Top Ten Tips for Total Hip Replacement

Posted on | November 21, 2009 | No Comments

Three weeks ago I left hospital in London after having undergone a total hip replacement (thr) on my right leg.

My journey back to health and fitness is slow but it is happening and at the very  least I can see a little progress everyday.

Here are my top ten tips for getting strong after a hip replacement.

Good luck

1. Be sure to have good support. If you live on your own, like me, then try and arrange for someone to visit you every day.   Do this BEFORE you go in for surgery.    You need people who are willing to do practical tasks as well as keep you company.  You’ll need help with preparing meals, washing-up, laundry and general housework.  And you’ll definitely need somebody willing to wash your feet.
2. Mind the stairs! I’ve fallen twice on the stairs – once forward and once backwards.  The forward one was very scary and dramatic  – Don’t do this!!  Luckily I managed to save myself both times – I dread to think what might have happened if I hadn’t.  Both times I was trying to carry something
3. Carrying things on the flat is not a problem but carrying them up and down stairs is a whole different ball game because you need one hand for your crutch/stick and one for the banister and that doesn’t leave a spare one for carrying things.  I found putting everything into a carrier bag and hooking that over my crutch worked for me but keep it light weight.
4. Use those crutches/sticks – they help you balance as well as taking some of the strain from your operated leg.
5. Know yourself – if you’re like me and tend to push yourself too fast – slow down. If you’re less confident then challenge yourself to do a little bit more each day.  The more you can do within your limits the faster you’ll mend.  You know what sort of person you are.  Trust yourself.
6. Eat well - chances are you won’t have much appetite.  Why should you?  You’ve had major surgery, you’re either in pain or floating along on one sort of pain killer or another and you’re exercise levels are very low.  However, if you want to heal, you’ve got to give your body a fighting chance.  Eat little, if you’ve no appetite, but eat well.
7. Sleep is essential – I accepted having to sleep on my back most of the time but it was a tough one when I woke in the middle of the night and my body screamed out that it would fall asleep instantly if I slept on my side.  Don’t attempt this for the first few weeks following surgery.  After that when you’re ready go to sleep (on your back) with a pillow between your legs that way when you want to roll over its already in place.  I can assure you the wrestling with a duvet and pillow at 3 a.m. isn’t fun this way you can just flip over and back again.  Do not attempt to sleep on your side without a pillow – keep that hip in the right position
8. Respect pain - if your hip is hurting rest it. If the pain relief isn’t working tell your doctor.  Under no circumstances should you suffer in silence – the chances are something needs seeing to.
9. Exercise - you should have been given a set of exercises.  Do them and do them well.  Its so tempting to do them badly.  For instance I can barely move my leg doing the hip abduction unless I lean over.  However leaning over negates all the good the exercise does.  The way I think of it is that if I could do all the exercises straight off there would be little point in me doing them.  On the other hand if I can’t do them straight away it means that I can only improve and get stronger and that’s my aim.
10. Ask questions -  Don’t be afraid to keep asking questions from the professionals working with you.  If they don’t know the answer ask them if they know who does.  Don’t accept evasive answers of the sort that always begin “everyone is individual” that is true but you are not asking about the global population you are asking a professional for their opinion about you!   As well as the doctors, nurses, OTs and physiotherapists ask other patients – in hospital, in the clinic or on websites.  They’ve been through it themselves and can help you with practical advice at all sorts of levels for instance what sort of services are provided by your local authority.  Let’s share our knowledge.

Take care and heal well

Please feel free to post comments on these tips or add your own.  I’d love to hear from you.