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Post hip replacement care/help
I should be getting a left hip replacement next month. Originally, the plan was to recovery at my moms house. She died this year. Then there was my neighbor of 25 years and she moved in June. My brother is going to visit for a week to help but there things I can't have him help with. Other than him, I have nobody. Is is possible to get through the "personal things" on my own? I am not eligible for rehab or a SNF (because I live independently). I can't afford to hire someone. The pain is so bad. It is worse than anything I went through with cancer so it has to be done.
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I have given my opinion on ways to find a really good doctor and I left out your method which should be at the top of the list! You have been in a great position to evaluate your surgeon.
@tamster1208: Having complete faith in your provider is a great start so ideally you've established a good working relationship with the medical professional with whom you've had these years of experience. Therefore, it's best to rely on their recommendations for post-op assistance and pain relief measures rather than what may have worked for others. For example, some orthopedics are very much against PT feeling it could lead to potential dislocation whereas some have therapists with whom they work and feel comfortable with the techniques to be provided in initial rehab. Others may also may warn against motorized ice machines with compression as they feel they can pose the threat of damaging local blood flow thereby causing tissue or nerve damage/irritation - especially as they can be somewhat costly to rent and may not yield superior results as following directions for judicious use of ice packs (i.e. 20 min at a time with a rest period of up to an hour between use, always with a cloth barrier protecting the skin).
Keep in mind, too, that not all total hip replacements are performed with the same operative technique due to various reasons; they are individualized to the needs of the patient. The hospital will ensure that you are safe for discharge when performing your post-op evaluation and provide you with techniques to follow for proper ways to get in and out of bed as well as toileting - which may include the use of a raised toilet seat. They will likely inform you if you need a front wheeled walker to accomplish ambulation safely on your own, perhaps even provide you with this. Can you see if the facility where you'll be having your operation provides a special pre-op class to go over these issues?
I totally understand the pain as I have been dealing with progressive deterioration of my hip pathology for over a year with surgery that had been delayed due to cancer treatment complications. I'll be undergoing a posterior hip replacement with an overnight inpatient stay on 9/4. May I ask when your surgery is scheduled?