The do's and don't's of after hip replacement surgery

CarolPM

Hello everyone. My surgery is due on 18 September and I'm beginning to panic! I've been online and read a lot of conflicting advice and to be honest it scares me. They say not to bend beyond 90 degrees, but can I lift the operated on leg to get into the bath/shower? How do I manage socks, knickers and tying trainer laces? I have to wear trainers with orthotics at the moment because of a combination of Plantar Fasciitis/Tibial tendonitis/arthritis in my "good" leg. Is it ok to place my cat's feeding bowl on the floor? How soon will I be able to manage going upstairs? I'm planning to have a single bed downstairs but apart from a cloakroom, washing facilities are all upstairs. Will I be able to sit on my comfortable leather sofa or will it have to be in a more upright chair? I normally use a footstool the same height of the sofa, but not sure if that is bad for the hip.

I could go on, but you get the message. Any tips would be great and any re-assurance that I will eventually be able to run, jump, squat and kneel, would help a lot!

Thank you so much.

Carol PM

yaz239

Hello @CarolPM ,

Welcome to the online forum. This space is a friendly and supportive place for people living with arthritis. If you take a look around the forum you should be able to find people going through the same experiences.

It can be useful to know more about your surgery in preparation- Hip replacement surgery | Treatment options | Versus Arthritis

If you feel comfortable, join in conversations with others on the forum. There is likely to be someone to provide tips and advice.

We wish you the best with your surgery.

Thanks, Yasin (Mod)

Teresapescado

Hello CarolPM

I am 3 weeks and 3 days post my full hip replacement surgery. I was petrified for months building up to it. Even though I was in severe pain the thought of an operation filled me with dread. I wanted it, no needed it but often thought of cancelling it due to fear. Now, I only wish the wait was not so long. I cannot believe the difference in a mere 3 and a bit weeks. I chose to have the spinal injection as opposed to being knocked out which turned out to be a brilliant choice. I still know nothing about the operation, sedation worked wonders. It really helped with after surgery recovery, I was wide away and full of beans it was over! I had the same questions you have, how do I get my knickers on? How do I go to the toilet? How indeed do I do anything? All soon became clear. Prior to surgery my hospital requested I attend a joint school class where many of the do's and don'ts are answered. If you have this opportunity, my advice would be to attend it's only and hour or so. The definite don'ts I was told are: No bending, no twisting and no crossing your legs. To overcome these hurdles a grabber will become your new best friend. I also use a basic cheap back scratcher, the hand side is brilliant for hooking your knickers over your foot without bending and also assists with pulling them up. You will be taught how to manage stairs whilst in hospital probably the day after your surgery by physio. Occupational therapy will provide you with any aids you might need such as a toilet seat raiser, chairs for washing a commode should you want one etc. They will want to know the height of you bed, chair and toilet and will then assess what you need for when you go home. I hope your experience will be as good as mine. I made friends in hospital and am still in touch with one now and will be forever, we had some good giggles which means it was not all bad. You won't be able to shower for roughly 6-8 weeks (depending on whether your shower is over your bath or a walk in one, the time frame is different) so that will not be an immediate problem. A nice strip wash it is, but a pain free one with the ability to actually stand! As regards your shoes, can't help with that, I am sure nursing staff and physio will advise. The shoes I took in with me were not suitable so gripper socks were provided. Good luck with your operation, I hope it all goes well for you, keep us updated.

PeterJ

@Teresapescado some really good advice from experience

Trish9556

Hi @CarolPM

I haven't yet had any decision made on my hips but my husband has invested in some Elastic shoelaces for my trainers/walking shoes and they're brilliant, I only need a shoe horn to help me slip my feet in now.

Love n hugs

trish xx

RogerBill

Hi @CarolPM Check out this thread which I started just after having my hip replaced in 2021: https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/55224/hip-replacement-tips/p1 I hope you'll find it contains some useful tips.

Also there's this useful video demonstrating how to manage stairs just after the op with crutches: https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/getting-up-stairs-with-crutches I was able to manage stairs quite OK immediately after the operation, but it's worth practicing the method shown in the video before the op.

Lilymary

Hi @CarolPM I was so desperate for the surgery the logistics of recovery barely entered my head. I'm over 2 years post op now, but to be honest I found I was pretty much self-sufficient the day I got home. I was grateful for my husband doing the shopping and cooking the main meal, but could have managed with internet shopping and the microwave/salads. In fact, the day after I got back my husband went out for the afternoon, with my permission, as I found I could adapt and cope with the basics pretty well. It just took a bit of lateral thinking.

The occupational therapists will provide you with the equipment and training you need. This will include learning how to use crutches properly, particularly on stairs (I found it helpful to have a spare crutch, borrowed from a friend, so I could leave one at the top/bottom of the stairs, which meant I didn't have to carry one up or down). You should be fine on stairs as soon as you get home - I wouldn't bother moving the bed, to be honest. You will need the bed to be a reasonable height - getting up off low seats (beds, chairs, toilets) is near impossible in the early days, so if your bed is low you may need to raise it up on blocks for a few months. You'll also be told to sleep on your back for about 6 weeks. I found that hard on my backside, and ended up sleeping on a row of soft pillows from shoulder to knee, with a knee pillow under my ankles to stop pressure points on the back of my heels. To be honest, bedtime was probably the worst part of the post surgery experience, I slept terribly and had restless legs the whole time, but I just toughed it out - it's only for 6 weeks, and as I wasn't doing anything energetic during the day, it didn't matter if I was a bit fuzzy headed. As soon as I could sleep on my side again I was fine.

The OTs will also give you a trolley on wheels, which is really useful for moving stuff round the house, even on carpet, nudging it in front of you while on crutches - don't use it as a walking aid - there's no brakes! It's also something to pile up books, bottles of water, etc etc by your chair so you don't have to keep getting up. Having said that, you need to walk around at least every 30-60 minutes as sitting for long periods isn't helpful to your hip. I found standing up more comfortable anyway. A large soft shoulder bag is also useful for carting things around the house.

They'll also give you a sock slider, and a grabber to help with pulling up knickers, loose trousers etc. They also provide a raised loo seat (an absolute must!) and a perching stool, which helped with strip washes for a few weeks.

You won't be able to reach your feet at all for a while, so invest in some slip on shoes and a long handled shoe horn (very cheap, available on the internet), in case your husband isn't there to help - mine had to do my shoe laces for many few weeks post op. I'm wearing orthotics due to a tendon injury in the top of my foot, which means pointing my toes to slide my foot into lace-up shoes can be very painful. I've found trainer-type shoes with a zip up the side a godsend - my orthotics fit into them ok, and I can safely wear them round the house without even doing up the zip. (Better zipped, of course, but it does mean no faffing with shoe laces.) I have several pairs now, and wish I'd had some post surgery. Get a sponge on a stick to help you wash your feet - I kept a washing up bowl on the floor in the bathroom for this purpose.

I started using my shower over the bath as soon as the wound had healed sufficiently, I think after about 2-3 weeks if I remember. To get my operated leg in I raised my knee backwards (ie heel to b*m) and lifted my leg gently backwards from the hip until it was over the edge of the bath, then lowered my knee down again. I still do this - I have ongoing tendon issues so still can't lift my knee very high (don't panic, this is extremely rare). You'll need something to grab on to for stability when stepping in and out - I found the perching stool was ideal for this, and also for putting your towel on so you don't have to reach out of the bath for it.

Re bending, I've never dropped so much stuff on the floor as well I was on crutches! It drove me crazy, and I kept my grabber with me at all times. I found if I kept my operated leg sticking out behind me, I could lean down to clean out the cats' litter tray, (my normally obliging OH made it clear he wasn't keen on doing this, and I still haven't forgiven him - yet). I was even doing some very light gardening while on one crutch, although that was seriously pushing my luck, so I wouldn't recommend it.

Seats - just get a raised seat or deep cushions for your lovely comfy sofa. Our chairs are quite high already as my husband is tall, but I built it up further with a couple of soft pillows - you'll need those anyway as your backside will feel like a football at the end of a cup final for a few weeks. Definitely have some soft cushions/pillows for sitting in the car, specially on the way home from hospital. I hadn't twigged this tip, and I've never said "are we nearly there yet" so often as that journey!

I agree with the "definite don'ts" . But two years on I can do most of those things to a large degree, including when doing gentle pilates, which I have recently restarted. However, these movements in the early months do carry a significant risk of dislocation, so if in doubt, avoid! Having seen first hand someone's new hip dislocate during said pilates, I have been particularly careful to avoid this, and I always listen to my body on that score.

But finally, and I can't stress this enough, you don't get extra points for giving up the crutches early. It's not a race. We need to keep using crutches for at least 6 weeks to allow the bone to heal around the implant, and also for the muscles and tendons that support the hip to repair. Everyone heals at their own rate - I think I kept using at least one crutch until week 7, after my post surgery check up, and carried a stick for balance (mainly just on uneven ground) for a year or so after. It takes even longer for the muscles to rebuild, so doing your physio is essential, and bear in mind that these are important for holding the joint in place to prevent dislocation. I also started doing short walks every day after about day 3, (when I say short, my first walk was about 200 yards and took me 20 minutes!) and very gradually built them up. I overdid it one day on a walk round the village, and had to send my husband back for the car to rescue me while I clung onto a fence. Listen to your body. Mine shouted at me very loudly that day!

Try not to overthink it. In my case, I just went into a state of complete denial until the anaesthetists started working on me, and the next thing I knew, it was all over. I thoroughly recommend it. While it's a big op, and the post op phase at home is a bit of a slow trudge with a lot of faffing, you'll be surprised how quickly your mobility improves. But best of all, unlike the arthritis, you know any pain or discomfort post surgery is going to get better, not worse.

Lindaa

I have had 2 hips and one knee replacement. 11 years since right hip which has been brilliant. No pain since I came out of surgery.

Left hip done august 2022. Desperate to get in due to pain. Recovered well - followed all instructions and physio exercises. Preop everything set up after OT and physios decided what I needed. Painkillers stopped as soon as out of hospital after 2 nights. Steps - you are taught how to do. Showers- depends on dressing and your shower. Ours a walk in so could shower immediately as dressing was totally waterproof- depends what hospital uses. By last Christmas hip was no problem at all but knee prevented progress. Had that done April 11th 2023 and although still a bit stiff am well on way to recovery. Just know if I overdo it one day I will be stiff next few days.

Don't fret- everything will be explained and any questions you have answered. I dread to think how I would be without these ops. Mobility scooter probably. I am so grateful to the experts who developed these ops and the people who do them and support recovery.

My biggest problem - trying to keep the weight down!! The older I get (73) the harder it is.

Linda Andrews

meow

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/60681/the-dos-and-donts-of-after-hip-replacement-surgery

Hi Carol - I'm also due to have a hip replacement soon too. I've also read a lot of conflicting advice but try not to panic. The Discharge Team will give you all the information you need about post surgery guidelines. No, you can't lift your operated leg to get into the bath/shower, so it's going to have to be a strip wash for a few weeks unless someone can give you a bed bath. The Discharge Team should give you all the equipment you need - including a long handled sponge so you wash your feet. Putting on socks, shoes, etc - you will need a long handled stick for this - the Discharge Team should give you that, including a raised toilet seat if you need one (you'll come out with crutches). I bought a Hip Replacement Kit from Amazon before I realised that I would be given all this stuff by the Discharge Team, but have a look at the link below to see the sort of thing you will need to help with dressing. I also have a cat and have experimented with a variety of things to help, but the best thing is a grabber stick - see the kit on Amazon listed below. But don't buy this ! You will be given this by the Discharge Team. This will help you pick up the bowls. I would forget the footstool for a few weeks. They suggest a chair with arms so that you can lean on the arms to support you in getting up. Sofas will be out for a few weeks. Stairs will have to be one step at a time, keeping the operated leg straight. I have found a useful leaflet on this - see link below. With food it will require online shopping and some ready meals for a while - possibly a stool to sit on in the kitchen when you get fed up of ready meals.

Good luck! I can't wait for my hip replacement. 😀

The Helping Hand Company Standard Hip Kit/Post Surgery Kit. Knee and Hip Replacement Recovery Kit. Classic Grabber, Foxy Sock Aid, Shoe Horn, Long Handled Sponge : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

meow

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/60681/the-dos-and-donts-of-after-hip-replacement-surgery

Hi Carol - I'm also due to have a hip replacement soon too. I've also read a lot of conflicting advice but try not to panic. The Discharge Team will give you all the information you need about post surgery guidelines. No, you can't lift your operated leg to get into the bath/shower, so it's going to have to be a strip wash for a few weeks unless someone can give you a bed bath. The Discharge Team should give you all the equipment you need - including a long handled sponge so you wash your feet. Putting on socks, shoes, etc - you will need a long handled stick for this - the Discharge Team should give you that, including a raised toilet seat if you need one (you'll come out with crutches). I bought a Hip Replacement Kit from Amazon before I realised that I would be given all this stuff by the Discharge Team, but have a look at the link below to see the sort of thing you will need to help with dressing. I also have a cat and have experimented with a variety of things to help, but the best thing is a grabber stick - see the kit on Amazon listed below. But don't buy this ! You will be given this by the Discharge Team. This will help you pick up the bowls. I would forget the footstool for a few weeks. They suggest a chair with arms so that you can lean on the arms to support you in getting up. Sofas will be out for a few weeks. Stairs will have to be one step at a time, keeping the operated leg straight. I have found a useful leaflet on this - see link below. With food it will require online shopping and some ready meals for a while - possibly a stool to sit on in the kitchen when you get fed up of ready meals.

Good luck! I can't wait for my hip replacement. 😀

The Helping Hand Company Standard Hip Kit/Post Surgery Kit. Knee and Hip Replacement Recovery Kit. Classic Grabber, Foxy Sock Aid, Shoe Horn, Long Handled Sponge : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

noddingtonpete

Please remember if you do need to buy any of this stuff if you are not given it to please shop around. It will be available from many different sources, some more specialist than others.

Tracker65

Hi carol

I had my 1st hip done exactly a year ago and the 2nd one done 28/3/23. I was quite scared before the 1st one, but I was in so much pain. But it actually isn’t that bad. I had the spinal injection with sedation and was out like a light. before the surgery I got myself a pack containing a grabber, a device to put socks on, a long handled shoehorn and a sponge in a stick. It was from Amazon and I don’t think it was too expensive. I just search hip replacement equipment. They recommend that you sit in an armchair for the 1st 6 week, so I bought some chair raisers to lift mine up, but I also bought a sturdy seat cushion for my sofa which I did start sitting on at around 4 weeks. The shoe horn helped massively with slip on trainers or laced ones that are already fastened. I don’t think that you need to bring your bed downstairs as the physios get you walking up and down then the day after your surgery. The hospital provided me with a toilet raiser. I also bought one as have 2 loos. I also got a grabber from the hospital too so had one upstairs and one down. Speaking to different people it seems each hospital will give you different equipment. You do get very tired as well especially in the 1st coupke of weeks, all the exertion and healing. The pain from the surgery is managed with painkillers, the 1st few days are the worst, but after that it’s just the surgical site that is sore and tender. But it it is nothing like the arthritic deep joint pain that you have beforehand. Your body will limit you, so listen to it. You won’t be able to bend, but you kind of adapt. Bending with the operated hip leg out to the back so you don’t bend the joint. I have a walk in shower so I got a handle from Amazon that has strong suction cups as I didn’t want to drill into my tiiles and it’s still their as I like the security of it being there. But the 1st 2 weeks is strip washing only as you cannot get the wound wet. Sleeping on my back was awful and I really struggled with that. After the 1st 2 weeks just be careful and you’ll have good/bad days if you overdo things. My problem was with the 1st one, was that the 2nd one deteriorated so quickly as I had relied on it so much after the 1st and by the time I had it done I pretty much couldn’t walk. But I am now 5 months since the 2nd one and the difference it has made to me is fantastic. I became virtually housebound, having to have help around the house, completely reliant on a stick, no painkillers were touching my pain. I now go to the gym 2-3 times a week, I go out walking, shopping, gardening I even look after my 2 year old granddaughter every Friday now which would have been a complete no no before! All the things that I couldn’t do before and took for granted before my hips deteriorated. It does all take time though I still get stiff around the hips especially if I’ve sat for a long time or been in the car for a long time or walked for too long. It’s very easy to overdo it when you feel so good, and then suffer afterwards! Also how you recover depends on you. make sure that you do all of your physio exercises. It’s painful to start with but if you don’t do them the joint will become stiff and it will be harder in the long run. I wish you well with it and you won’t regret having it done. 🙂

CarylW

Hello @Tracker65

Welcome to our online forum and thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds as if you have made great progress after your hip replacements, and I am sure your reply will greatly help Carol.

Don't forget that you can always post here if you need any help yourself!

Best wishes

Caryl

Tracker65

Hi carol

I had my 1st hip done exactly a year ago and the 2nd one done 28/3/23. I was quite scared before the 1st one, but I was in so much pain. But it actually isn’t that bad. I had the spinal injection with sedation and was out like a light. before the surgery I got myself a pack containing a grabber, a device to put socks on, a long handled shoehorn and a sponge in a stick. It was from Amazon and I don’t think it was too expensive. I just search hip replacement equipment. They recommend that you sit in an armchair for the 1st 6 week, so I bought some chair raisers to lift mine up, but I also bought a sturdy seat cushion for my sofa which I did start sitting on at around 4 weeks. The shoe horn helped massively with slip on trainers or laced ones that are already fastened. I don’t think that you need to bring your bed downstairs as the physios get you walking up and down then the day after your surgery. The hospital provided me with a toilet raiser. I also bought one as have 2 loos. I also got a grabber from the hospital too so had one upstairs and one down. Speaking to different people it seems each hospital will give you different equipment. You do get very tired as well especially in the 1st coupke of weeks, all the exertion and healing. The pain from the surgery is managed with painkillers, the 1st few days are the worst, but after that it’s just the surgical site that is sore and tender. But it it is nothing like the arthritic deep joint pain that you have beforehand. Your body will limit you, so listen to it. You won’t be able to bend, but you kind of adapt. Bending with the operated hip leg out to the back so you don’t bend the joint. I have a walk in shower so I got a handle from Amazon that has strong suction cups as I didn’t want to drill into my tiiles and it’s still their as I like the security of it being there. But the 1st 2 weeks is strip washing only as you cannot get the wound wet. Sleeping on my back was awful and I really struggled with that. After the 1st 2 weeks just be careful and you’ll have good/bad days if you overdo things. My problem was with the 1st one, was that the 2nd one deteriorated so quickly as I had relied on it so much after the 1st and by the time I had it done I pretty much couldn’t walk. But I am now 5 months since the 2nd one and the difference it has made to me is fantastic. I became virtually housebound, having to have help around the house, completely reliant on a stick, no painkillers were touching my pain. I now go to the gym 2-3 times a week, I go out walking, shopping, gardening I even look after my 2 year old granddaughter every Friday now which would have been a complete no no before! All the things that I couldn’t do before and took for granted before my hips deteriorated. It does all take time though I still get stiff around the hips especially if I’ve sat for a long time or been in the car for a long time or walked for too long. It’s very easy to overdo it when you feel so good, and then suffer afterwards! Also how you recover depends on you. make sure that you do all of your physio exercises. It’s painful to start with but if you don’t do them the joint will become stiff and it will be harder in the long run. I wish you well with it and you won’t regret having it done. 🙂

Sez15

Hi

I'm new to this site yet so grateful for all the tips as in a state of panic at moment. Yet only just got to top of the list so meeting consultant for first time 7th September.

Not sure how long it will take for me to have my hip replacement after that?

Ellen

Hi @Sez15

Welcome to the online community.

I see you've already found a helpful thread and that you are hoping to have a total hip replacement.

Waiting lists for total hip replacements vary so much from area to area, but in the meantime you can help yourself by keeping as active as you can.

This link might be interesting to you:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/lets-move-for-surgery-toolkit/

I hope you'll decide to keep using the forum and allow our members to support you.

Best wishes

Ellen.