Hip stuff

I managed to sleep very well on my back by making a 'nest' with pillows on either side of me to stop me rolling over. It helps that I don't have to share a bed! It also helps that I am a very static sleeper and rarely change position during the night. As soon as it was comfortable to sleep on the scar, I reverted to my normal position.

Agus - thanks for that idea. I woke up with such a sore bum today and was about to go online and order an inflatable cushion when I reaised that I have one of those travel neck cushions and I thought I might try that tonight and see if it works (under my bum of course, not round my neck!). If it doesn't I will try and get a ring cushion.

I am doing the physio as best I can, but it gives me pain in my broken foot and my opposite hip, so I am having to balance benefit against collateral damage.

I never got used to sleeping on my back but I was back to normal in four months. I would stress that I did my physio faithfully and worked very hard at it. I also had a few sessions of hydro therapy which were wonderful.
I would add a warning - I started off doing very well and then about four weeks after the op I seemed to stop making progress and got very down about it. However this passed and a year on I have just come back from a trip to the Far East and friends are amazed at how active I am.

Mishap. I bought an inflatable surgical ring cushion (holllow in the middle) for sitting up. Great for avoiding numb bum/bed sores. I bought it on Amazon.

I tried your method this morning, didn't help, but it gave Mrs P a good laugh, something about a stranded tortoise.

pompa my pearls are donned after im Showered, dressed, hair put up. Perfume and makeup applied and my train of courtiers are assembled to escort me to show the world my glory!
(Cue pomp and circumstance)

I can bend my left hip but not my right! Hence the gymnastics. Fortunately I have orangutang type arms

I had a gadget called 'sock-on' but can't find it on line now. You inserted it into the sock which you could then pull over your foot without bending. I didn't need it after the op, because it was a very hot summer and all I had to do was slip my feet into my sandals.

That was a stupid thought, obviously you would have been wearing your pearls

Galan, that conjures up interesting images, especially if your socks are put on first,
I used the Dorkin sock donner, it has handles that save you from bending.

Don't talk to me about socks/tights.
The only way I can do it is to put my left foot on first, then lie flat on my back and wave a foot at an appropriate directon and proceed from there!
not the most elegant, but it works!

Oddly, putting on socks will be the most difficult, as it requires you to bend the hip past 90 deg.

I'm sure you will be able to do all those things within 6 months. Mind you singing is still painful - for anyone listening.

Thanks pompa and tanith for your reassurances and timescales - that is very helpful.

I am not an athletic person - but normal weight - so will not be wanting to do anything heroic or crazy - I just want to enjoy my GC, go for short walks in the local countryside (very hilly) and, above all else, be able to stand and conduct and sing without pain.

It would also be very nice to be able to do normal things as listed above - like putting on my socks.

I would add that I am not lithe and supple, I am a chunky unfit 17.5 stone.

Mishap, you are right to be concerned about dislocation, it is the biggest fear with a new hip. You will need to think about what you are doing for a long while, but that said, you will be able to do most things by 6 months and certainly be getting on with life (unless you lead an extremely athletic life). I reckon it was about a year before I completely forgot about having a replaced hip. I do have a problem sucking my big toe, but I haven't been able to do that for about 70yrs.
I can easily reach my feet and can touch my chest with my knee (I can't do that with my good hip)
Even now. very occasionally, I can feel that I am pushing the joint a little too far for comfort, the hip will let you know. This happens mostly when I am gardening, bending and twisting at the same time.

Interestingly, when my Doc. examined my hip this week, he said I had more movement in the replaced hip than most people with normal hips.

Thanks for your answers.

I have all the gadgets for the short term; but I am just wondering when I will get back to not needing them at all and to some sort of normality in terms of activities. I am so nervous of dislocating it after all the problems that have ensued from the surgery.

Did there come a point when you just stopped worrying about that and got on with life? At the moment I find it impossible to imagine that I will ever bend over and pick something up off the floor.

Petallus - I too now realise that before the surgery I really did not have a full grasp of how long everything would take. I was just desperate to get the pain gone. It is a slow process, and for me has been/is being slower than most because of other health problems; I am having to learn patience. Sleeping on your back is not as bad as you think - you soon get used to it. The problem for me is that I am having to sleep sitting up at the moment to stop my heart going haywire - and my bum is getting sore!

My hospital gave me a "helping hand", an extended shoe horn and a gizmo to help the exercises.

Petallus, there are all sorts of gadgets available to make life easier for you after a hip op. Some you may be able to get on loan from Adult Services and if you have a local shop selling disability/mobility aids, I suggest you go and have a browse around there. My favourite gadget - and I still use it - is the 'helping hand' - picker-up which has a clip for attaching to a crutch or walking stick.

If you are going to sleep on either side, you should fit 2 pillows between your legs to avoid dislocation. I am not sure of the time scale any more but one pillow can be fitted after a period of time.

Another no- no is to get in and out of a bath soon after surgery. You need to sit on a bath board each time you have a bath , again ask re length of time.

When driving, a cushion should be placed on the driver's seat.

Petallus, you will be surprised how quickly you will get used to sleeping on your back, I never did prior to my hip op, I often do now.

I agree with most of the times scales.

Shoes, get slip ons or elastic laces.
Socks, there are several sock devices that enable you to put on your own socks/stockings (you will have to wear compression stockings) after a week or so. (the one I found worked for me was the Dorking Stocking Aid Donner)

In my case, I was able to do most things by 6 months and had almost forgotten about it by 1 year, There is nothing that I cannot do that I was capable of prior replacement.

IMPORTANT - DO THE EXERCISES - Some of them will seem impossible during the first week or two, but will quickly get easier.

Luckily, being a woman, you will not have the same restrictions as a man. Men are not allowed to wash up, cook or clean for at least a year.

Oh dear! I am having mine done in 3 weeks. Hadn't realised everything took so long. I'll never manage to sleep on my back.

Pleased you are beginning to feel better though Mishap.

That should be riding her horse..

Mishap I had a replacement 9yrs ago and manage to do all the things you have mentioned . There aren't many things that I can't do although they do advise some people to never cross your legs or bend to the floor but I've never had much difficulty and I have a friend who has resumed riding her hours and skiing after have both hips done.. I think a lot of recovery is your own determination , good luck with it all.. but be guided by your surgeon too.

-Lying on either side within 3/4mths
-toenails 6mths
-picking up from floor 3mths
-socks probably 6/8mths only because it was Summer and I didn't wear them
-getting up and down 4/5 mths but its not easy even now I need something to lean on to get up again.
opening drawers 3/4mths
I was cycling my ordinary bike after 4 mths

Driving my car after 5/6 wks and back to work after 3mths