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Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

(1001 Posts)
silverlining48 Mon 14-Feb-22 09:25:47

Cutting a long story short I have (at last!!) been given a date for a new hip. It will be my first proper operation so feel relieved and happy but nervous ?, All I was told at the hospital was it would be a 48 hour stay.

I don’t know anyone who has had this done and wonder if anyone with experience has suggestions or advice about what they found helpful either before or after the operation or useful aids, or anything about the whole process.
Thanks ?

GrannyLaine Mon 16-May-22 09:33:50

Ah, I see what you mean now SusieB50. It will be a natural progression then as your muscles get stronger. I was trying it out at 2am while I was waiting for the kettle to boil ?

silverlining48 Mon 16-May-22 09:38:32

GrannyLaine think the exercise you describe will have been for balance,

GrannyLaine Mon 16-May-22 10:37:51

Yes it certainly tests that out Silverlining!

SusieB50 Tue 17-May-22 15:49:07

Hello all , hope all is well . I had my last physio appointment ( my choice) today with the hospital . He was very nice and encouraging and thinks I possibly may have a leg length discrepancy but I am to check with consultant next week. He didn’t measure me silverlining - maybe it’s a specialist physio thing . My muscles are still not that strong and I found it difficult to stand on just my operated leg . He gave me yet more exercises involving resistance bands which I found very tricky! But walking around house with no crutch now . I think I may book some more physio privately nearer home . It’s a 20 minute car journey to the hospital physio for a max 20 minute appointment , and I have to rely on others to give me a lift.
I hope to get back to gentle swimming/ exercise very soon at our local pool so that should build up strength . My operation site is OK now although still red in parts it’s 5 weeks now but seems so much longer !

silverlining48 Wed 18-May-22 08:41:09

Hello Susie and all hipsters
Hope it’s not long before you are back in the pool, swimming is a good all round exercise. No crutches indoors is progress . I habe my sticks by the front door just for outside too.
I habe been given more exercises by the physio with a resistance band which I am sure is the hardest one as I am not making much progress so far and I can’t stand on the operated leg either. Not for more than a couple of seconds but then my balance is shot.
It’s 5 weeks today for me, me t week I see the consultant and assume am Signed off. I have one more physio app mid June so will have to practice with the new r revised she’s gave me.
We are all going in the right direction. Onwards onwards!

silverlining48 Wed 18-May-22 08:47:15

Apologies for typos I didn’t type she’s gave me ..this tiny phone has a mind of it’s own

Blossoming Thu 19-May-22 19:17:31

This is a very educational thread. Today I learned that ‘bowing out gracefully’ means calling the people you are chatting to ‘moaning old farts’. Who knew?

I’ve been reading this thread as although I don’t have any hip problems at the moment my knees are another story and it’s good to be prepared. So thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences.

silverlining48 Thu 19-May-22 20:12:16

Apart from one blip this thread has gone in fir nearly 30 pages being supportive, encouraging and giving good advice. Just what I hoped for when I first posted back in February.
Thank you everyone. Here’s to 30 and beyond.

As to advice i find i am using my litter picker fir all sorts of random things apart from dropped items.
Today I was on my own so used it to get clothes out of the wash basket then used it to put my washing in and grabbed it out of the machine; also put some shoes away, a pair at a time without bending. useful gadget.
I like the long handled shoe horn too ( ikea 99 p). very good as a back scratcher, . no twisting.

GrannyLaine Thu 19-May-22 20:21:46

? ? Blossoming Educational indeed! Apparently, I have no sense of humour and I thought I was one of the funniest people I know. I can pretty much see the funny side of everything. But I don't suffer fools gladly.....

Anyway, back to joints: I actually thought I had a problem in both hip and knee as the pain was just as bad in both and couldn't really tell which was worse. Now I have my sparkly new hip joint, I've had no pain whatsoever in my knee. My surgeon correctly predicted that it was likely to be referred pain from my hip. Are you on the way to getting your knees sorted out?

GrannyLaine Thu 19-May-22 20:27:09

Silverlining my grabber is awesome for getting stuff off my pulley airer when I don't feel like lowering it. Much more effective than the barbecue tongs I was using before.

And those Ikea shoe horns are the best, longest ones I've come across. Great for getting my knickers on in the early days.

travelsafar Thu 19-May-22 21:12:12

I have bought a gadget for putting on socks in preparation for my HR in July. It also came with free straps very similar to a pair of braces which help to pull up pants and trousers. Both are brilliant. If you need this kind of thing they came from the very well known online service.

silverlining48 Thu 19-May-22 21:12:35

I still struggle with the knickers (why are they always in a twist) and can’t put on my socks, but doing so much better than a couple of weeks ago.

silverlining48 Thu 19-May-22 21:22:40

That sounds interesting travels. I do have a sock aid but it’s a bit hit and miss, pity it didn’t come with the braces. That’s a new one on me.
I may be allowed to bend next week when I have the 6 week appointment, so hope I can still reach my feet. Eek!

SusieB50 Thu 19-May-22 22:17:32

My sock aide is also a bit hit and miss , I manage to get them to my heels but then able to pull them on whilst sitting on the sofa. My Best Buys were the elastic laces, my grabber and long shoe horn . I use my grabber to manoeuvre my feet into my knickers and getting the washing out of the machine too. My six week check is also next week and I hope I get the OK to sleep on my side ??. At last I have only had to take paracetamol first thing this morning , need some now before bed though I think .

Blossoming Thu 19-May-22 22:31:00

They’re not that bad yet GrannyLaine, just thinking ahead really.

silverlining48 Thu 19-May-22 22:56:22

Have just taken one paracetamol before bed and s sleeping pill as I had a bad night last night ( not the hip’s fault).
Glad you seem to be doing better Susie. My 6 week appointment is Thursday next week.
Night all zzzzzz

GrannyLaine Fri 20-May-22 07:40:58

Its so good to be reminded of how far everyone has come in 6 short weeks! We'll be watching out for you travelsafar, iPadGrandma and FannyCornforth and any others who are waiting for confirmation of a date.
By the time I joined this thread I finally had my head in the right place for the surgery but prior to that, I was terrified (to the point of tears) of the prospect and had literally put it off for years. What an incredible gift I have been given.

Aveline Fri 20-May-22 08:20:12

Hooray! You all sound like you're doing well. Amazingly soon you'll not even be thinking about your hip ops. I mean it! It's a great day when you finally put away your grabber, sock aid and raised toilet seat - until next time!!
PS I still love my long shoe horn

silverlining48 Fri 20-May-22 09:01:10

It is brilliant to be able to walk without pain, I did 4 or 5 miles the other day ( with stops of course) and if the time comes I need the other hip done know I will be ok with it. I think ?
A lot of my aids are already packed up but keep the Walker to reverse in and out of the shower. Useful stand for putting towels snd dressing gown etc on it. My raised toilet seat is gone but retain the frame to upstairs toilet. Fir now. Will be sad to say goodbye to litter picker but that is how we used it before hip op and it will return to its proper use soon, and it’s hard to believe it’s only been 5 weeks!

silverlining48 Fri 20-May-22 16:59:02

Update I took the initiative and drove the mile down to town. One shop, no stick, drove home. All is well.

Charleygirl5 Fri 20-May-22 18:45:07

Blossoming please do not leave it too long because the waiting lists are still long. Take it from one who knows you do not want to be walking with bone grinding on bone.

I had mine replaced in 2012 and 2018.

Please do research for your surgeon. If you want help please get in touch.

silverlining48 Fri 20-May-22 18:51:33

Blossoming Would agree with Charleygirl, get yourself on the list. You can always say no when your turn comes round. Then the person next on the list gets moved up.

cornergran Fri 20-May-22 20:25:13

Definitely get on the list blossoming. My surgeon was very clear, if a knee is too degraded it makes replacement more difficult. I was grumbled at as apparently my knee was ready for surgery 4 years earlier. Oops smile. Charley is right, bone on bone is no fun.

silverlining48 Mon 23-May-22 12:04:19

Just a quick bump as our thread is slipping down in the health forum list. If you are looking at this welcome Notjustaprettyface. .

silverlining48 Mon 23-May-22 12:11:49

Has your dh tried sticks instead of crutches? Surprisingly I found them easier to manage.

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