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Those pesky stairs

Posted , 7 users are following.

ann73107
ann73107

Hi All, finally got my op date Tuesday 27th June, I will be having my left hip replaced followed 4/6 months later by my right one. Just a little bit of advice please re stairs, how did you manage and did you attempt them straight off from coming home, I don't have a downstairs WC so once down have no option but to go back up at regular intervals. Any advice will be appreciated.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • ray14428
    ray14428 ann73107

    Posted

    Hi Ann  Physios will take you though using stairs while you are in the hospital.  They had me going up & down a small stair unit in the physio room the morning after my surgery.  it's amazing how quickly you will adapt to using them with your new hip.  You obviously won't take the stairs at speed, but you will negotiate them & they will ensure you are able to do this before they send you home.  Ask what equipment you are entitled to & they will ensure it's delivered to your home.  You will have crutches, gtabbers etc., given to you when you are in the hospital.  best of success & before you know it, you will doing all sorts that you couldn't do before the surgery.  smile  Ray

    • ann73107
      ann73107 ray14428

      Posted

      Thanks Ray, I've got 18 stairs and just a tad concerned that going up and down 2/3 times a day may not be one of my better ideas. I'm soo looking forward to getting mobile again and as for doing what I couldn't do before surgery I'll start a wish list now 😀😀

    • ray14428
      ray14428 ann73107

      Posted

      We have an older house with a steeper than usual staircase.  They really made sure I could handle it before sending me home.  Do ask what gadgets they will give you though.  I've said before that the variation of help in differing parts of the UK is ridiculous.  I live in caerphilly South Wales, and  I was given a toliet riser & frame, perching stool, bath board, grabbers, sock puller ( for what little use that had), leg lifter and long handled sponge.  My brother who lives in Liverpool had just a few things given to him.  Do ask the question though.  smile

    • ann73107
      ann73107 ray14428

      Posted

      I've been given a raised toilet seat and crutches so far, I've bought a grabber,and various other items so I'm good to go.Thank you so much for your advice.

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen ann73107

    Posted

    Dear Ann

    You should be shown how to use stairs before leaving hospital. As regards to using the loo do look into getting something that enables you to pee into a bottle like us chaps. Makes life very much easier!

    Cheers Richard

    • ann73107
      ann73107 RichardKen

      Posted

      Well Richard you could be my new best friend, just looked on line and have ordered something that looks ideal.X
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen ann73107

      Posted

      Having just been allowed to weight bear after five weeks post op having a bottle by the bed made a huge difference especially during the night!

      Hope it works for you too.

      Cheers Richard

  • renee01952
    renee01952 ann73107

    Posted

    hi ann -

    Ditto all the previous responses regarding the physical therapy you will be getting when you are still in the hospital and doing stairs ..

    How many steps are there ?

    I had to use the bath room a lot post-op THR surgeries - seriously ... during the day and night -apparently this is normal (fluid build up) but not everybody goes through this ...

    I live (alone) in a bungalow , so no stairs for me - would it be possible for you to have a commode or something downstairs - temporary of course - 

    I hope I did not freak you (or anybody else) out - but this was a big surprise for me - 

    big warm hug

    renee

    • ann73107
      ann73107 renee01952

      Posted

      Hi Renee, hope your well thanks to Richard I've been on line and bought a gadget for the loo and various other items so hopefully I should only need to use the stairs once a day at first until late I'm back to normal. X

  • gay81225
    gay81225 ann73107

    Posted

    One stair at a time leading with your good leg going up and your operated leg coming down and using your crutches/sticks or one crutch/stick and the bannister rail.  We don't have a toilet downstairs either so had to use the stairs immediately I came out of hospital, but I didn't find it difficult.  Good luck!

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