Hi Ive got my thp on 29th Dec it will be posterior and un-cemented.
I spoke to the occupational therapist and she has said I will be partial weight bearing on crutches. She said I wont be able to shower for 6 weeks, even though ive got a walk in cubicle shower. I can handle the non-shower part just about but how do people wash their hair?
Thanks Caron
Hi Caz, I had both my hips done and I showered a week post surgery. I had no weight bearing both times for 8 weeks and they were both in cemented. I used a commode and a walker and my hubby helped me so there were no chances of falling. I had a special waterproof dressing that covered my wound. It was changed a week later and then staples came off and I let it air dry as much as possible and used Aveeno anti itch cream since I was shedding like crazy. Showering every 2 days with help, then by myself after 3rd week.
It's amazing. There must be as many different restrictions as there are people! I had left posterior thr 11-30 and was full weight bearing same day. Had staples removed yesterday and told I could shower today!
Anyway I have been washing my hair in the kitchen sink being careful to not bend past the 90 degrees. It has worked well for me. Good luck!
Hi Caz, if you have a walk in shower then I cannot understand why the OT said that. i could not shower for six weeks as my shower at the time was over the bath. by partial weight bearing they mean on crutches. Had i had a walk in shower then they advised using the perch stool they gave me to sit on in the shower as you obviously cannot risk slipping over and also have a shower mat in there too. For me I washed my hair over the sink, first of all by sitting on the perch stool and then eventually standing up and leaning slightly over the sink. i had posterior uncemented too. You must make sure you have waterproof dressings over the wound when you shower otherwise you will have to wait for the stitches to dissolve or staples/stitches out. out whichever your surgeon prefers to use. Believe me it was bliss to have a shower after 6.5 weeks. Goods luck
I was allowed to shower straight away - they provided a supply of waterproof dressings to go home with - see my website on the 'Hospital Recovery' page.
The website address is in my personal info here ...
http://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at
http://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃 🤸 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hi Caron ,
I walked with crutches 2 days post op , I was able to shower 5 days later , the most important thing I was told is to keep the surgical area covered and dry . I would put the crutch next to the shower door and lay towels on the floor to prevent slipping . We are all different so I would consult your surgeon for advice and precautions . Good luck and you'll feel so much better after surgery .
Dear Graham
Me too. I showered at the hospital the day after surgery and was weight bearing from the start. Uncemented posterior revision.
I really do not understand the variation unless in the case of uncemented the surgeon is uncertain of how solid a job he/she has done with the stem.
Surely showerproof wound covering are generally available to all hospitals.
Cheers Richard
I agree, there seems to be an awful lot of different instructions for THR when we all had pretty well the same thing. In my case we had showers we could use at the hospital. Although there was a queue for them! I had uncemented, posterior and before going into hospital had a walk in shower installed. The plumber managed to put the hand grips in the wrong place so I had to have extra ones, which in hindsight have been really useful.
If you are not able to wash your hair normally, a friend of mine said she had got something for her mother where she could sit down and have some thing on her head to which you could add water and effectively wash your hair. She said it worked really well. I have never actually seen what she was talking about, but it seemed pretty amazing, so must exist somewhere. I will look around.
Hi Caz. I also had Posterior non-cemented. I could weightbear immediately and said I could shower the day my staples came out. I believe that was about 17 days after surgery. Can you get a friend or relative to wash your hair. ?
Hi thats good to hear, I know everyone heals different. If I do shower I will make sure Ive got my hubby to help me. Thanks for your advice
Yes I can imagine there is. I supose every surgeon has there own restrictions, then of course the physio and occupational therapist have theirs. Just to confuse the situation. Good luck with your revovery.
Thats what I thought about my shower but she said she didnt want to risk me slipping. Thanks for the advice. Im not sure I'l last 6 weeks without a shower.
HI Caz83
My wound was dressed with a waterproof dressing, and I was encouraged to shower by myself in the hospital, before I went home two days after the op. I was given three waterproof dressings to take home and was told I could shower whenever I wanted (I have a walk-in shower) and to change the dressing only if the wound was weeping a lot or the dressing came loose. I would check with a nurse or your surgeon about showering just in case the OT has got it wrong. Being able to enjoy a proper shower in the early days will make you feel much more positive and this is important.
Best of luck with your op and recovery
sjhips
Thank you. I will have a read. I supose different consultants will have different restrictions.
Thank you for your advice. I will ask again after my op when I can shower.
I will have a look around for what available. Thanks 👍
Thanks. I can ask my hubby to help over the kitchen sick. That will be fun and games.
Thats what I said to my hubby. I know its a totally different situation but when ive come home after having my children all ive wanted to do is shower and its always done the world of good. Thank you for your advice. I will talk to them once Ive had the op.
I was told I could shower as soon as I felt able as I had a waterproof dressing. In my case thar was at 1 week using the perching stool sides as a support and with the help of my husband or daughter. Washed hair under shower. Before that my daughter washed my hair. I sat on perching stool in kitchen, back to sink, keeping to 90 degree rules was able to lean far enough back for her to wash my hair. Posterior/ lateral approach on crutches but taught to use them weight bearing by putting foot completely on floor when walking. Hope this helps
Thank you thats great advice.