THR - Total Hip Replacement

 

Home preparation

 

(things you may need)

 

 

 

 

When you get home, you will need many things to help you on your road to recovery, this will probably include:-

 

A mobile phone - not only to summon aid if you need it, but set up repeat alarms on it to remind you when to take your pills or medicine. This will stop you from over or under medicating, as we all tend to lose sight of which pills we have taken at what time and on which days. Add details like 'with food' to remind you that certain medicines need to be taken before / with / after food.

 

In the UK walking aids such as a walker, crutches, sticks or cane are usually all supplied by the hospital or health authority.

 

Chair and toilet seat raisers are essential and in the UK these are also usually supplied by the hospital or health authority. A wheelchair is not normally required.

 

If you have a recliner chair, you will probably need a raiser for it as just putting a thick cushion on the seat will mean that the arms are too low to be useful and without some sort of raiser you will break the 'ninety degree rule' getting in and out of it. The hospital or health authority may not be able to supply a raiser for it as the bases vary considerably, but it is fairly easy for a DIY handyman to make a suitable raiser. If it is a manual recliner, practise using the mechanism with one leg before making a raiser for it in case you are unable to operate it.

 

I made a simple box to fit under my favourite recliner chair to boost the height. Make sure you provide a 'lip' all the way around it to ensure that the chair does not slip off the box when in use. It has to be fairly sturdy to take the reclining action and any sideways rocking of the chair when sitting in it.

 

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Recliner chair box . . . . . Chair fitted onto the box

 

In my case the arms of the chair are rather low, using a large cushion on the chair would have resulted in the arms being too low to allow me to lower and raise myself from the chair.

 

 

A long reach grabber (or several dotted around the house) is essential to retrieve objects out of reach without you having to break the 90 degree rule.

 

You can use Velcro straps or old shoelaces to put through grabbers and shoehorns and to attach to zippers to make them easier to handle. [linda38528]

 

A 'sock aid' is invaluable for putting socks on.

 

In the bathroom, you may need a long handled brush or sponge on a stick. A waterproof shower stool can be helpful, as can a bath stool or shelf and a grab bar for getting in or out of the bath, and a non-slip mat for bath and/or shower.

 

Slipper socks are a great idea, they will keep your feet warm in bed, and protect them on the frequent trips to the bathroom through the night. [sue1957Geo]

 

Slip-on shoes are an essential, as is a long handled shoe horn to enable you to put your shoes on.

 

A very useful addition are 'stick clips', to enable you to 'park' your sticks or grabber on the edge of a convenient surface. These are available (2016 cost approximately £2 each) at most mobility shops or online from Amazon, eBay and other websites.

 

     

Stick clip                      Stick clip in use

 

My wife gave me her old vegetable trolley on wheels, which became my mobile trolley for storing pills, hospital guides, TV remote controls, laptop, kindle, iPod, mail, wet wipes ..... and I used the curled handle of my long handled shoehorn reversed to pull the trolley behind me from room to room. The rack was a wire frame type, so I just put a couple of large place mats in it to form a solid shelf.

 

Old vegetable rack used as personal items trolley

 

Susie from Patient.Info has found what we hope is a suitable trolley on Amazon - search for item 'B00WC4BQR8' on Amazon, or click HERE. It is a wooden vegetable or fruit storage rack by Rafswoodland. It looks attractive and sturdy (in the photos anyway), and she suggests it would look great on a patio with terra cotta flower pots filled with geraniums, for example. Current (2016) cost is £29.99 + £7 postage. [susie74530]

 

Rafswoodland wooden trolley from Amazon

 

An office chair for the dining room will allow you to eat with the family instead of having your food in a separate room on a tray, the arms make it easier to get in and out of, and the wheels allow you to get up close to the table.

 

Office chair used for dining

 

 

Use a bag with a shoulder strap (a messenger bag, camera bag or rucksack is ideal) to carry small items around the house, also a travel mug with a lid to prevent spillages.

 

To keep your mind off the pain or boredom, jigsaw puzzles are ideal, but there are also adult (or kiddies) colouring books which I am told are great for anyone artistic.

 

If you have a pet, there are 'no bend pet bowls' with a handle attached which make it simple, safe and pain free to feed your pet available on Amazon, eBay and other websites.

 

Extra pillows are useful to allow you to prop yourself in a comfortable position when you are forced to sleep on your back for the first six weeks. Some people find that V pillows can be a good aid to being comfortable in bed. [veronica58657]

 

A 'slide sheet' can be useful to help you slide and swivel into position in your car seat. If you don't have one, use a plastic carrier bag or a large bin bag. [Worriedgirl29]

 

A couple of Gel filled Ice Packs can be useful for aches and pains in recovery. Put them in a pillow case and mould them to your thigh. [ScubaRob]

 

It is a good idea to practice using your aids well BEFORE the operation, especially if you decide to get a device to use in bed to save you having to trek to the toilet, or are going to use a 'bath board' to get in and out of the bath for the first time.

 

You should have some oven ready food in your freezer, and a stock of easy to prepare items as you will not feel like making elaborate meals. Have some cereal bars, snacks and quick bites that will give you an energy kick, basically stock up as much as you can. [rose0000]

 

A hot milky drink such as Ovaltine or Horlicks can help with sleeplessness at night.

 

Wet wipes can be useful in hospital or at home.

 

If you have boots or shoes with zips, put leather loops through the zippers so you can pull them up with your grabber. [Kate53CornUK]

 

 

Support cushions

There is a special Slumber Support Cushion you can buy so you can sleep on your good side without worrying about rolling over. Patient.Info contributor Nikki reports that she sent for one and found it was great. Just don't cross the bad leg over the top. [nikki52902]

http://www.futonsfirst.co.uk/futon-mattresses-and-beds/slumber-support/

The website notes that 'post-operative use of this product should only be undertaken after professional advice from a qualified surgeon or physiotherapist.' so do please speak to your physio before buying.

Alternatively, it is possible to stitch two pillows together to make one long pillow and just put ordinary pillow cases one on each end and hey presto, one long pillow at no cost and really comfy as well. [helen56309]

 

 

 

Things to do before the operation [rose0000]

 

-        Teeth checked, cleaned and whitened if needed or desired

-        A 'gel' pedicure ~ lasts for about 12 weeks, even in the moments you don't feel human looking at your feet will be a constant pleasure and reminder that all is well. There is no chance of doing your own toenails afterwards so it needs some thought...

-        A freezer bursting with homemade food, or by other means. This is the nearest thing to heaven and anyone can reheat it ~ think four weeks plus and you have covered all bases

-        Setting up email and internet on your mobile phone and tablet or laptop, staying connected is a great source of comfort 247 for those early mornings or late nights. Check if the hospital has free Wi-Fi.

-        Flu vaccines etc., you DONT want to get the flu after a replacement. It feels like your stitches will burst with the effort of coughing and sneezing, or that you will literally dislocate with the effort. A vaccine will keep you safe and well.

-        Working out to the last minute (even if you hate working out) get those arms pumped, get your legs in shape, with whatever work out you can bear to do, it makes a huge difference to your recovery and your ability to take long walks on crutches.

-        Set your bedroom and lounge up with a self-contained area (personal space) ~ you will value having everything to hand

-        Prepare all of your cards, birthdays, special occasions for the next three months if not longer. You won't care about any of this post op, send them out now and forget about them. People will not always realise just how out of action you are, and that post box can feel a long way away in the middle of winter on week two.

-        Keep a diary or log pre operation and post operation, this will show you the HUGE progress you have made, even when you feel you are standing still

-        A collection of fresh soft new nightwear and lounge wear for at least two weeks. This is not necessarily costly but will be such a comfort to you, particularly if you are coping or managing largely or solely alone.

-        Remember nothing is worse than the pre op pain, and where there is hope there is light, and once you have the courage to accept the operation, the whole world is a possibility once again as soon as you have this operation....the alternative....well the alternative means a life of permanent disability and pain. Post op is infinitely better no matter where you are on the journey to recovery.

 

 

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Page last updated: 29 March 2016 - 19:54