How to prepare house before hip op

Just check out the hip and knee thread. All this info is there

Have briefly scanned the hips knees thread but it soo long and trying to keep life ahead as simple as possible and not get too stressy 🤔

It's worth it. Those of us with relevent experience have already written about it. Sorry you can't be bothered to read it.

I think that's a very unkind comment to someone who is asking for advice. I hope the OP gets more helpful comments.

I had my THR 13 yrs ago told to higher the chair I sit in my son put wood under the chair to raise it up. Get a seat for the toilet which I did clip on from Amazon you can get them elsewhere I believe. Basically don’t sit on low furniture and ask for a slide sheet for bed so it’s easier to get out of bed.
My son put up another rail for me on the stairs too and it’s still there so much easier for me. I was told not to drive for three months and didn’t but bought a raised cushion for passenger seat. It’s easier to get in the car when seat is higher. My consultant told me to get soft wedge for my shoe as I was walking unevenly. I was also told not to rely on walking sticks etc which I didn’t after physio I carried on doing steps on our last few stairs to build up muscle strength in legs.
Most important for me I could not take the pain relief prescribed so I kept paracetamol on hand.

I forgot to say I hope your op goes well.

Bea I haven’t had it done, but a friend has, the hospital ensure you can manage stairs, she also bought large ‘sheets’ like big baby wipes for a wash or just strip washed until a shower was possible. A ‘picker upper’ (as used for litter picking) to get things off the floor and a gizmo to help get socks on. That’s all I remember.
Good luck

I’ve had both hips replaced and had no downstairs loo but you won’t be discharged till you’ve climbed a flight with the physios so no need for a commode. After I had my first hip done we replaced the bath with a walk-in shower as it wasn’t safe climbing in and out anymore. A strip wash will be fine for a short while. I was fine around the house with one crutch for a few days and then a stick for a week when having a short stroll outside.
I can’t emphasise enough that you do all exercises that the physios give you I found lying on the bed ones very useful.

Good luck with it, free from the terrible grinding pain.

Your bed may be too low and need to be raised. Each hospital is different. Many do little;e whereas others are really good. Some will place a board over your bath, but it may be difficult to reach the shower controls safely.

Many armchairs are too low, but if you look at the hips and knees thread, you will see an excellent photo of what is required.

It may be helpful to buy a second picker upper so you have one upstairs as well. If you are discharged using crutches or two sticks, maybe a bag around your neck to carry odd items.

When your daughter leaves, throw washing downstairs, use picker upper and a carrier bag and take it in small amounts to the washing machine.

Could you afford a cleaner for three months, even fortnightly? You won't be able to change your bed so she can do it and put the laundry in the machine.

With my background, I could write a practical book, so come back if you have any more questions. You will be welcomed if you join the hips and knees brigade.

I have had bil. knees and need a hip.

No personal experience but I supported a friend who lived alone with nobody staying.
In advance she removed stuff from low cupboards in her kitchen, and put everything on the work surfaces or into higher cupboards.
She borrowed a higher chair with arms from a local charity she had contacts with.
She bought slip-on style shoes that she wouldn’t normally wear.
She wore a crossbody bag at all times with her phone in it, just in case she needed emergency help.
She has grabbers dotted around the house in different rooms.

Good luck with the operation and recovery Bea65

Very sensible advice from NotAGran.

You will not be allowed to wear slip-on slippers; they must have a back. Night dresses are easier than PJs. Everything should be loose and comfortable. If your shoes are not slip-on, have you got a long-handled shoe horn and elastic shoelaces?

My THR is now almost 20 years old and - I hope - still OK. When I'd had the op, the physios were quick to get me out of bed and walking. They taught me how to use the stairs, using my stick and the handrail; the occupational therapists observed me in the kitchen and I rehearsed getting in and out of the bath. When I got home, Social Services supplied a trolley so that I could convey food safely from cooker to table. A neighbour who had been through THR twice, lent me blocks to raise my bed, as well as a raised loo seat. As for exercise, I was advised to practise walking every day, and each time, I walked a bit further until I could reach the local corner shop.

annodomini Times have changed, and not for the better. The first kitchen Bea will see will be her own. I also had a trolley delivered after my second knee op, which is exceptional.

The surgery is barely an overnight stay and, in some places, day surgery.

Many of us have spent hours sharing this info already. I remain unimpressed at the OP. I see that kind Charleygirl is willing to rewrite the information yet again.

Hello Bea, if you used the hip and knee thread you Woukd get responses from people who have all had experience of both.
I had my new hip 2 years ago and was given sticks and a raised toilet seat. The rest I picked up prior to surgery. No input from OT. That doesn’t happen now.
You will actually manage your stairs from the outset, and suggest great care if getting into the bath post op. A wash at the sink works if need be.

🙏🙏to all who have left kind helpful comments.. have already emptied kitchen bottom cupboards- have a trolley… need a loan of a high chair with arms.. and need a 2nd grabber - my bed has a grab rail attached but will get a slip/slide sheet- never heard of those🙏
Just think am panicking…have already been informed that it’s a 1 night stay unless complications arise - not like a decade ago when my sister had same op and went to convalesce for 3-4 wks- weeks .. also you have to arrange after care yourself- it’s all changed..GP manager said district nurses aren’t going to homes to check on/replace surgical dressings- this is worrying me more…

Bea65 my 85 year old MIL is currently recovering from a partial hip replacement following a fall. She was in hospital for 6 nights after the operation until it was considered safe for her to go home. She had no complications, it all went well. There was no opportunity for her to prepare anything in advance in the house.
No stairs to negotiate.

A package of aids arrived at the house the day before she got home - a walker,a grabber, 2 little seats to sit at sinks etc, and bars were fitted around the loos to help with getting off!

She is having a carer every morning for 3 weeks, for an hour a day officially to assist with personal care. In reality the carer is staying for almost 2 hours some days, washing and styling hair etc.
In addition, a community nurse is visiting for 3 weeks to give her the blood thinning injection into her abdomen because she can’t do it herself. MIL lives with FIL who is 91 with mobility issues of his own.

An OT chap turned up one day to give her tips, and to check how she was doing.

All the care was arranged for her on discharge from hospital, so try not to worry too much in advance.

Speak to the Occupational Therapy team at the hospital - they will have all manner of aids and ideas to help. I got a raised loo seat from them and the Red Cross delivered a hand rail for around the loo.

My Mum had a hip replacement 40+ years ago , It lasted her very well she died aged 92. She stayed with me for about a week, I remember it well as I was expecting our second child. She went home after a week and didn't have any special aids. She asked about physio and her consultant said
" The best physio is for you to walk"
I recognize it depends on the age/ general health of the patient . Mum was about 75 and in good health. It was a remarkable operation for her although I am sure replacement hips are far more sophisticated now. Good luck !
Aveline - an unnecessary comment.

Aveline

Many of us have spent hours sharing this info already. I remain unimpressed at the OP. I see that kind Charleygirl is willing to rewrite the information yet again.

That’s neither a kind nor a helpful comment! Why do you always have to be so nasty? I have noticed this in your previous posts.

You are doing the right thing BEA65 in thinking and preparing ahead. No experience of hip replacement but Mr J has had ops on his foot including an ankle replacement. On each occasion he was in plaster for around 3 months and had to sleep downstairs as He was unable to weight bear. We did exactly what you are saying, prepared meals for the freezer, moved things to lower cupboards (as I cannot reach the high ones). To make things easier we had supermarket deliveries, they were really helpful and brought everything into the kitchen for me. Bathing was a combination of strip washes at the sink and baby wipes. The more you can think ahead the better, well done for being so pro-active. All good wishes for your op.

I have had both my Hips and a TKR. Last THR around 2 years ago. I did use the Hip and Knee thread very helpful but your right it's long. I did have a telephone call from the Physio prior to my last Hip replacement, asking about Hight of chairs, bed etc. They sent me a contraption to fit to my loo to help me, and a 'perching stool " to make life easier, when you have fully recovered they take it away.
You will be surprised how much better you will be, it's almost instant pain relief. They might be able to get you some home support if you need it.
As for the upstairs loo you might need a commode?
Talk to the OT /Physio either before if they contact you or in Hospital they will help and advise you.
Won't be long until your pain free, best of luck.

annodomini

My THR is now almost 20 years old and - I hope - still OK. When I'd had the op, the physios were quick to get me out of bed and walking. They taught me how to use the stairs, using my stick and the handrail; the occupational therapists observed me in the kitchen and I rehearsed getting in and out of the bath. When I got home, Social Services supplied a trolley so that I could convey food safely from cooker to table. A neighbour who had been through THR twice, lent me blocks to raise my bed, as well as a raised loo seat. As for exercise, I was advised to practise walking every day, and each time, I walked a bit further until I could reach the local corner shop.

I would second all of this. I am almost three years into my hip replacement. I was lucky enough to live next door to an occupational therapist who offered to come in and run through everything in my home that might cause me a difficulty. As I didn’t want anything permanent, she recommended that I have suction grab handles in my shower. These have been brilliant and I have left them in place. If you buy them get them from a disability shop. They were expensive but they’ve never let me down. She also recommended an extra banister rail as mine doesn’t cover the whole of the staircase. This also has been a godsend. The hospital provided a raised loo seat and also a walking frame which I didn’t use - crutches were fine. I recommend you get a leg lifter if they don’t give you one, and a sock aid. Hope everything goes well for you. Walking, walking and more walking.

Lots of useful advice already given. I put my ironing board up in spare room because I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that post op. I have a cat. Feeding him was a challenge as he was quite scared of having it delivered on the end of a ‘grabber’. I practised for a couple of weeks beforehand. I live alone. A very kind neighbour changed my awful stockings as I couldn’t! My dressing didn’t have to be checked or changed. A friend took me to the surgery to have it removed and the wound checked. If you find it difficult getting in or out of the car, put a plastic bag on the seat as this really helps.