scheduled for my tkr may 29th. trying to get everything purchased etc.
Do I need a toilet raiser or the toilet that fits over the commode with the side bars??
what kind of shower chair do I need? and how do you ever get your leg over the tub to get in the shower after tkr. I have trouble now just dragging it over the side of tub???
scheduled for my tkr may 29th. trying to get everything purchased etc.
Do I need a toilet raiser or the toilet that fits over the commode with the side bars??
what kind of shower chair do I need? and how do you ever get your leg over the tub to get in the shower after tkr. I have trouble now just dragging it over the side of tub???
thanks for all your info.
Hi nana: You can purchase a toilet riser and arms to go with it. That is what I had and loved it.
I don't know how you can get your leg over the tub to take the shower. You may have to take sponge baths for quite a while? Maybe some TKR people have suggestions for the tub problem.
I had just a small step into my stall shower and that sure a blessing. Loved it. I never used a shower chair but did have a couple safety bars installed - one outside and one inside. They were really a good thing for me and gave me confidence and ensured my safety. It was worth spending the money. I was never sorry!
Let us know what you decide.
Shirley H.
__________________
Had two hip replacements about a year apart - the last one being August 2009.
Last edited by Silver Swan; 04-05-2012 at 04:45 PM.
Reason: typo
so if you don't have a shower stall you really can't get in the tub?..I didn't realize that...
Hi again nana b:
I don't know about anyone else but I would not have attempted to get into the tub for a shower right after my hip replacements. Hope some veterans of TKR will tell us whether they could do that or not or how they did it if they did!
I have moved and now have a shower in the tub and I can negotiate that now, a couple of years after my two hips were replaced. But I had the shower stall before so the problem did not present itself.
Shirley H.
__________________
Had two hip replacements about a year apart - the last one being August 2009.
The Following User Says Thank You to Silver Swan For This Useful Post: nana b (04-06-2012)
You will be advised to avoid shower/tub while the staples are still on, about 8-10 days after surgery the staples will come off. I was able to take a shower at that point, lifting the leg over the tub was fine for me but rails to hold on certainly can't hurt. You asked about the recliner and I slept for in my recliner for almost 6 weeks applying ice gel packs (get them from PT provider) as needed. 1st 6 weeks are tough but gets significantly better after that. Get to the outpatient PT as soon as possible that was 10X better than what they did in my home.
Best of luck, Glenn
The Following User Says Thank You to glennxyz For This Useful Post: nana b (04-06-2012)
Nana, I read in one of the other threads that there are leg lifters you can get, they look like a stiff dog leash, with the handle hooking on your foot. I have seen them at drug stores but never really thought about using them... give it a try?
you want the toilet seat bars for certain. If you get a "bedside commode" most of them will fit over the toilet. (you can also use it in another room, or perhaps downstairs if the bathroom is upstairs to lessen the need to go up and down stairs)
As for getting into the tub to shower, I had cancer surgery, and had a large tumor removed near my knee... I had just a shower seat (no back on it) and was able to sit on it, then lift my leg over the tub as I pivotted...
I am certain you will be seeing PT (physical therapy) ask them to show you how to get into the tub, or car, or whatever you need help with... It's their job!
But I had the shower stall before so the problem did not present itself. 
