Help at home after hip replacement

I had my right hip replacement surgery two weeks ago. If you are having the anterior procedure you might not need as much equipment, but it never hurts to be prepared. I got a toilet extension but didn't need it. The things i did need are walker, grabber, and leg lifter. Good luck! We can do this!

Hip replacement surgery is coming up for me, too. On June 26. I ordered toilet extenders and a shower bench. Everyone I know who has had this surgery has done really well. My best friend's 'baby' brother, aged 61, went back to surfing 3 weeks after. Of course, he is a lifelong athlete which I am not.
So, I have been encouraged by all the successes. As the day approaches, I have interviewed these new hip recipients more intensely about this. All of them said the same thing - that the first week at home is rough. Not pain-wise, but just navigating around the house, not being able to bend over, taking a long time to get up the stairs, cranky old husbands as caregivers, etc.
So, best of luck to you with your procedure and with recovery. I will post here after my surgery as to outcomes, challenges, and so on. I feel lucky that there is such a thing as hip replacement as I am not okay as I am. The hip pain has changed my life and not in a good way.

I had a complex hip replacement at the end of January. I was up and at ‘‘em about 5 hours after surgery and on my way home two hours after that. I was not allowed to go home same day unless I could walk with a walker and use a crutch to go up a set of stairs. I was sent home with the walker and crutch. The day after surgery a home health care worker came to my house to assess what they thought I needed. I was given a pamphlet regarding many issues and exercises relating to a THR. I saw the home healthcare worker a few times after that. One of those times was when she removed 32 metal staples from my hip which did not hurt btw. I have a Medicare advantage plan in Massachusetts and they took care of things that I never would have thought to do. I started p/t a few weeks after surgery at a local Y. Five months later I am doing well for a nearly 75 year old woman. I am surprised that I am walking almost 100 percent normally and most pain is gone. Seems like a miracle to feel stable again. Before surgery I could barely walk. What a huge difference the surgery has made. I wish you luck.

I agree that the life change with this hip pain is unsustainable.
Do you know anyone that had both done at the same time? My surgeon said he could/would do that but the more I research the more I hesitate. It’s so tempting to get it one and done but seems risky. I’m 76 and in good health otherwise but….

Thanks

I had a RTH in January. I developed anemia with the surgery and ended up staying in the surgery center an extra night. Pain wise I was off the Percocet totally about 10 days after surgery. My recovery was hampered by the anemia as I was easily fatigued and out of breath. After two weeks I was able to drive myself to PT. I was staying by myself two and a half weeks after surgery. Everyone’s recovery is different. Have meals in the freezer that you can easily reheat. You may not feel like cooking. Good luck. My range of motion and movement was 100% at 3 months. I am still working on my strength.

I was told by my physical therapist that my recovery was up to me. I was extremely confident in my surgeon because he practices in one of the best hospitals for orthopedics and he teaches at Harvard Medical School as do most of the doctors at that hospital as it's a teaching hospital. I was doing p/t the day after I got home with guidance from the home healthcare worker who came to my house. I never missed a day of exercise, not one. I did p/t a few weeks later at the Y. I went to 7 sessions before realizing that I had been doing the same exact exercises over and over again. I felt that I could do them at home until I read that walking is the best exercise for a hip replacement and luckily I had a treadmill. I emailed my surgeon's assistant about six weeks after surgery asking if I could go on the treadmill, starting slowly and holding on. He ok'd this as long as I was conservative in my exercise. I've been doing at least half hour a day on the treadmill but not all at the same time. I am so glad that I made sure that I did what I was told with regard to my recovery being up to me. This is SO important. YOU are in charge of your recovery assuming the surgeon has done his/her job.

I don’t know anyone who had both hips done at the same time. That seems daunting, but I read about people doing it. I guess it would depend on your surgeon’s advice and how confident you are in him/her.

I had THR on my Right hip 17yrs.ago& have had no problems ! Now I have to get the right knee replaced!I need to find someone who does ROBOTIC SURG. in MIAMI FL.!

For anyone about to have hip replacement I strongly recommend this piece of equipment. It has been invaluable in dressing independently. There is no way I could have gotten the compression stocking on without it. It is called a “dressing stick” and Amazon has it for less than $20.