Hi I've been on here some time, bt not in this group.
Can someone give me the basics. My wife has just been diagnosed as needing a new hip. She's already in agony, but has been told 3 year NHS waiting list.
Particularly "what happens post-op".
Much appreciated
Not sure you’re in the right forum, one of the arthritis ones might be better -
healthunlocked.com/arthriti...
But as I’ve had 3 joints replaced have attached my advice which may help - hope your wife gets it done quicker than 3 years…
General advice for any replacement surgery - especially useful if you live alone.
Before you go in to hospital get yourself organised at home (patient leaflet will go over certain aspects). If necessary, get plates, utensils, cooking pans out of lower or higher kitchen cupboards - and place where they are easy to reach, you don’t want to be bending or stretching unnecessarily. Hanging washing outside is particularly difficult - indoor airer or tumble dryer come into their own.
Hip operation - you cannot bend more than 90degrees so beware if you have a floor standing oven - washer, dryer, fridge etc.
Stock up freezer with either ready meals or home cooked so you don't have to cook from scratch all the time- frozen veg is very good nowadays - and sometimes you just don't feel like cooking.
Likewise organise clothes in bedroom dressers, shoes etc.
Make sure you can access clothes easily - and initially wear loose trousers, skirts, tops - so you don’t have to struggle around your replacement.
Just plan ahead as much as you can...if you sort of make a note of what you do on a daily basis and think "I shan't be able to do that" you can get ahead of the game...and then hopefully when you get home you don’t suddenly realise you can’t do something, and there’s nobody to help.
If you are using crutches for knee/hip replacement remember you won’t have a free hand to carry things initially..so a lightweight shopping bag or old crossover handbag is useful.
You will find getting around a bit difficult - certainly if you aren’t used to crutches! So make sure you have enough room to manoeuvre yourself around bedroom, bathroom, living room.
If you have trouble getting compression sock off/on - who doesn’t - might be worth buying an extra pair - plenty on line at reasonable price. Hospital may give you extra pair to bring home.
I found that if they were too difficult to get off - I left them on when I had a shower - and dried them with a hair drier!
Probably cause the H&S people to have a fit - but you need to do what you need to do. And don’t be shy, if partner can’t help, or if on your own and you have a visitor ask them to help you get one pair off and new ones on!
Do as much pre op exercises as you can - plenty on line if you haven’t already got some - they really do help recovery.
Invest in a hot water bottle or similar - you will be sitting more than usual initially and the worst thing is feeling cold.
Also get flexible ice packs to help with swelling (hospital may supply icer for knee).
If you’re a side sleeper that’s not possible, and you may need extra pillows to get in a comfortable position. With a shoulder replacement you might find it easier to sleep in a recliner chair for a few nights.
You do need to do your exercises, but don’t overdo it…I did with my knee (first replacement) and the district nurse put me right
on that! (having been in same situation)
Once scar healed and doctor/nurse happy with it, massage bio oil or similar into/around it.
The first few days/weeks can be painful, but remember it’s only temporary - and will lead to a better life!…
Judi Dench YouTube - knee replacement
Thank-you Dorset lady. I did pit in hip replacement and this was the board I was taken to. Nevertheless I'm grateful for your vigilance and kindness in such a detailed reply. If the administrator wishes to move the conversation to a more appropriate venue I would be most grateful, as it was done in ignorance and would be more responsive.
Kr
You would be better to post a new thread somewhere else as we can't move it, we are just users of the forum. You may get more answers here, there are others who have had hip replacements, but we are a specialist forum for orthopaedics. DL has suggested more suitable forums.
We can’t move it, but might be worth asking question on other forums I highlighted for you.
Fantastic post DL.
Hip replacements are one of the most successful operations in the world. My local hospital is now doing same day surgery, so you have your op and go home the same day or the next morning. My sister came to stay for a week to help as you should not bend down. It is suggested you do not drive for six weeks. You will need some gadgets like raised toilet seats and those picker uppers. It is worth getting clothes that are easy to put on. She will be given exercises to help build up the muscles again. I went privately for my second hip as I had to wait eighteen months for my first hip. I then had to wait six months for my second because of Covid and the private hospitals had been given over to the NHS.
As suggested have restarted on another forum (pain concern), but am so grateful for the feedback on this specific thread.
It might help to have a pillow between the knees in bed now, (it will definitely it will be needed post op) and I find it still helps me. The other thing that I would urge her is not to cross her legs...but to put a cushion between her ankles to prevent this, because post op it causes a high risk of dislocation. Put a teatowel on the work top for sliding pots and pans along on between the cooker and the tap...again it's very useful tip because the last thing you need is to lose your balance with a pan full of water. If you don't have a walk in shower get a bath board to go across the bath and get in and out one leg at a time. Keep bending to a minimum and don't over reach. Keep all essentials at any to reach level. The above might help, but I'm sure she will find other ways to help over the coming months. It isn't easy when we have to wait for so long. An afterthought...buy her a long handled grabber. It's so frustrating when you drop something...and you can't bend down to get it. You can probably buy one online, for not much money.
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