hi everyone. I’ve not yet got a date for surgery but I’m expecting to have a THR for severe arthritis. all the info I can find talks abt not crossing your legs :reaching to pick things off the floor or bending more than 90 degrees from the hip. What I’m wondering is this for ever or just post op. and if it’s forever how do people manage ?? I live on my own so I’ve no one to puck stuff up etc. I’m just trying to wonder how I’ll do things.
thx for any replies
hi Julie
good luck with your surgery
i had mine 10 months ago and last summer i was gardening bending and squatting and kneeling by august i have been crossing my legs as well. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT post op to follow instructions and very importantto do the exercises as recovery is different for everyone
i am still cautious with things that i didn't do well before surgery like riding horses, running, downhill skiiing but others have gone back to many of those
things too
i ride my bike, snowshoe, cross country ski, power walk, swim, swing with my grand babies garden i just cant do step hills hiking yet but its all coming back
hi, you are given strict instructions for the first few weeks. get yourself a grabber (like a litter picker) to help pick things up off the floor. I use it to load the washing machine as well😂 you gradually get so you can bend and turn and little more easily. I am week 7 post op and now walk totally without aids. Ive been able to get in and out of the bath myself for the past 3 weeks (I do have long legs which helps). pain wise, I didn't find it too bad after the initial first few days and after 10 days or so, I didn't take anything except ibuprofen and paracetamol occasionally. I walked as much as possible, very short distances to start with and built it up each day. Good luck x
Hi Julie The rules that you mention are only in place for after surgery. They rules last for between 6 to 12 weeks depending on your consultant and where you live.
I've had 2 hip replacements, first 2 years ago and second less than 3 weeks ago. And i had both of mine due to severe arthritis.
So please don't worry bout the restrictions as they are in place to make sure your new hip has time to heal. You should get all this information at your pre op meeting and don't be afraid to ask loads of questions.
The relief after the op is unreal and you will not regret it so wishing you the best of luck and any more info that you want just ask.
Mary
Hi Julie
I think much of those are precautions for while in the rehab state of things. ive had both hips replaced - most recent one was Oct 1st. I also live alone ...you are going to be amazed at what you will be able to do on your own.
as I recall putting in socks was hard (so I didn 't). here are a few tips and tricks: use rubber kitchen gloves when putting on your therapeutic stockings....get a grabber type aid.....find a long belt or jump rope to get your leg in and out of bed......after first hip i learned and only wore dresses / housecoats with the 2nd. Make sure tou can reach everything in kitchen (nothing up to high).
I'm sure others will come along with more good tips. This is exciting and you will do far better than you can imagine. oh and do your exercises immediately when you get home dint wait for PT to show up.
Restrictions are for 12 weeks Julie but after six you can also change position in bed as no longer have to sleep on your back. All worth it as gives you your life back 11 weeks post op now and can walk again.
Hi Julie, dont fret as its not forever just until everything has healed back in place to hold your new hip in place. Having said that it can be for several months as far as I can see. The real problem is that as you recover it becomes very easy to feel you can do all of these things and you have to remember not to do them. There are many aids that you can use to pick things up like a litter picker and devices to help put socks and stockings on and of course long shoe horns.
Hi Julie - I live alone and am 4 weeks post-op. If you go on Amazon, you can get everything you need. That's what I did. I purchased 2 raised toilet bowl seats with handles. I ordered my cane from Amazon. I also ordered a hip kit - it contains a grabber (if your house is more than 1 story, I would get 2 grabbers - one for each floor. It contains a shoe horn, a device to help put on your socks and a device to help you get dressed. I also ordered an ice pad that can be used for cold and heat. MEDICARE paid for my walker, which I used all of 3 days. Hip replacement is major surgery and if you can somehow envision it, if you cross your legs, you can dislocate your new hip. It takes at least 6 months to heal. You don't have to be sedate, I now walk at least 3 miles daily, but you must use common sense. If you don't sleep on your back, start doing so, because to do otherwise can misalign your new hip. I am 66, in excellent shape and thought ""I'll just get my hip replaced and come back home." I was unable to do so because I was in pain and also had a complete meltdown. My son fought like hell and I was able to get in Kessler Rehab for 1 week. That was a big turn around for me. The day after I got there, they wheeled me into pt and from that point on, I made a huge turn around. There is no shame in asking for or receiving help. We all heal differently and I thought I was going to walk out of the hospital. I also have 2 dogs and my son watched them for me He brought them home for me at different times. If you'd like me to see if I can upload what I purchased, just let me know. Do you have friends or family that can help you out? Last, but not least, find out what type of replacement you are going to have and ask lots of questions and write down the answers. Feel free to reach out again. Others will also respond and provide invaluable information.
Georgette
No, it's not for ever, it relates to the risk of dislocation. There is a risk graph (see below) and tips in my website, the address is in my personal info here ... https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025 and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Thx I found your advice in the sticky on the page after I'd posted my question. I've saved it plus a few other things too :) This page is so helpful. Thx a lot
Thx for your reply. It's so helpful. I'm feeling more confident abt having it done was beginning to worry abt long term activities . Thx again
Thx for your reply. It's great news to know any restrictions will only be short term . Yes I can see the words WALK and EXERCISES are so important to my recovery. Thx for replying I feel so much better abt having surgery
Thx so much. Everyone's advice has really put my mind at rest. Hope your recovery from your recent op continues to go well.
Hi. Thx for your tips I'll make a note of them. I have nothing high normally I'm only 5 ft 2 at a good stretch :) but I've already read somewhere to put most things at a height I can get things so I'm starting to do that. At least I suppose I've time to rearrange my house pre op :) The again for your reply and advice
Thx for your reply. Yes agree any restrictions short term that give me my life back will be wonderful. It's only looking back and realising how things have changed so much in the past 3 yrs that I realise how bad I've got. Can't wait to go out for a walk and not be in pain . Thx for your reply
Thx for your reply. Yes I'm going to buy these things as think even atm I could use them to ease the pain. Thx again for replying
Thx for your reply. I'm in the UK so I'm expecting things like walkers to be loaned to me if I need them . I'm a retired nurse so know the ot/ physio will be visiting me daily while I'm in hospital and they won't let me home till I'm walking with whatever aid I need . My daughters don't live locally but I have friends I can call on if I need them but I'm very independent normally. Yes by the time I get to see the consultant I'll have a list of questions I need answering lol. Thx for your reply
Thx everyone for replying you've all made me feel so much better abt having the op. I couldn't get my head around having the op if it made it difficult to do stuff forever but I'm relieved even if it takes me a while it will get better. This group is so helpful. So thx to everyone :)
Well there are more and more surgeons who don't give patients these restrictions.
My surgeon gave me no such restrictions after surgery ... None! ... as far as bending or anything like that. Now his surgery approach is anterolateral ... (front and side) and that approach doesn't cut the muscles that tend to be involved with dislocations ... same with the anterior approach ... Few anterior approach surgeons give restrictions.
And there are posterior approach surgeons who also don't give restrictions ....Surgeons can be really cautious ... my surgeon said his practice dropped restrictions because they could find no research indicating patients with restrictions (90 degree rule and such) did better than surgeons without restrictions.
Plus, there was a breakthrough in the past decades ... called "soft tissue" repair. Basically posterior approach surgeons (the approach most vulnerable to dislocations) ... learned how to "sew up" the tissue such that it dramatically lowered the rate of dislocations. Lots of surgeons think those rules are old tales ... with no real research behind them.
accept as much help as you can get from friends and family
i got a vegetable trolley to help with multiple things out of the fridge too dont attempt cleaning floors etc x