Camping after hip replacement

Hi all. My op was cancelled yesterday and now scheduled for 29th June. This has caused loads of problems with rearranging work (me and hubby) childcare and also a camping trip already booked for the end of August. At that point I'll be 7 weeks post op ( was obviously planned to be 10 weeks post op). We've bought camp beds instead of blow up mattresses but does anyone have experience of this. Presuming all goes well with op is it just unrealistic to camp at 7 weeks? Kids will be so disappointed if we have to cancel. I'll already be out of action in Sumner hold when I should have been back driving..

I would think after 7 weeks you will be well on the road to recovery if your recovery is 'normal'.  You should at that point be released from your restrictions but you need to remain cautious for up to 12 weeks in some cases so you need to ensure you have a decent chair to sit in as you will still feel tired at times.

As long as you go into it with the correct expectations and follow your exercise plans etc then you should be ok but everyone is different and only you will be able to tell after a month or so post-op.

Thanks. I know things could happen out of my control but as you say if all goes as expected.... Was hoping to not see OMG you can't do that...... So anything positive will help me get my head around the next 3 weeks.

Hi Karen,

I couldn't agree more with Marc. After 7 weeks, if all goes smoothly, it shouldn't be much of an issue. Being careful is true at week 7, or 10.

Make sure you can get comfy if need be, the higher beds are a good start, but make sure you have a good chair as well, or a place with those close by and you should be fine I think.

The recovery is so personal that it would be hard to say. After my first hip replacement, I couldn't even sit on my sofa without needing help to get up for the first 5 months but with my second hip, I was doing a lot more by the same time. You may find the camp beds a bit low to get off of every morning, especially after a whole night without moving, you could be a bit stiff. You will probably get tired quite quickly and even though your 6 week clearance to drive and become a bit more normal, it still will be hard. It was only at 6 months that my surgeon said that the hip ' now is yours'. God only knows what he meant as he couldn't really take it back off me!! LOL.

Just take it easy and rely heavily on your family support, listen to your body and follow what it is telling you.

Hope you all have a great time.

Thanks. In the absence of NO don't do it I'm gonna plan for hols as usual but can always cancel last minute if I really can't do it. I'm usually so positive but this cancellation had really knocked me for six. Its amazing the pain you can put up with when you have end date in sight.

Hi Karen

How right you are. I was cancelled on day of op 3 weeks ago after waiting 38 weeks. Absolutely devastated as in pain day and night. Op now scheduled for tomorrow. Keep your chin up - at least there is a light at the end of tunnel.

Regards Linda xx

Absolutely. Before my cancellation on May 1st, I was dealing with it. Somehow the two waiting weeks after that until the 15th left me empty for all energy. Couldn't even manage to get myself into the iffice anymore and just worked from (which as a developer slows things down a lot).

Hang in there and do plan the hols, ours have been planned as well and I'm counting down for them!

I'll be 8-9 weeks by then, so in about the same boat. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let my hip ruin my holiday 😉

Mental note to self: arrange tall people seat for plane 😁

Hi Karen! Poor you! It must be so frustrating for you! But we are all different with the way we heal! Listen to your body! Regards Amanda