Useful gadgets to help getting dressed following THR?

marion1952

Hi

Can anyone recommend a useful gadget(s) to help putting underclothes on after a hip replacement? Not being able to bend down and not having anyone to help me is going to be quite challenging for me after my THR next month!! I've seen a few thngs in an equipment catalogue, but don't want to waste money if they are not going to be helpoful.

Thanks

Marion

skezier

Hi Marion,

There are so many things out there but I can't help you except to say I need a sock putter onner, I have real bad problems first thing with getting near my feet :roll:

What I really wanted to do was wish you luck for the op and what date have you got to go in please? Hope it all goes well and keep us posted please. Cris x

tkachev

i was given the grabby stick-the one to pick things off the floor.You pinch one side of your knickers then use the shoehorn to stretch the other side and you can step into them and then use grabby stick to pull them up.You should have been given a grabby stick and a shoehorn after your THR and shown how to use them in the hospital.
These work well but I still struggle with socks and shoe laces although Delboy on this forum put up a link for help with this.Hope he will come along and spot this thread to put the link up again.
Regards
Elizabeth

lindalegs

Hi Marion,

Apart from the 'Helping Hand' or 'Litter Picker' being of use as the others have said there is a sock/tights aid. You might find it useful - there is a knack to using it and I used one often in the old days but now my hands are too weak to pull anything up. :roll: Link below to Cosyfeet so you can have a look at them. If the link gets removed by the mods just Google Cosyfeet.

http://www.cosyfeet.com/leg-body-comfort-handy-helpers-c-92_152.html

......alternatively you could always go knickerless :shock:

Luv Legs

marion1952

Thanks for the helpful tips folks ...I'll check those out... I need to get practising over the next 3 weeks, I think, with a grabber and long shoe horn ... otherwise, I can see me resorting to Legs' final suggestion!!!

Hope you are all enjoying this sunny Sunday .. what a difference good weather makes!


Best wishes

Marion

speedalong

Hi Marion,
I used something similiar to the sock aid on the link to pop socks on. Had to have dom care every other day to change horrid white surgical stockings ... As to pants ... buy some large ones!! I used my grabber/helping hand stick to help with this. Defin have a practise - put your to-be-operated-on leg into the pants first - nothing more frustrating than putting you good leg in first and then realising you have to start again ...

I dug out all my old baggie, hippie dresses last time to wear in the early days- thankfully still have them!!

Shoes were a hassle too - nothing too fussy - slip on best - watch out for things like a tongue that can make putting them on tricky, as you can't get down to hold it up as you push your foot in. If you have to get new shoes - wear them in over the next few weeks.

Think about organising the house too to make things easier.

When is your op date?

Keep us updated with your progress.

Speedalong

tanith

I would also say the grabber and the long shoe horn... its going to be warmer in a month and you can probably get away with no socks.. just slip on shoes. I bought a pair of velcro closing sandals as I could do them up with the grabber.... I bought some PJ's with shorts for bottoms they were great as I would after washing in the morning put on a clean pair wear them all day and then wear them to bed saved undressing at the end of the day.. I even wore them for my first walks in the garden.
I never did get the hang of the sock putter oner..

marion1952

Thanks Speedalong and Tanith - very helpful. My pre-op is on 21st April and I am expecting to have the op about 11th May, so am getting the house ready, dogs pre=booked into kennels, etc, etc...

Speedalong: How did you get the dom care? Was that organised by the hospital or your GP?

Thanks again

Marion

speedalong

Hi Marion - the dom care was organised by the OT who also provided the gadgets for around the home and personal care. It was means tested on income and savings and I had to pay a contribution last time. This was 13 years ago ... don't know if system changed - but this is the sort of thing to raise at the pre-op appointment.

Shall be looking out for your posts re your progress. You sound very organised.

Speedalong

PS I get cold feet and so often wear socks - some gadgets are easier than others - mine is great.

tanith

One thing a nurse suggested to me which I found so helpful was a light shoulder bag.. it was particularly helpful because my bedroom was upstairs , it saved me going up and down in the first few days after my OH went back to work.. I could put things in to carry up or downstairs leaving my hands free to hold my stick and the banister. I used to put my lunchtime sandwich in it with a bottle of water and fruit or book and the paper or anything else that I would normally of carried in my hand... its saved me making unnecessary trips up and down.
I also used my grabber to put the cats food bowl down onto the floor.. and put washing in the machine so I didn't bend down..

marion1952

Hi

Speedalong: thanks - I didn't know about the dom care. I will raise it at my pre-op.

Tanith: thanks - good tip about the bag - I will definitely look for a suitable one... I hadn't thought about using the grabber for the washing machine.. that had been worrying me as I am always doing washing! I have 2 dogs and 1 cat and had read about long handled water bowls- I might buy a couple, as I can see me spilling water all over the place and not being able to mop it up!!

Best wishes

Marion

speedalong

Hi Marion

you mentioned

and had read about long handled water bowls- I might buy a couple, as I can see me spilling water all over the place and not being able to mop it up!!

I haven't heard of those. I used to use my grabber but one day dropped the bowl and cat meat went everywhere and I had to wait until somone came round the next day to clear it up .. disgusting.

My Dad helped make a wire gadget so I could lift up the cat litter tray to deal with it. Also a pulley for the living room door to close it without getting up (everytime the cat entered and flung it open with a flourish ...) and a pulley up the stairs so I could send things up and down in bag suspended from a hook - I was no weight bearing and had to hop up and down the stairs!! So couldn't even carry a shoulder bag in case it put me off balance.... all a bit eccentric but very ingenious and functional!!

Speedalong

Speedalong

tkachev

tanith wrote:

One thing a nurse suggested to me which I found so helpful was a light shoulder bag.. it was particularly helpful because my bedroom was upstairs , it saved me going up and down in the first few days after my OH went back to work.. I could put things in to carry up or downstairs leaving my hands free to hold my stick and the banister. I used to put my lunchtime sandwich in it with a bottle of water and fruit or book and the paper or anything else that I would normally of carried in my hand... its saved me making unnecessary trips up and down.
I also used my grabber to put the cats food bowl down onto the floor.. and put washing in the machine so I didn't bend down..

I use a carrier bag to carry stuff upstairs,although I cant carry everything I need in one journey.
Elizabeth

tkachev

Hello Marion,
As you are yet to have operation I am certain they will give you lots of advice in hospital.They never stopped asking me if I had been shown how to put my own knickers on!

Elizabeth

marion1952

Thanks Speedalong: what great devices your Dad set up for you - Simple ideas but very effective! I have just looked up the cost of the long handled bowls for cats/dogs - hmmm don't think I will be buying them after all - they are about £35-£40! I think I will have to get imaginative with a bamboo stick and some gaffer tape and make my own long handled bowls!!

Thanks Elizabeth: it's good to hear from people who've already been through it. I'm trying to be prepared for every eventuality - I am dreading not being independent - even though it will only be for a short period of time!

Best wishes

Marion