really looking forward to 24 Feb

Occ health came today - really nice lady. Going to give me raised chairs and maybe even supply a chair if she can. A perching chair, a grabber, a device to help get out of bed , loo seat raiser and frame plus grab handle on wall, a adjustable step, cuddly toy .....

Great service so far ..She said no shower or bath for 12 weeks - can this be true ? Also do you know how I will access physio ? My op has been contracted out to the Nuffield but only the operation and consultant are paid for. Follow up and physio seems to be up to me to chase up - same as the occ health visit.

Hi Paul, all sounds good. Not sure about the shower though. Is that because your shower is over your bath? I got around that by borrowing some of those kids plastic steps. ( I had three. A low one, a higher one, and a low one in the bath.) Places like IKEA sell them. I could get into the bath using a crutch and my husband, and have a shower.

My wound was covered in plastic initially, so v easy to keep dry. I had a shower in the hospital on day 2, before I came home. Or are you having both hips done at the same time? That would be trickier.

Hi Paul. Mine was NHS at Newcastle Nuffield. I was in Fri till Sunday. Saw physio both days. I left with exercises which are easy. Physio phoned a couple of days later and made an appointment for 3 weeks time. I left with 2 crutches which were changed to sticks at next physi app.

A community nurse visit was arranged for a week later to check wound and another a week after that to remove clips.

Shower was another matter. I was advised no shower for 6 weeks. All advice varies. I did have a shower before leaving hospital. Mine is an over the bath. A bath /shower which is curved so bath seat not suitable as too wide and higher than normal bath. So it was strip washes !

To be honest probably all I could be bothered with first week. I lasted 4 weeks then enough was enough. I had bought a grip bar for shower and got round it by sitting on edge of bath and swinging both legs. Keeping them straight as not to push the 90 degree rule. Then with help of husband and grab bar could stand up. Bit wobbly first couple of times so husband stayed with me.

First 3/4 weeks just nurture yourself as sleeping is rubbish for most of us. I would be up early washed and dressed. A bit of walking round the garden and a sit in chair. Then I would lie on bed as it was more comfortable.

Getting to physio. I went by car. Husband driving. They will show you how to get into car when you leave hospital. As I've said I found the turn around cushion and the handy bar grip a great help. Both off Amazon. I still use them now at 14 weeks post op as it's still uncomfortable getting in and out of car.

You will be fine. Any questions about Nuffield just ask me. Xx

Hi Judith

Thanks for the reply. Yes shower is over the bath but just having one THR at a time. Pre-op on the 7th so might get some answers then hopefully.

Hi Sandra - thank you that has been really useful information. I seem to have all the same things as you - even down to the curvy bath !! Could you tell me if it was Newcastle , Staffs please - and if it was Mr Roberts who did the surgery. I am interested to know if you were given a choice of anaesthetic and if the THR was anterior or posterior pls.

Hi Paul. My hospital was Nuffield Newcastle upon Tyne. My op was with Ajay Malvia and posteria. Not sure if they do much anterior in UK as they need a special op table and the op takes longer making it more expensive. So likely not an option on our NHS.

Anterior has a much shorter recovery though by listening to others on here.

I was given a choice of anethetic all with spinal block. Stay awake. Light sedation or GA. I opted for spinal with GE. I regretted this choice as I felt sick for days afterwards. I don't normally react like this to GE. Given the choice now I would go with light sedation.

Surgery itself is the easy part Paul. The recovery is a marathon and I'm no winger. They tell you 6 weeks and then you will be more or less back to normal. Don't you believe it. 8 weeks before I could drive and 10 weeks before I was back to work a few hours a week. I have had no other option but to take it slow. I'm normally 100 miles a minute person. The grinding hip pain is gone straight away but the achy pains especially groin pain go on for ages. Have you watched the op on YouTube. ? Brutal lol. No wonder we hurt. Recovery is a roller coaster ride so be prepared. Loads of advise from people on here. Keep us posted on how you are doing. You will be fine. Xsandra

Hi Sandra - I dont think I will watch the op on youtube thank you ! I might ask if I can take the bone home though. I am like you a bit prone to never sitting still so my biggest challenge will be not overdoing things. Got to stop crossing my legs too.  Could you tell me what post-op meds you were on - I had a bad reaction to Tramadol and want to know what tis available pls

Hi Paul. Well I'm not one for pain killers. I cannot take anti inflammatory or codiene. I came out with tramadol but after a week had had enough of those as well. I have quite a high pain threshold so I managed with paracetamol.

I took them regularly for a couple of weeks and now just if it's really bad. That said they don't seem to touch recovery pain. I just keep thinking this too will pass lol.

I am off to Australia for a month in Feb so I am hoping the heat will help the aches. I am no good in the morning until I have had a long hot shower. Thankfully I can make my work work around me. If you still work and get paid while off sick don't go back too soon. Keep us posted as I will be interested to follow your progress. X Sandra.

Hi Sandra

I only use papracetamol too ! I am amazed at the similarities we have so might just be getting on your pip asking loads of questions post-op. I hope you keep checking in on here whilst you are away. Enjoy your holiday though you lucky thing. Thank you Paul

Hi Paul. Happy to help any time. Think the big problem on this site is everyone expects they will be back to normal in 6 weeks. That's what they tell you 😂😂😂

The word is patience and far from my strongest point !

I will be watching this site when I'm away. Somewhere I have never ever had any desire to go. Going for a month to catch up with an old friend who has gone for 3 to visit her son. I'm going out to come home with her. We will be in Adelaide but hoping to spend a week in Sidney.

When is your op ? I got to choose my date. I said put me on the list. My surgeon said what list would this be.

He said this is a private hospital. You tell me when you want your op. Doesn't come better than that. I'm of the mind that allelected surgery should be in the private sector and free up NHS for emergencies and Cancer treatment. Just my view.

Anyway best of luck. You will soon be on the other side. XSandra.

Hi Sandra

Yes the surgeon let me choose when to have the surgery so it is good to have that control. I am up for my first one 24th Feb. The second one will be dependant on recovery of bloods etc - but I guess also how my pain levels are, 8 weeks might be ambitous ?

 I dont envy you the big plane journey and hope you get a comfy seat, The warm weather is bound to be a benefit though. Dont forget slip slap slop (or something like that anyway  )

Best wishes

Paul