Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

Great news SusieB50!
I also had mine done in a private hospital under the NHS.
It was wonderful having my own room and bathroom.
I also noticed that the hospital didn’t seem to be short staffed, but it also wasn’t full, probably because it was a few days before Christmas!
I was very impressed with the care I received.

Maybe too optimistic but as you say pain free , it’s really getting me down now, as I was constantly buzzing around . I live alone now since DH died but family and friends are organising a rota and sister is staying for a few days immediately when I get home after 2 days (!!) if all goes well . It will be a strain as I’m fiercely independent but if that’s what it takes…

My operation is 4 weeks today. It’s been such a long haul.
I will be worrying the closer it gets, but as my pain has increased I will be relieved when the time comes.
Only 12 days wait now fir you Susie. Hope all goes well. Let us know. I fir ne will be very interested.
I hoped to be fit enough to get away too, maybe late September/early October somewhere warm and sunny. It’s been over 3 years since our last holiday.
To the people who know, am I being too ambitious?
Jennifer how are you now?

I’m fine thanks silverlining48
I must be honest, it was quite painful for the first week or so after the surgery although of course the pain from the hip went straight away.
A certain amount of post-operative pain is to be expected though of course. As the physiotherapist said, although extremely successful, a hip replacement operation is major surgery with the muscles and soft tissue all needing time to heal.

It is amazing though how quickly I did feel better. I did the exercises religiously, and walked on the crutches, interspersed with rests. I did feel pretty tired and often dozed off in the afternoons. The tiredness, there again is only to be expected considering we are home barely three days after the op. According to a neighbour who is a retired nurse, not too many years ago patients were in hospital and kept in bed for three weeks, until it was discovered that folk did better if they were mobilised soon after surgery.

Good luck to those awaiting surgery. I’m sure you won’t regret having it done.

I’m sure you will be absolutely fine for an autumn holiday silverlining! Something lovely to look forward to!

Thanks Jenifer

Jennifer, sorry, typo.

I had my pre-op assessment today , lovely staff very reassuring and had useful things to suggest for people on their own :get some good fitting slip on shoes as you won’t be able bend to do laces ,use a small back pack to carry things up and down stairs. Only thing maybe an issue is the compression stockings the nurse said that they will have to be put on by someone else for 6 weeks !!
I was given lots of leaflets and given plenty of time to ask questions . So?Covid test on Friday is negative , then Monday I’m off at the starting gates !

Good luck SusieB50. This time next week your op will be over. The only way is up -and off to a happy new pain free you!

Best wishes from me too SusieB50. I'm not quite 4 weeks post op and today I've done a bit of gentle cutting back in the garden. I'm using my crutches less and less and stopped all analgesics a week ago as I have no pain. Perhaps there's a conversation to be had about the compression stockings? I was given anticoagulants for 6 weeks (no other risk factors other than age and hip surgery) but no elastic stockings thank heavens. I was thrilled to bits yesterday when I was able to put both my (soft) socks on. The first time in years!!! woo hoo!!! But my point is, there seem to be different protocols in different places. Always worth asking the question. I hope all goes well for you

Best wishes and good luck Susie from me too ☘️
Please keep us updated.
This thread is lovely and supportive.

Thank you for the update GrannyLaine!
It’s great to hear how well you are doing.
I was struggling with my own socks yesterday and thinking about my op.
I haven’t been able to put my right sock on for over two years either! ?
I still don’t know when my op will be. My (lovely) surgeon’s (lovely) Secretary will be in touch as soon as she knows.

Good luck for next week from me too SusieB50!
I may have mentioned before on here but I stopped using the dreaded stockings within a few days of coming home.
I think we all know what they’re for, and as it all hinges on very prolonged inactivity I decided to take a chance.
Obviously for the first few weeks I had to taken it easy but I made a point of not sitting for prolonged periods without getting up and prowling around on the crutches. So, every hour I got up and had a walk.
I normally need to go to the loo sometimes a couple of times during the night and I probably went more than that after the operation as I really struggled to sleep on my back.

So, all in all I knew I wouldn’t be sitting/lying for hour after hour without moving.

Also as has been mentioned, some surgeons don’t require their patients to wear them so it’s obviously not absolutely essential.
In addition I had blood thinning pills to take for about a month.

Jennifer to aid circulation when sitting down with your leg (s) raised, bend your knees slightly and exercise your feet.

Yes I think I will struggle with the stockings , I can’t bear anything tight , I will try as long as I can , my friend had a pulmonary embolism after her knee replacement- not good, she survived but because she ended up back in hospital it took months for her to become mobile . So I will walk a bit every hour and do the exercises religiously !

SusieB I strongly recommend you check the Bonesmart hip and knee replacement posting forum. Good practical advice from their experts and fellow patients got me through the problems I had after my first op. Absolutely no need for exercises. Just walk about.

Good morning fellow Hipsters, quick update from me to keep this thread live for those who will soon be having surgery.
SusieB50 my best wishes for your op. next week
FannyCornforth do you have your date yet?
silverlining48 how are things with you just now?

I'm now 4 weeks post surgery, been to physio this week and they are very happy with my progress. My crutches have been exchanged for a pair of walking sticks to encourage a little more weight bearing. They showed me how to use the stairs normally instead of one step at a time and to walk in a reciprocal fashion (left stick, right foot forward then right stick, left foot IYSWIM) to make my gait normal again. Inside the house I can potter about without using sticks at all. All I notice is a little stiffness in my muscles as they regain their strength. My scars are healing beautifully, the longer one is only 5" long, the shorter one (which I learn was for the small pins for the robotic element of the surgery) is barely perceptible. I will be driving again in a couple of weeks.

One thing I would mention for those of you, like me, who have been taking heavyweight analgesics, (opiates in particular) long term is to remember to taper them off gradually. Because I very quickly became pain free, I stopped taking analgesics rather abruptly. I'm sure someone must have mentioned to me to do this but I have no recollection of it and boy did I hit a brick wall of withdrawal symptoms! Lasted about 4 days and I'm just sharing to save anyone else that experience. I really should have known better

GrannyLaine good to hear from you. So good to hear things are going well.
As fir me, am in more pain and using two crutches if outdoors.
Have pre op next week when I hope some of my questions will be answered. Have to say am
feeling very nervous ?

silverlining48 let's hope that after your pre-op you'll feel more confident but its normal to feel nervous about something that has the potential to be so life changing I'd forgotten what a life without pain was like!

Hello Hipsters!
Good advice re opiates GrannyLaine, yes, I’m taking quite a lot.
I’ve noticed that when I cut down on the Tramodol I get a headache.
What symptoms did you have?
I am quite scared of opiate withdrawal, as I'm pretty certain that I am dependent.

I still don’t know when my op will be!?
I was supposed to find out last Friday; then it was this Monday; now it is ‘we’ll let you know asap’

Silverlining yes, as GrannyLaine says, you’re bound to feel nervous.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing what answers you get. ☘️
You’ll be fine, we have every faith in you! ?

I'm surprised at your relatively slow progress GrannyLaine. Perhaps you had other issues affecting your recovery? I refused all opiates as they make me very sick. Paracetamol worked well for me after my knee replacements and hip replacement although I didn't have to take them for very long after the hip. I had the robotic procedure too. The physios in hospital said they usually lead to faster recovery. No physio after I was discharged. Did fine. Walked about the flat every hour for a while then built up to walking round the garden, then the local area, then our stairs (four flights - great exercise!)

Aveline I think that like me GL was on opiates prior to her op.
Hence the withdrawal problems

Mine was 17 years ago and has grown old with me! So far, it's still holding up. I once heard that hip replacements might wear out in just ten years, so I had an x-ray about six years ago which showed no deterioration. Long may it last! Does anyone here have evidence of the longevity (or otherwise) of joint replacements?

I was told that they've now been found to last for 40 years. Fine by me.
Just one more quick tip - keep the fluids up to keep the dreaded constipation at bay! Jelly, yoghurt and ice cream count as fluids too of course.
FannyCornforth- I meant still being on crutches at four weeks post op.

Thank you Aveline
I couldn’t stand being on crutches (pardon the accidental pun).
I’d be a hazard to myself and everyone else!
I was told to expect it to last 10 years. It does sound a bit odd, thinking about it…

40 years! I'll be 105 by that time!

I was never given crutches. Straight to sticks for one week then just one stick.
One other piece of advice- have at least an hour's rest flat out on the bed every afternoon for the first wee while. Flattens out the joint and gives the chance to catch up on any missed sleep at night due to having to sleep on your back.