THR surgery confirmed but would love some practical advice ahead of time please

good luck with the surgery. best operation i ever had and that was back in 1996 so a few years ago and its still going strong. sadly feels like the other hip is finally on its way now.

Through the NHS yes i had a occupational therapist that visited and was great. as your going private i guess you could also book a OT privately. gp may be able to advise on that.

What i had and still use.

Only had banister up the stairs on one side so they fitted a hand rail up the other side with grab handle at the top.

raised toilet seat which raises it about 5 inches but as i used to be 6ft 3inch (now 6.1 thanks arthur) it was too low for me. you need to sit on bog and check the angle of your leg. if your knee is higher than your hip then it needs to be raised.

3 grab handles around the bath and a bath seat.

long handle grabber, back scrubber, toe scrubber, 15inch shoe horn.

and finally 4 raised legs for my armchair.

I cant post links as last time they were removed as advertising but just search disability shops and you should find some online.

@Jojo72 congratulations on your surgery date! Discuss your worries about spinal and sedation at your pre-op appointment. I had similar worries when I had both hips replaced last year (eleven weeks apart) but was so pleased not to have had general anaesthetic which takes a while to get out of your system. The anaesthetist will talk to you before the op - let him know you don’t want to wake up and he/she will take good care of you. Not long now x

My left hip is being replaced on the 7th so I’m a day behind jojo72. I had my pre op appointment with the physio yesterday (on the phone). She also said my normal chairs etc will be fine as I’m young (if you think 47 is young) enough to be able to push myself out. She also said I’d be able to sleep on my side with pillows between legs. To be honest after three spine surgeries I got quite good at adapting to whatever position!

My question is about the toilet seat though. She did suggest a raised one and the physio cure guide posted in the thread above by rogerbill also suggests one because it makes life easier. So I’m getting one but just wanted to check if those of you that had one recommended the ones on a frame or just the seat part?

I’ll also just chip in with advice learnt from my previous surgeries. I got a big old infection after my first spinal fusion. (The complications lasted about 18 months as it went deep onto the metal). Mainly I think I had a rubbish surgeon so no prophylactic antibiotics but also I was encouraged to shower almost immediately. My dressing was already loose (like I said poor surgeon) and it came off. I think that’s how I got infected. Anyway my final fusion was with a much better surgeon. He was very strict about no shower until wound healed. His dressing also stayed put! Also prophylactic antibiotics. That time no infection. So long story short two weeks of strip washing is so much better than a deep infection. Plus the shower once you are allowed it feels so good! 😀

Good luck all.

Thank you, Jo, unfortunately my op was postponed as my blood levels showed me to be borderline anaemic. The anaesthetist said it would be safer and my recovery better if I delayed and took iron supplements. They’ve given me a provisional date of 16 December which seems such a long way off. I have asked for a cancellation if possible if my bloods are okay before that.

Not long for you now, I hope you’re ready and all goes well, please keep us updated.

Take care, Janet x

I've been reading comments from people who had the op a few years ago. Just thought I'd comment on the incredible advances in HRS over the past few years. The outcome is now nothing short of miraculous, from my experience obviously. Two years of awful pain, now 3 weeks 1 day on, I am virtually pain free.

I too was very anxious about the op, had a spinal and a sedative and it was fine. Think I'm in love with the anaestetist! And the surgeon obviously!

Also struck by the different advice being given. Apparently my surgeon's is " Leave your feer alone!" But the physio said advice is very dependant on your surgeon. Also physio said I could try sleeping on my non operated with a pillow between my knees. Tried it last night and it felt so wrong! Back to my back!

Good luck everyone.

Wishing you the very best of luck for Monday @Jojo72 not long now and hoping it will be life changing for you, and for you too on Tuesday @frogmella

Brilliant. Take care.

Hi Jo

I am a little late to the party but glad the surgery went well. I am not having my surgery until March as have to wait for steroids to wear off.

Good luck with your recovery and remember to be kind to yourself. #hipwarrior