Hip replacement, living alone and with responsibility for pet.

Hi @Zimmer, I already had a wider fitting for my shoes, as over the years I've found them more comfortable, maybe because of arthritis but perhaps feet change as you get older, I don't know. So after the op, I was fortunate to be able to dig out the Skechers pumps, which were the only shoes that felt OK to wear with my swollen feet. I've been trying to find some more in my size, but they're out at the moment, so they will just have to do till I can get into my other shoes again.

I had quite a pronounced leg length discrepancy before the op, which was making walking even more difficult even with a stick and I was constantly hunched over because of the pain. But my surgeon managed to reduce it just to a few mm with the operation and said yesterday that it should adjust itself even more over time. I tried walking around the house taking longer strides without any support and it does seem to work - I found myself limping less this morning. Still wouldn't go out without one crutch at the moment, but I can see that I need to work on my posture and try to stand up straighter. So I'm hoping with some more physio I can do even more to address that. I may go back to my osteopath soon to see if he can do some more work on my back, which should also help. But it does show that your body takes a while to adapt to the new hip and that improvements continue over many months, if not years. So hoping for a continued transformation!

It has taken me a while to get to where I am with the exercises and immediately after the op I found them all difficult for a couple of weeks, some taking even longer, so just did what I could and didn't push myself too much. It's important to keep moving after a hip replacement and try to build up muscle strength, but as others have also said, it's a matter of getting a balance, having plenty of rest as well and not straining your body. So just do a little, even if it's only a tiny movement. When I tried the clamshell for the first time after 5 weeks, my physio said I was doing really well, although it felt to me as if I wasn't doing much at all, so it shows that just a small movement can help. Another 3 weeks on and I am finding it much easier. I did do quite a lot of exercise before the op, including yoga, which is great for body strength, so had probably prepared myself as much as I could beforehand and that has helped with a faster recovery. But we all go at our own pace, so some people may take longer to heal. Nonetheless, the operation gives so much more potential, however long it takes.

Good luck for next week and the start of your recovery and let us know how it goes when you can.

Jane x

@Zimmer, my leg length discrepancy is much less than before the op and I am advised that over time it should adjust itself even more, so I have to work on my posture, especially when walking. It will take time, but already so much better than it was. I am now trying to take longer strides unaided indoors, but still take the crutch with me when I'm walking outside for security.

I'm sure your medical team will advise you on walking aids after the operation. I'd already practised with crutches before I went it, so it didn't take long to get used to them afterwards, although I also had a frame to begin with for a few days.

I had been attending yoga classes locally for a few years and during the pandemic my tutor gave online classes so we could continue at home. She still records her classes for customers like me who can't always attend in person, but they are more advanced. After the operation, these sorts of exercises aren't possible, even for experienced practitioners, so I am going to have to be patient. I am hoping to go back to my tai chi classes this week (more than 8 weeks since the op), but will have to take it very carefully and use a chair for some of the time. I've been told no yoga for a while, or at least no floor-based exercises, and some may not be advisable after a hip replacement, or I will need to make adaptations to keep them safe, as certain yoga poses can be very fierce on the hips. I already do some of the seated stretches for my back, shoulders and neck as my physio said those were OK. But if you're not familiar with yoga, I would suggest you ask your physio for exercises that will suit your body and level of mobiity.

If you look on the Versus Arthritis website, there may be some gentle stretching exercises you could do. They also have a tai chi class, which is great for mobility over the longer term, but again wouldn't be suitable for several months after the operation. For the immediate term I would just work on the exercises your physio has given you and take them slowly and gently. Although I haven't been able to do the types of exercise I was used to before my operation, I am finding doing the ones I've been given by the physio have gradually increased my mobility, and with walking as well have been just enough for me at the moment.

I don't know if you are used to doing meditation, but I found that meditation before the operation (including just before I went down to surgery) and afterwards has helped me with breathing, pain management and calming me when I get anxious or have difficulty sleeping. There are apps for mindfulness and meditation, some of which are free, although I haven't tried them.

Well done on snagging a pair of slip-ins and hope you find them more comfortable. I couldn't do without mine.

All the best for your op and recovery afterwards. Look forward to hearing about your journey.

Jane x

@cocoa, I had blood thinner injections for 10 days and then tablets for 28 days. I had a number to call for the pharmacy at the hospital so could check with them if necessary. Did your hospital give you a number to call?

I didn't get any Occupational Health support from the hospital, but contacted them myself via Social Services before I went in, so got lots of help from them, including grab rails and extra steps. But I had to get my raised toilet seat myself because mine was the wrong shape (they don't have anything for square seats, apparently, but the one I got was probably more comfortable anyway, as it had a memory foam filling).

Must have been great to get your hair cut. I waited 5 weeks, till I could manage to walk up the road on crutches as not allowed to drive and it felt so good to have it all tidied up and out of my face again. Your lower back pain might be related to getting out and sitting in uncomfortable seats, as I still find if I overdo it I get backache and sometimes an ache in my right hip around the butt. Like yesterday, when I went for a longer walk than usual at a quicker pace and then did some potting up of plants. Ouch! Have learned my lesson and will continue to pace myself and not get so eager too quickly. I keep having to remember what I've been told, that progress is incremental over many months, even a year or more, so must temper my enthusiasm and learn to be patient.

@Zimmer, you will probably find immediately after the op and for a few days you won't be able to exercise very much and your focus will be on managing everyday things with the new hip, like getting in and out of bed and walking around the house, so just take things very slowly and gradually. I struggled with all the exercises for a while and could only move my right leg a tiny bit, but it's surprising how quickly you build up strength even from only doing a few reps with what feel like tiny movements. Over time, you will find that you can do more and it gets easier. And the meditations and frequent rest help with the healing as well.

Hope it all goes well and that you get a good sleep tonight. And look forward to hearing soon.

Jane x

Went to my tai chi class today, the first time for several months, and managed to last the hour. I took it gently, being careful not to twist or bend too much and sitting a few times to do some of the breathing exercises, but it went well and it was so nice to get back to a different form of movement in addition to the regular exercises the physios have given me and walking. No doubt my muscles will complain tomorrow!

Now I’ve had my final appointment with the consultant, 8 weeks after my operation, and am starting to resume the activities I previously enjoyed, I thought I would return to the original theme of this hip replacement account and reflect on some of the distinct issues and learning along my journey.

Living alone, it’s important to sort out everything you need before going into hospital, to help with recovery. I contacted Social Services to request a visit from the Occupational Therapist, which was really helpful in getting aids such as a wheeled trolley (essential before and after the operation for moving items to and from the fridge and table/cooker, as well as taking in shopping deliveries), extra step and grab rails. I also had advice on the height of my chairs, although had to sort that out myself with a raiser cushion, as I did with the raised toilet seat because my toilet was the wrong shape for the standard provision (square instead of oval).

As many others have noted in their hip diaries, there are various aids that will help with dressing, putting on socks and shoes, lifting the operated leg and for picking up things without bending and I also listed some of these at the beginning of my notes. Also really useful were long-handled sponges for washing and applying moisturiser to my legs and feet. With no-one around to help, I used a small washing up bowl after the operation for putting my feet in when washing them, as I could pick that up easily with a grabber. I also found it useful in the early stages of being home to have plenty of meals in the freezer, kept at the top so I could reach them easily. And stocked up on fresh fruit and salad. I was able to handle a food delivery less than a week after coming out of hospital, just having a smaller order than usual and getting the delivery driver to place everything on my trolley, so I could wheel it into the kitchen myself.

A small rucksack for carrying things around is also useful. To stay hydrated, especially at night, I used a small refillable water bottle that was easy to carry around and filled it up from a larger bottle I’d brought upstairs in my rucksack, so I could transport small amounts easily to the bedside table.

I had a cat sitter in to look after my cat while I was in hospital. Although I was able to book carers to come in for a couple of weeks after the operation to look after my cat and give me some help around the house, I recognise that this isn’t feasible for everyone. Hospitals are reluctant to discharge you too soon if you don’t have any help at all at home for 2-3 days following your operation, so it’s useful to try to arrange for someone to come in for a few days, whether it’s a friend, family member or neighbour, just to check on you and help with a few things. And also to sort out someone to collect you initially from hospital to help you settle back at home. Organisations such as Age UK may also offer some temporary help at home and transport following an operation, so it’s worth checking with them.

Having said that, although I was fortunate to benefit from help around the house, I think I could have managed to look after myself and my cat much earlier with the adaptations I’d got beforehand. These included a long-handled litter scoop, large bags with handles to put the used litter in and light feeding bowls made from bamboo and/or metal that I could pick up with a grabber. The only bowl I couldn’t pick up was the water bowl and for that I managed to buy a long-handled feeder. If you look up long-handled or no bend pet bowls, there are various companies online that supply this, including some of the care and ability stores. The one I got was a double plastic one with quite wide bowls, so I could put his water bowl inside it and pick it up easily. On reflection, it might have been better to get two of these so I could put his food bowls inside one as well, as it would have stopped the occasional slippage from the grabber. An alternative I’d considered was having his feeding station on a table, but I just didn’t have enough room for that. But I did put out plenty of tins and a large bag of biscuits on the kitchen surface for feeding him for a few weeks after coming home and also got everything else I needed at a reachable level. Although it felt untidy, it made life so much easier for a while.

I also kept my cat downstairs at night for a couple of weeks, until my wound had healed and I felt more confident walking around at night on my crutches and navigating the stairs, as I was worried he might jump on my operated leg or trip me up. He was very good and didn’t complain and after a while I allowed him upstairs with me during the day time, when he just slept and I could take things very slowly. Now we’re back to normal, so he is allowed upstairs and sleeps with me when he feels like it. He has learned to be patient with me being slower and now I no longer use my leg lifter, he’s discovered a new toy!

So although I was very anxious when taking the decision to have the operation about being able to take care of myself and my cat, I found ways round the problems. Although the first couple of weeks of being home were not easy, because of learning to deal with reduced mobility, the pain immediately after the operation and fatigue, they seemed to pass fairly quickly and I was soon back to my normal routines, albeit more slowly for a while. And now am gradually returning to the exercises I used to love, although I recognise that I won't be able to do all the yoga poses I previously did and will have to make some modifications.

I hope these notes will be useful for anyone else in a similar situation contemplating having the hip operation. In retrospect, I delayed mine for far too long as I was so anxious about how I would cope, but once I’d got everything I needed in place it was the best thing I could have done, as it has made such a difference to my life now the initial recovery period is behind me. And the support from this community throughout the whole process has been invaluable.

Thank you everyone who has contributed to the discussions under this specific theme. I really appreciate all the help and input I've received.

Jane

@Zimmer, we all learn the lessons about pacing ourselves after the op. I think I was so relieved at having got through it and so doped up on painkillers, that I had no idea how much I could do until I tested myself. Hope you sleep better tonight and can go home soon.

I'll look out for your diary when you're ready to start one, and look forward to hearing about your recovery journey. Hopefully you will make steady progress once you are back home, but do give yourself time to rest as well, as that's all part of the healing.

Jane

Wonderful sleep last night, only waking briefly once until the cat got me up this morning by patting my shoulder and licking my nose. I think he was trying to work out if I was still alive so he'd get his breakfast (rescue cats in particular are very food-focused). So after I'd attended to his needs, I was reflecting on the benefits of tai chi, not only for physical health and balance, but also for general wellbeing. Even doing some of the breathing exercises sitting down yesterday and adjusting some of the stretches so I didn't overtax the new hip, I really experienced the positive effects last night. And surprisingly, not feeling too achy either even though it was the first class I'd been to for a few months.

I am still amazed at how far I've come since the operation, as 4 or 5 weeks ago I would never have imagined that I could be getting back to my previous exercise regimes. And still a long way to go, so each day continues to bring something new. This morning I was able to go out into the garden without a crutch or stick, doing simple chores such as putting out the washing and watering the pots, which would have been a real struggle a few weeks ago even with a walking aid.

But of course, in the earlier stages of recovery, as for you @Fran54 and @cocoa, I had to learn to take it easy, which doesn't always come naturally to me, and on a few occasions overdid things and suffered as a result. Glad to hear both of you are now coming off the painkillers. I think that was a turning point for me.

@Zimmer, hope you are able to get home soon and that they give you enough pain relief to last for a while. I found a cold pack on my operated hip applied several times a day helped to ease the swelling and also getting frequent breaks to keep my feet up. Some of the exercises they give you can be very demanding at first, so don't beat yourself up if you can't do much in the first couple of weeks. At least I found the foot pumps and circling my ankles was fairly easy and did that frequently when I was sitting or lying down, to keep the blood circulating. I didn't venture outside for over a week after the op and just walked slowly around the house from time to time. But as everyone else has said, it does get better slowly, so wishing you well over the next few days.

Jane