Lorraine Said:

What is the name of the cushion that is placed between patients' legs after they had hip replacement surgery?

We Answered:

I used one after my hip replacement. It was called an "abduction wedge". You can google that term and find many references, pictures, etc.

Ray Said:

Medications for a patient who underwent Total Hip Replacement surgery?

We Answered:

While in the hospital after both of my hip replacements, I was given oxycontin for pain after I was "weaned" from the PCA. I have no idea what drug the PCA was dispensing. Upon dismissal I was given
Tylenol-3 to take at home. I didn't like the T3 so I ended up taking just OTC Extra-strength Tylenol and Tylenol PM at night and it was enough. The T3 made me nauseous. Also I took warfarin (Coumadin) for 5 weeks. I was also given a muscle relaxant after my first surgery. I wish I had asked for a script for a sleeping pill as well.

This is just my experience. You will find that different surgeons may prescribe different pain & blood thinning drugs.

Bruce Said:

can an infection from hip replacement surgery cause a diabetic to lose leg?

We Answered:

Maybe, cause diabetics don't heal well.

But lots of diabetics need amputations because of wounds called ulcers that appear due to bad circulation and neuropathic issues !

Brett Said:

I am going to have hip replacement surgery soon but I am worried about ending up with post op. leg difference?

We Answered:

If NSAIDS work for you and you can still walk reasonably long distances then maybe you could wait on the surgery. I had both hips replaced and waited so long to have surgery that I couldn't take a step without a cane. That was TOO long!
Also, don't let worries about leg length difference stop you from having this surgery if you really need it. I developed a difference even before surgery that was probably due to lack of tone in some muscles. The difference was only 1/4-3/8" and I had the same discrepancy after surgery as well. I wear a thin lift in the heel of my walking shoes. Otherwise I don't notice it.
I am so happy that I had the surgeries. I would be in a wheelchair today without the hip replacements. I need no pain meds, have no limp, need no cane, and can walk miles pain free. It's sort of a miracle surgery IMHO.

Misty Said:

Can a disability parking cert be issued after hip-replacement surgery.?

We Answered:

You don't have to have high rate DLA mobility to get a Blue Badge but if you do you are automatically eligible for one. The Blue Badge Scheme, however, is run by your local authority so contact them about the possibility of being issued with one.

My local authority (in Scotland) states that temporary badges are only issued where the disability is expected to last for at least 12 months. This rule maybe different where you live. It may well be that although your wife is expected to have restricted movement for 2-3 months her mobility may well be impaired for a while after that.

Joel Said:

I am being refused hip replacement surgery for problem with cellulitis after cancer surgery in leg and lymph n?

We Answered:

Your doctor recommended another operation and you didn't ask him to explain what the operation involved? You shouldn't be asking people here; you should be asking the doctor who is recommending the surgery! Doctors don't want to do joint replacements on patients who are vulnerable to cellulitis because that bacterial infection tends to migrate to the replaced joint. It can infect the joint so that the patient either needs to have a new hip replacement or needs the hip joint removed entirely. Go back to your surgeon and ask him to explain in detail the operation that he is proposing to do. Ask a lot of questions such as: Why is he recommending this particular operation rather than a standard hip replacement? What are the benefits of this type of surgery? How long is the recovery period? What kind of pain medication will be used to control the pain afterwards? How long will you need physical therapy after the operation? Will you be able to walk again? What are the potential side effects? How many of these operations has the surgeon performed in the past year? In the past 10 years? (You want a surgeon who is trained and skilled in the type of surgery he is recommending.) What are the possible side effects of this kind of surgery? What are the most common side effects? Has he ever lost a patient doing this kind of surgery? The more informed you are as a patient, the more likely you are to get better surgical care.

Ryan Said:

How was your hip replacement surgery? Would appreciate any information if you know any. Thank YOU!?

We Answered:

I've had both of mine replaced in separate surgeries and am very pleased with the results (it's been 6 yrs). Because I could hardly walk by the time surgery day rolled around, I can't think of any "cons". I'm now walking pain- and limp-free now but I'd be in a wheelchair if I hadn't had the replacements. My world got smaller & smaller. Now I can walk miles, need no walking aids, and take no pain meds. These are the "pros".
If your friend hasn't done this yet, I suggest that she begin reading up on the procedure and recovery. A place to begin would be one of the several books that have been published. Go to Amazon and type "hip replacement" in the search box. Pay attention to the copyright dates. There is also a story on the web written by a man who had his hip replaced.
http://www.mrbig.com/hip/index.html
It's well-written and thoroughly covers the patient's point of view.
Your friend's doctor will also likely have educational material such as perhaps a video and pamphlet. If that's not enough, the hospital may give her a complete runhdown on what she will be doing each day, how to prepare for surgery, etc. Mine sent me home from my pre-op appt. with a fat notebook that included everything I wanted to know (and more).

If she wants to participate in an online discussion group, I recommend going to the totallyhip website discussion board
http://disc.yourwebapps.com/Indices/8340…
There she can ask questions and read others' Qs & As. It is quite active and there are some very helpful people that participate on that board. If nothing else, she will encounter more "hippies" there than she will on Yahoo Answers. It's a good place to ask specific questions as they come to mind.

Another website that may be of interest is hipuniverse.
http://hipuniverse.homestead.com/
There's a message board link to a long list of boards.