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What to wear after hip replacement - advice please!

(27 Posts)
Applegran Sat 10-May-25 10:58:36

I am having hip replacement surgery in two weeks and want to buy appropriate clothes to wear afterwards. I find lots of advice about wearing loose clothing BUT I cannot find anything suitable actually to buy. I am wondering about an A line dress, maybe a pinafore dress, or trousers which would be loose enough, or soft pull on skirts - but cannot find anything on line which seems to fill the bill. Please can anyone help?

Aveline Sat 10-May-25 11:04:13

I bought a dress that looked like a very long loose polo shirt. So easy to pull on and look dressed. I don't usually wear dresses but it's converted me. So easy to wear and no bother trying to match tops and bottoms.

Aldom Sat 10-May-25 11:04:24

I'm sure lots of advice will come along soon but in the meantime, have a look at the Hips and Knees thread. Also to be found in Health.
Best wishes for your surgery. smile

MaizieD Sat 10-May-25 11:21:21

I'm sure other hips and knees folk will be along with advice. You might find the dedicated 'hips and knees' thread useful and supportive, too.

It seems a bit extravagant to buy new clothes for what might only be a few weeks post op. Have you nothing suitable already? Are you thinking of this because you think that the operations site might be affected by what you wear, or for ease of dressing with a leg that does quite do what it's asked to do for a while😁

I very rarely wear skirts or dresses, I wore loose fitting trousers post op. The operation site is well covered with a dressing so it won't be irritated by loose fitting clothing.

If ease of dressing is what you had in mind I had a 'grabber' which helped a lot in pulling on trousers (and putting on knickers.. ) If you have a husband he could come in useful, too... I already had a grabber, but if you don't, you may well be given one on discharge from hospital.

My op was last August, warm weather so I went sockless for a while. By the time I needed them I could get them on by myself. If you want to wear socks you can get a nifty gadget to make putting them on easy. I'm sure the others will tell you about it.

All the best your forthcoming life changing operation

creakingandchronic Sat 10-May-25 11:30:43

Hopefully the weather would be warmer so maybe it will be ok for a nice loose dress. otherwise you can get light summer trousers which might be okay good luck

Applegran Sat 10-May-25 11:34:50

Thank you all - I am grateful for your kind and helpful responses and will keep looking!

Geordiegirl1 Sat 10-May-25 12:28:37

Joggers with elasticated waists are everywhere.

DeeAitch56 Sat 10-May-25 12:31:38

A friend has just (3 weeks in) had her second hip replacement surgery, she is currently wearing PJs and lose leisure wear trousers

Visgir1 Sat 10-May-25 12:40:11

I had loose leg trousers plus I got some pants that were easy to put on . After a few days you will be fine... See Hip and Knee thread that's invaluable.

Redcar Sat 10-May-25 15:46:22

applegran I had both my hip replacement operations in the winter, so wore loose jogging trousers with elastic waists. I should think a loose dress would be fine, or, if very hot, loose shorts with elastic waists. I wore big knickers too but had to snip a seam where the elastic round the leg met the side seam! Your legs may be swollen after the operation so clothes need to be loose. I hope all goes well for you.

Applegran Sat 10-May-25 17:37:03

Thank you for all your advice and good wishes - and Redcar, I had not thought about appropriate knickers and will try to get some. There are some knickers which seem to open and close at the side with velcro. Not sure if these are a good idea, but will try to find out more. As for a loose dress, I read on the hips and knees threat that a dress might get in the way of crutches, so am not sure - but like the idea otherwise.

Applegran Sat 10-May-25 17:37:40

Thread - not threat!

silverlining48 Sat 10-May-25 17:46:17

Applegran I would recommend dresses or skirts rather than trousers, but you will probably find something in your wardrobe after the op which you can wear. You might just live in a nightie and d.gown fur the first week or so.
I was given sticks which were easier ti manage than crutches which are much longer and never tripped over my dresses.

You will find a long handled shoe horn very useful for all sorts of things, and a litter picker to reach and pick up things. I have seen a combination of both in Aldi which is handy.

You are very welcome to join us on our hip and knee thread, look fir the 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

Aldom Sat 10-May-25 18:10:01

Someone I know said when she had her knees replaced she bought disposable underwear for in hospital. It solved the washing problem, as she has no family to sort that out for her.

Grannytomany Sat 10-May-25 21:38:28

I just wore things I already had. Like dresses which just pulled over the head or skirts with elasticated waists and a top. I didn’t have any problems with dresses or skirts getting in the way of my elbow crutches. But also, in the first few days at home I didn’t bother getting dressed into ‘real’ clothes at all. I’d be surprised if you find you need different knickers.

The only thing I had trouble with was trousers because my leg was very swollen for several weeks and nothing fitted comfortably. Similarly one foot was very swollen and shoes were a problem so I’d make sure you have some kind of wide footwear handy in case you have similar problems.

I wouldn’t worry too much about what to wear really because if you’re anything like me I didn’t have any urge to stray far from home for some weeks (apart from the required walking exercise).

Katek Sat 10-May-25 22:11:57

I had a fall and fractured my hip in January '21 and underwent a partial hip replacement. As this was right in the middle of Covid and the middle of winter it really wasn't feasible to ask family to go clothes shopping. I raided my summer wardrobe and found a couple of soft, jersey sundresses so just wore those with a T shirt underneath and/or a cardigan on top. Between these and a couple of pairs of trackie bottoms I was fine. My biggest problem was getting my knickers on! Nothing was bending the way it needed to.

Grammaretto Sun 11-May-25 10:00:44

I have a couple of dresses which I wore after my op. I like a dress, easy to put on and take off and either no leggings if warm enough or easy to pull on leggings in cold weather.
Good luck with the op.

I was supplied with walking sticks and a grabber but not with a sockaid, recommended on the hip and knee thread and a godsend!

Grammaretto Sun 11-May-25 10:02:53

www.amazon.co.uk/s?gad_source=1&hvlocphy=9192938&hvnetw=g&mcid=4d3d10d19bb8366c8ed9bdc529fad055&hvadid=606325107010&k=sock+aid+device&ref=pd_sl_1adog5xrl8_e&hydadcr=8236_2284750&hvdev=m&hvocijid=14420975185117146383--&hvexpln=0&hvqmt=e&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=kwd-302053523490&adgrpid=65227250858&hvrand=14420975185117146383

Sorry about the long link. There are other brands.

annodomini Sun 11-May-25 11:19:11

It's twenty years since I had my right hip replaced so can't remember having any problems about what to wear after the op. Luckily it was a lovely spell of warm summer weather, I was probably wearing cotton skirts. High-leg knickers were essential to avoid contact with the wound. It was good to have an excuse (or a reason?) to loll around in the garden. It had never occurred to me to acquire new clothes and luckily they would not have been necessary.

silverlining48 Sun 11-May-25 14:33:01

Don’t think you are in hospital long enough to worry about knickers …. smile well I wasn’t. smile

Applegran Mon 12-May-25 10:45:39

Thank you all again. I don't think I've ever asked Gransnetters for help before and it is really heart warming, and helpful practically, to have your responses. I'm grateful.

silverlining48 Mon 12-May-25 10:49:20

It’s always a pleasure Applegran. Keep in touch.

silverlining48 Mon 12-May-25 11:02:43

Applegran check out the ‘official’ hip and knee site under health forum with the dancing girls 👯‍♀️ to guide you,

ginny Mon 12-May-25 11:04:35

After my hip ‘op I just wore some trousers with an elastic waist that pulled easily over the covered wound.
Never gave a thought about other clothes and managed fine.
A ‘sock puller oner’is useful as is the high toilet seat.

Applegran Mon 12-May-25 11:30:25

Following advice on this thread I did go on the hips and knees thread, and there too have met kindness and help. But it is such a long thread it's hard to find the specific help I hoped for. Nonetheless, people there too have been kind and helpful.