Hello, I have just stumbled across this forum and cant believe how helpful and supportive you all are. I am 48 and am booked in for my THR mid March at the Highfield. For the past 4 years i have struggled with what i thought was pain from an injury where i tore my quad muscle, after recent xrays it appears to be severe OA. My issue is that i run my own business and am concerned re the resting time post op.
Q1 - How soon will I be able to sit and work a lap top?
Q2 - How soon will I be mobile (with crutches)?
Q3 - How soon can you walk unaided up stairs?
Q4 - How soon can you shower?
Q5 - Are you able to go to the toilet unaided?
Q6 - How bad is the scar? Booked for a beach holiday in August and worried about how bad it may look.
Q7 - How many of you had to have a blood transfusion? I have been told its advisable to give your own blood first just in case.
Q8 - How often and for how long is the physio afterwards?
I am having a Taperloc Stem ceramic on ceramic hip.
Welcome Debi, I'm also new to this forum & booked in for a THR on 8th June. I don't know the answers to your questions but the forum members are extremely kind & helpful. Best wishes x
Hi Fernlady, thank you, yes I am delighted to have found this forum, already finding quite a few answers just reading the comments. Good Luck with your op. x
Hello Debi and welcom I came accross this site 6 months agao a pre op nervous wreck... Question 1-5 almost straight away..after 2 days anyway...I had a shower in hospital day 2. You can work on your lap top/Ipad whilst in hospital if feeling awake enough as will be whozzy for a day or so. Scar neat but no disguisng it..but hey you will meet folk who recognise what you have been through!! i didn't have a blood transfusion but have a drain for 2 days. Re physio ..this seems to vary from place to place..I had physio at hospital ( I was in for 6 days as live alone) twice aday..No more till about 4 months post op and now having weekly hydrotherapy.
I refer all new pre op hippies to Rocketmans web place but never remembr it but click on his posts..top left...and you will find it. He started this site not long after his hip op and it is blinking brilliant. Will answer all your questions and worries and if not just pots away and someone will help you. I found and contiune to find this site supportive/comforting sometimes full of fun and undoubtedly helped me with my recovery.
Wow thank you, that all sounds really positive, my fears of not being able to work actually beat the fear of the op so your answer has definitely put a smile on my face.
Q1 almost immediately for short periods, people have posted from the recovery room. However your brain may not be ready for work concentration for a while. Info I found on the net indicates working from home is OK for a few hours each day from weeks 3-4
Q2. You will be taught to use the crutches in hospital will not be let out until your are basically mobile
Q3 you will be taught in hospital how to use crutches on the stairs. I was discharged with 3. One upstairs, one downstairs and one to be used on the stairs. Therefore there was always a pair available up or downstairs. Used stairs with one crutch and handrail on the other side
Q4 depends on dressing if waterproof and availability of a walk in shower, for me with both available, and hubby helping for the first couple of days, as soon as discharged from hospital, 4 nights
Q5. Also practised in hospital. Raised toilet seat vital but usually on loan in UK
Q6 not bad, bio-oil or some such helps after healing complete. Anyway I would show mine with pride, but would be covered in part by bikini
Q7 I think transfusions are relatively rare. I dropped from Hb 12.6 preop to 10.8 First day post op. No transfusion as that much is quickly made up for most people
Q8 physio is very very necessary, most people do not get enough in my opinion. I was shown some in hospital, given leaflets, downloaded pocket physio app, but still went to GP and asked for more at 3 months post op.
Thank You Maggie, I may be being a bit ambitious but I have an exhibition I need to attend 6 days after the op and a business dinner event day 7.... Cocktail dress and crutches I'm hopefull x
Welcome to our forum. I can answer your questions based on my experience. I had my op on 2nd Feb and had a posterior approach which I gather generally has the longest recovery time (not my choice) but I am recovering very well. I am 53 and work full time as a research scientist. I had my op in Edinburgh Spire hospital.
You can use a laptop right away but your head will probably not be in the game for much other than the odd email and posting on this site!! for at least a week I would say. Once home and you have a good place to sit using the laptop is fine. However for the first couple of weeks sitting for long periods is not comfortable and you need to get up and move around quite frequently and you will also need to lie down quite a bit.
You should be mobile with sticks within a couple of days but you will tire easily initially.
The physio will show you how to climb stairs and you should be able to do this using your sticks after 3 or 4 days.
I took my first shower unaided in the hospital on day 4 but a nurse was hovering and at home I could shower right away but I am lucky in having a walk in shower on the ground floor. I had to buy non slip mats for the shower and a tray so that my shower product were waist height.
I could go to the toilet unaided on day 2.
The scar depends on the approach. As mine was posterior I have a 4 inch scar diagonally across my left buttock. I think you will proabaly need to accept that a scar will be visible if you wear a bikini although some some bikinis with shorts style bottoms could work. I would just not worry and enjoy your holiday. I bought some Biooil today and will start using that.
I wasn't told about blood and didn't supply any.
I am day 19 and have been doing all my excercises. I dont have any followup physio but am going to get some private physio starting next week. I expect to be keeping up my excercises for a few months and to get back cycling swimming and going to gym.
I am really feeling very good about the op. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Hi..I see other posts have come in re concentration on a lap top..I think they are right!!! But simple things like posting on here you can do very quickly... I don't know about working as am retired..so other posters are more informed than me. Yes the smiles we give each other on posts that are not related to our hips are all good for us emotionally!. I am reading your replies..it is wonderful isn't it?
Thank you Alison, that's really useful information. One more question, did you have a general anasthetic, I'm reading on her that some people were awake. Good luck with your recovery x
Defer your decision to the last minute. You will not be able to drive at that point. Would also need to sit, cushions correct height chair etc. Will still be very tired. I went to a concert at 8 days( I should have been singing with the choral society), escorted by daughter and boyfriend. Was exhausted, slept for about 12 hours afterwards. Lack of sleep is a problem for most so always tired
I went to a social dinner at day 12, people helpful re crutches and I enjoyed it. Business meal may be a different kettle of fidh
Hi Debi I had a light general and a spinal. To be honest the thought of being awake during the procedure freaked me out. Luckily my surgeon routinely gives a light general and I was not awake. One tip I thought I would share is in the next few weeks I would work on getting your upper body and core muscles in shape as you will need them. Good luck!
I am 52 and in same boat as you running my own business , I had my first THR in October went in on the Friday and home on the Saturday by Monday I was on the laptop (connected to work computers) and doing 90% of my daily chores , was up and about with crutches on the Saturday and after 2 weeks at home walking with 1 crutch if I remembered to use any, 4 months post op now and pain has nearly gone in operated side but waiting to get other one done soon, you'll be fine and good luck.
This is a trulywonderful forum. I have actuallyconstructed a website where I am posting answers to many of your questions. The address is in my personal information at
Cocktail dress, crutches and compresion stockings with sensible shoes :-). I agree with Maggie on this. Maybe if you can just turn up for a little while at your exhibition but you will need to have someone help you, drive you, find a suitable chair etc. I went to the cinema on day 9 which I thought was quite an acheivement. So not impossible but will be tough. X
I really have not much to add except for the events scheduled on day 6 and 7 -
Just remember that you just had major surgery and your body might still have swelling - so try on coctail dress and see how it looks and feels - no heels, if possible - Standing for a long time is a bit of a no-no -
At dinner table, make sure you sit on a cushion as to not break 90 degree rule -
also be aware of public toilets -
I am sure you will make the right decision when time comes !!!
Hi Debi, I had my second hip done last Friday and am sat of the sofa using my laptop for a few hours each day. I have been known to fall asleep mid email or mid reply on here but otherwise you can use your laptop easily.
I don't want to be a poop but I think you will find that recovery takes quite a while initially. I am 53 and fairly active normally and also run my own business. I am 10 days post op I have walked with my crutches outside and made some visits to my children etc but couldn't honestly face a night out. This recovery is drainng and if you have to go to your event maybe you could consider hiring a wheelchair as a back up. I hired one the first hip and they aren't expensive for a week.
Debi, we are very keen to get back to our normality again after this major operation but I would advise that looking after yourself at the beginning will allow you to reap the full rewards that this procedure offers.
Btw, six months after my first hip I had a fully functioning, painless joint that should last me for years. I am looking forward to the same with number two and would reccommend it to anyone but would also say that it is a time in your life when you need to put YOU above everything else.