Getting out

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi again. I'll be 4 weeks THR on Wednesday. My question is besides going out for walks I've been at home. Have others been out in the car? I'm worried re hip precautions as have chair set at certain height. After 6 weeks can hippies sit on a regular sofa and chairs in coffee shops for example. Thanks

2

Hi I'm 5 weeks today thl I have a car but have not drove it I have been out in taxis but found it to be very uncomfortable and hard to get in but managed it hope this info helps

3

I started going in the car to physical therapy 3 days after THR, and started driving there at 2 weeks.

You just have to be careful as to the height of the sofa/chairs you choose to sit in.  They cannot be to low, that will make it more difficult for you to follow your hip precautions.

Good Luck  

4

I've been out in the car just yesterday.(3 weeks post op). I know what you mean, I was a little tentative. Just don't rush getting in or getting out. Can be quite a step up for your operated leg so maybe a helping hand with that.

Otherwise I'm sure you'll be fine!

Rob..

5

I'm 11 days post op. I went for a ride in our motorhome yesterday and was out for about 2 1/2 hours. 4 stairs to get in it. I was scared but my husband was right beside me the whole time. I used my quad cane and did fine. It felt sooooo good to get out, get fresh air and gain more confidence. Just go slow and easy.... good luck!

6

Hi Jane. Like you 4 weeks. I had to come home by car on day 3 quite uncomfortable. Week 3 my first physio. My husband took me in his car as it has more leg room. The seat is quite low but I managed with instructions from physio. Getting out I bought this great little door gadget from Amazon. I fits in the door and great for pulling yourself out. This would have been really handy post op as well.

Since then I am happy to go out now. Been to Tesco for a coffee and out to an Italian for a meal. The seats were fine.

Don't know about you but I want to get into the shower. It's over the bath and a curved bath shower. It's quite high so think I will wait the full 6 weeks as per instructions ! Just in case.

Hope your recovery is going well. I have been quite stiff and sore this week. Yet week 3 I was great. 3 steps forward 1 back. Love and hugs

Sandra.

7

Hi Jane. The Amazon car gadget is called the Handy bar car transfer. As for sofas. Not seeing physio till 7 weeks. That's one of my questions. Xx

8

Hi Jane

​I mastered this so I could get home from hospital... cushion on car seat, bum first then lift and swing in legs.. 

​I would go out in the car regularly in the 1st few weeks like this, and even mastered going for a coffee....... the trick is lower yourself slowly with legs out front.... must have looked odd but could not have sat in doors all the time. 

​Just   nothing to low... try to find somewhere with chairs with arms....  I am 9 weeks with no restrictions now but still take care getting in and out of car, and sitting in lower chairs.

9

Hi there o no to low if my hubby takes me out

for meal / coffee take cushions with us , use

them in car to sit on also in carrier bags this

makes them easy to twist your bum round on

Hugs

10

At 4 weeks I was just able to sit on a 'normal' chair (with great care) in a restaurant, and even went to a concert in the local church with my own cushion for comfort, getting there by car (as a passenger!).

See my blog in my website - the address is in my personal info here ...

   https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025

and on the moderator's "useful resources" page at

   https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃

11

I actually didn't drive for 3 months I think due to my own insecurities. I was a passenger from the moment I left the hospital.

One trick I had learned was to place a plastic garbage on your seat and it makes it so much easier to get in and out of the car.

I'm 1 1/2 years out and I'm still careful not to sit in anything too low!

12

Thanks a mill. I'll take some cushions with me and get out and about again. Missing my coffee trips 😳😊

13

Thank you just need to make that next step

14

Thank you. Will make this my next challenge

15

Thank you. Keep up with your recovery too 👍

16

Will be looking it up tonight x

17

hi Jane,

as a passenger in my friend's van ...getting in and out was doable ..I went grocery shopping with her. ..

my couch was put on blocks to get height needed ,so I actually used it right away ...

took cushion to restaurant. ..

sounds like you are doing great. ...

big warm hug

Renee

18

Thank you Renee. 🤗

19

You of course need to stick with precautions as ordered (if any) But anyway as far as seating , if its swing/hamock like which changes the angle of the upper legs, it can be uncomfortable.  You need to watch for ridges or anything hard of course in the seating that can push against the insision area.   There is good technique to get in and out of very low seating such as cars-see on youtube.  With low unsupportive seating you may need your crutch or something else to push up on.  You need to assess maybe if you good leg with minimal or comfort level help from the replacement side can handle hefting you up should the seat result in high angle position.   So if you can't use it to go up 2 stairs at a time with little balence support, you'll need push off of the cushion itself to get up -so if very low, likely you may wish to make sure it has arm supports or something to help.

    I started driving at week 4 in a corrolla- wasn't perfectly comfortable but was ok- Did so after being able to lift the operated right leg up while straight and laying down at least a few inches. In an emergency you may need to do some lift of it briefly but quickly.

20

It depends on whether you had anterior or posterior approach. I understand there are very few precautions after anterior. I'm 5 weeks post op from my second posterior hip replacement. At 4 weeks I was cleared to drive but getting in and out of the car was difficult. Sitting at a normal table isn't bad but I'm still not supposed to break a 90° anghe with my hips so I end up sitting back and not leaning over the table. My couch is low and its difficult to get up but I manage with a cane. Keep up with the walking but progress slowly. Don't over do it.

Good luck.