Hi due to have op next Friday 22 Ms. My very caring Aunt is coming to stay with me to help with kids 8,11&13 she is already stressing me out saying I might not be able to get downstairs as they are ones with three triangular steps at top and I can't twist anyone else had problems with this? Only 43 so fairly fit although bmi 33 . She seems to think I should have. A bed downstairs also my bed is high have to go onto toes to sit on it is that a problem have got option of using my daughters single bed. Had nightmare last night dreamt the surgeon was drunk doing my op and that they did the wrong leg! Will need some Valium to get sleep working next two nights so used to lack of sleep. That should be a bonus
Dont panic. you will do fine. just take every step slowly and carefully to begin with and avoid twisting. take care to move your foot round as you turn so that you dont swivel at the pelvis. once you have done it a couple of times it will be automatic and its not like the one time you do it wrong your new hip will dislocate. I was told there is a small chance of this occuring but the pain in the early days will limit your movements and reduce the risk significantly. Honestly, it will be ok. just trust your body.
Im 43 with a brand new hip and stupid stairs too and ive not done it wrong so far.
Hi my stairs are like that I didn't have a problem. Just done small steps to turn round. Don't worry about bed min is high like yours its fine.
I am having second hip done on 19th may.
Good luck 😊
Hi Caroline
I went to stay at my daughter's after my op in January. She has a little 2 up / 2 down Victorian terrace with incredibly steep stairs which curve (as you describe) at the bottom - and the loo is upstairs!!
The physio will teach you how to do stairs before you leave hospital - and just in case this doesn't happen ASK!!
My mantra (from the physio) was 'good people go to heaven, bad people go to hell'. This translates as good leg first when going up, bad (operated) leg first when going down. It works. BTW I'm 65.
Youll be fine xx
Caroline. My stairs are as you describe and I never had a problem. Just take it very slowly kind of small baby steps. The arthroplasty nurse asked me if I had a downstairs loo and when I said no she replied "Good as that will mean yo have to go up and down stairs a lot and it's good for your new hip". My bed is highish too and that's actually more comfortable than a lower one. Good luck with the op. I am a little older than you (54) and am ten weeks popster op now. It's been challenging at times but well worth it not to be in pain.
Catrin
Hi Caroline
I am two wks today after my op, I was petrified to say the least, I was in hospital for 5 days that is the worst over ,once you get home you will be fine on the stairs take it slow each day gets better,I am on my second wk I can walk around the house on my crutches great and get in and out of bed but I must say you probably won't be able to help your aunt with the children for a few weeks
Good luck let me know how you get on if you have any questions just ask.
You need to talk about your stairs to the physios, where I went they had a mock up of the stairs with a twist for people to practice. Also if you have not yet been to joint school you could mention it then.
Hi Caroline
My house is really old with lots of steep stairs & I have managed fine. They will teach you how to do them before you leave hospital. Up with good leg first & down with bad!
My surgeon came to me in th ward & drew an arrow on the leg that needed doing. A good opportunity to make sure he's sober!
My husband made me a wooden step, just a piece of wood really, that helped me get into bed & shower as its over the bath.
You only need these things for a few weeks, everything gets much easier as the weeks go by.
Good luck, keep us updated on your progress.
Hi Caroline
I am just over 13 wks post op. I was really worried about climbing 5 flights of stairs after the op. When I was discharged a week later going up the stairs was NO problem in fact I managed without any rest . one of the flight of stair is spiral with no landing and 21 steps so as you can imagine I was anxious and I was going out each day with aid of 2 crutches. Rest assured you will be given training by the physio before you are discharged.
with regard to my bed mine was 14 ins high so I managed . I'm light weight and athletic so that helps. Try and do exercise and keep fit to strengthen your muscle.
I'm not sure where you live . I live in uk and had to give the measurement for the furniture that I normally use e.g chair, toilet, bath , bed etc and will give you the necessary tools to assist you .
Hope this will help.
I am 15 weeks post op this week. , live alone and have stairs like you , they were no prob , easier than the exercises .
Good luck
Like others say the stairs are fine and actually I found stairs a lot easier than I anticipated. With regard to the wrong leg, you will be fine they drew a huge arrow on my leg prior to surgery!,x
Thanks for all the replys having a good day today minimal pain and thinking do I need it still in denial! I know on bad days that I do with my daughter or son having to dress me!
Hi Caroline I don't think you need to move your bed downstairs, when you get to the top 3 steps, you just need to turn your whole body rather than twisting which becomes automatic, you won't twist cos it will hurt.
I also think your bed is more beneficial higher so you can sit on it, slide yourself back and then bring your good leg up on back followed by operated leg.
As for your surgeon being drunk and operating on wrong leg, it will be your responsility as they draw an arrow on the leg to be operated and ask you which leg is it !
Do you have loo upstairs ? That will be the main thing, getting to the toilet quickly in time and often especially in the middle of the night.
The pain will not go away on its own.x
Don't worry you will be taught how to master the stairs with crutches , the principle is the same if you have straight up or curved stairs , ours are curved as you describe and I haven't had any problems , just take your time and concentrate
Hi
You are getting stressed........this aunt sounds as if she is more of a hindrance than a help.
You will be taught in hospital how to do the stairs......My mantra for the first THR was GOOD leg goes to heaven BAD leg goes to hell. You soon get used to that.
My second THR the mantra was GBS??
George Benard Shaw. translated as ......Good leg first, Bad leg next then the Stick.......didnt mention stick in the frst one
Apparently the first mantra offended a lot of people so they changed it
The twisty ones......dont swivel your body the way you normally would. Take two or three little steps to turn around.
I had that arrow on my leg as well
Easier said than done I know but try to relax
Love
Eileen UK
hi caroline,ive got to admit i chose to have a bed downstairs.my daughter is in uni so i borrowed her bed.i also have an eleven yr old son who unfortunately was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years ago.i have a downstairs toilet which made things easier.i found the first two weeks were the worst as i was in and out of bed all night.if i wanted the lamp on to read at 2 or3 in the morning i could, get a drink,painkillers ,snacks i wasnt disturbing my hubby or my lad,and in the day i could just lie on my bed to rest without being upstairs on my own.we have to work out the amount of carbohydrates in my sons food so we can work out his insulin dose ,so at least with me resting downstairs i was always on hand to give instructions.i slept down there for 4 weeks,best thing i could have done as it was so handy for putting your feet up in the day too.i,m 52yrs and back upstairs now and 6 weeks post op and doing fine .good luck with your op you will be ok x
Hi u will be fine. As everyone said the stairs are not a problem and you won't ve dischsrged from hospital until they have shown u how to use the stairs. Don't have a bed downstairs the movement will be good for you. High bed brilliant too. Remember to get in with good leg first so u may have to swap the side of the bed unusually sleep on dependant on which leg is operated. We had to swap sides and that felt strange for both of us lol . Best of luck and listen to your body xxx
Hi Caroline! Good luck! You will be fine! Just make sure you have a raised toilet seat,grabbers and a plastic sheet! As you will need the sheet for helping you into bed and also when you get out! Have all the help possible! Easy meals! Regards Amanda