Jared Said:

after hip replacement surgery?

We Answered:

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries @ age 59. In my experiences it was the hospital's occupational therapist who taught me how to dress and undress myself and generally cope with the recovery period. She provided me with a set of tools to use that included a reacher, dressing stick, sock helper, long-handled bath brush and long-handled shoe horn. All of these had a use in dressing and undressing. Examples: the dressing stick could push a sock or shoe off the heel; either the reacher or dressing stick helped pull pants on and push them off; the sock helper was essential in putting on the TEDS socks that I was required to wear for the first post-op month.

I assume that arrangements have already been made for an elevated toilet seat or a commode (with arms), a walker and/or crutches, and a cane (for later). Other goodies that are nice to have include a shower seat, a shower head on a hose for easy showering while seated, and sometimes people install grab bars in the bathroom (I didn't). He needs a place to sit at home - a firm chair with a seat that's at least as high as the bend in his knees and that has arms (to support him when he rises and sits).

He can be most independent if the things that he will use most frequently are located where he doesn't have to stoop to get into a lower cabinet, drawer, or shelf (because of the precautions his surgeon may have imposed). This means that items in the kitchen, bedroom and bath that he uses should be relocated to a level above his knees.

For safety, he needs a clear path through the rooms in the house that he will use, free of throw rugs and clutter.

Pulling up underwear isn't difficult if it isn't allowed to drop to the floor! But if it does, the handy dandy reacher is just the tool to use. I kept mine velcroed to my walker so I'd always have it handy. I also put a bag on my walker and carried my portable phone, book, water bottle, etc. with me wherever I went in the house.

He may need someone to help him lift his operated leg onto the bed the first few days until he masters the art of dragging it into bed. There is also a tool (basically it's a strap on the end of a stick) that is designed to enable the patient to lift their leg to the bed.

He won't be able to do things such as cut his own toenails for awhile so he'll need help with that eventually.

Jeremy Said:

Questions about Hip Replacement Surgery?

We Answered:

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries. I was much younger than your mother (59) but I think that recovery for anyone regardless of age has some common issues. I take it that she will go directly from the hospital to her home and won't be spending any time in a rehab center. There are some things that you and she can do before the surgery. Clear the clutter, throw rugs, etc. from the places where she will be walking. Likely she will be on a walker for some time. It would help if someone would accompany her to her pre-surgery class at the hospital if they conduct one. I had this experience before each of my hip replacements and it was extremely helpful. They required that my husband attend with me if at all possible because he would be my caretaker when I got home. They explained the anesthesia, the exercises I would be doing, gave me my walking aids (I had both a walker & crutches), met with PT & OT who explained my movement restrictions, my blood thinning meds, and I could ask any questions I wanted to. It was 3 hours long and at the end they gave me a notebook prepared by the hospital with lots of info on hip replacements with specific things that would happen each day of my hospital stay.

I went directly home after a 4-day hospital stay. I had home health nurse and PT visits 2-3 times per week for 2 weeks. I took coumadin so she did weekly blood draws. After 2 weeks I went to outpatient PT for 5 weeks and went to the lab for blood draws as long as I was on coumadin(about 5 weeks). We prepared our house as follows: picked up all throw rugs where I would be walking, moved frequently used items in kitchen, bath, and bedroom to locations at least knee high or higher so I didn't have to bend over to get things from bottom cabinets & drawers (this is necessary if the patient isn't supposed to bend the hip past 90 degrees). We installed a shower head on a hose so I could shower sitting down. If she has a shower/tub combo, you or she needs to figure out how she is going to safely get in and out (tub baths will be no-nos for awhile). There are transfer seats for this. I used the (rented) commode as a shower seat (without the bucket and we also used it over the toilet to raise the seat. Because of restrictions she will need to asses where she is going to sit. This includes the toilet. All seats should: have arms to assist in sitting & rising, be at least as high as the patient's knees (and a little higher is ok too). Some people sit in recliners; I didn't. I didn't sit on our sofa for months - too soft and too hard to get up. If you and she are uncertain as to what needs to be done in her home you may want to address specific questions ahead of time to give you time to prepare. Such things as will she self donate blood pre-surgery? How will pain control be handled in the hospital? Will she spend time in rehab before going home? What kind of anesthesia will be administered (regional or general)?

I was approved to drive at 5 weeks. Until then she'll need someone to provide needed transportation and to run errands. It helps if there are easy-to-reheat meals prepared ahead of time, grocery shopping done, arrangements made for cleaning or whatever (including pet care). I'm sure you already have specific questions that you wonder about.

This all sounds very involved and complicated (even frightening) but I'd also like to add that I am an entirely new person since my surgeries 8 years ago. I walk with no limp, need no cane, take no pain meds, and no one can tell to look at me that I have 2 fake hips. I have my life back now. Good luck with your mother.

Jack Said:

I'm a 53 year old male facing total hip replacement surgery?

We Answered:

I am re-posting the same reply I gave when you asked the Q in another post:

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries. After both I was not comfortable sitting for long periods with my feet hanging down on the floor. In the early post-op period, keeping this position for a prolonged time (I was doing good if I could sit comfortably for 15-20 mins.) was uncomfortable and actually dangerous because it may promote leg swelling and/or DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a condition characterised by the formation of a clot in a leg vein. However the threat of this happening usually abates as recovery progresses and the patient is more mobile. In addition, surgeons usually prescribe some form of prophylactic measures for a few weeks post-op. Among these measures: anti-embolic stockings [TEDS] & blood thinning drugs.

I consider that I could have returned to my regular job at about 8 weeks postop. Luckily it was a job that permitted me to alternate periods of standing, sitting, and walking, and did not require lifting and carrying heavy items. This arrangement was ideal as I could not have tolerated an entire day sitting.

I remember taking a long car trip (900 miles) at about 12 weeks. I was so uncomfortable sitting that long that we stopped about every hour so that I could get out and walk around. If you do go back to a sedentary job, make sure you get up and walk around frequently and regularly (every hour would be good). Sometimes even standing and walking are more comfortable than just sitting.

To this day, 5 years after surgery, I still prop my feet up when I am seated if it's at all possible. Just a habit I guess.

Jacqueline Said:

How big a discrepancy in leg length is acceptable after hip replacement surgery?

We Answered:

You may benefit from these links on the subject, from a website created by an ortho surgeon as a service to patients. It appears in [slightly fractured] English translation and is free of commercial content.

http://totaljoints.info/Long_leg_TH.htm
http://totaljoints.info/THPconstruction.…

I've had both hips replaced and have a small LLD (about 3/8") which I treat successfully with an insert in my walking shoes. As has been mentioned by another answer, large discrepancies may need to be addressed by building up the shoe on the outside instead of inserts. Unfortunately building up the shoe is expensive.

Of course no one would consider replacing the opposite hip for no reason except to make the legs even! As mentioned in the links I've given you above, some discrepancies are "apparent" and others are "real". I would refrain from drawing conclusions about your LLD so soon after surgery. It takes time for the muscles that hold everything together to regain tone. Wait a few months before you go to the expense of having your shoes built up. If you've been given a script for PT, by all means do the exercises religiously.

I'll also point out that there is only so much a surgeon can do to insure equal LL. It is vital that there be enough tension on the muscles to hold the new ball and socket together, but not too much tension. The surgeon's goal is a stable hip joint.

Ana Said:

total hip replacement surgery?

We Answered:

I've had both of my hips replaced in separate surgeries several months apart. I understand that fear of falling - I was terrified that I would fall and not be able to get up! Because of that fear I carried a cell phone with me wherever I went just so I could phone someone if this happened (it never did!). I used a single crutch or a cane until about 12 weeks after surgery. Using the crutch or cane reduced my chances of falling and I felt more secure when I used it. But eventually, with physical therapy and walking increased distances, your muscles regain their strength and losing your balance becomes less of a worry. As for the time it took to walk "normally" i.e. without a limp, I suppose I was walking fine after 3 months - I didn't walk all that fast but I didn't limp so no one watching me would have known that I had two fake hips! I took walks of increasing distance every day. Also, my physical therapist gave me exercises that re-established my balance and strengthened my thigh muscles. I had outpatient PT 2-3 times a week until about the 8th week. Than I was on my own. I am a different person now that I've had my hips fixed. It's a miracle surgery in many ways because I was definitely headed for a wheelchair-bound existence without the THRs.

Bernice Said:

Can someone tell me about their experience before and after their hip replacement surgery? ?

We Answered:

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries. During the year before I had the first hip done, I couldn't walk without a cane & limped badly. I had the second hip done 5 months after the first.
Now I don't limp at all. No one can tell by looking (unless they peek at my faint scars) that I have two fake hips.

I recovered faster with the second hip than the first, probably because I finally had a good leg to stand on! I used a walking aid for several weeks: first a walker or crutches, then a single crutch, then a cane, then nothing. I continued to carry my cane in the car after a couple months but rarely used it. I went to outpatient PT for about 5 weeks. Approved to drive at 5-6 wks. Felt pretty good at about two weeks.

25 is VERY young for total hip replacement but if you need it, it will make a really big difference in your life. I consider THR sort of miracle surgery in how it relieves pain & restores function in people who would otherwise end up in a wheelchair. It sure made all the difference for me.

Shawn Said:

sex and a hip replacement surgery, anyone have tips on to still have sex?

We Answered:

These links should help answer your questions:
http://hipuniverse.homestead.com/files/S…
http://totaljoints.info/women_THR.htm