I have been post op from THR (Total Hip Replacement) for three weeks now and pain and mobility have increased compared to how I lived with the pain before I had my surgery. I am a bit nervous about how this new hip is going to affect my life and the restrictions I am going to have to live with after hearing and reading some of the stories that I have heard. I also have been getting depressed due to the holidays and my depending on various people to help me with my recovery. I feel like a burden on my family and I know that I am bothering some of them due to just knowing how they react to things in the past. I have not had my first post op appointment with my ortho doctor so any questions I have had I have tried to research them on the internet. My main concern is how this new hip is going to restrict me for the rest of my life or am I just being overly concerned? I would love to hear positive stories to lift my spirits some.
I think you are being overly concerned. It is always hard for those of us who like to be independent to have people taking care of us and I, for one, feel more like a burden to others than they feel I am a burden to them.
Being depressed after the surgery definitely has an effect on your recovery. I was depressed after my hip replacement because just before going into the hospital I went to get new glasses and they could not fix the cloudiness in one eye. I wasn't able to see a specialist about it until after my 3 week check up, but was relieved to find it is something the eye surgeon can fix.
Once I had that news, I was off and running on my recovery and am sometimes leaving my cane behind only 4 weeks after surgery.
You should be able to do everything you did before the surgery after you have had a sufficient healing time. I am told I will be able to ride horses again in a few months.
The Following User Says Thank You to Wildwoodapp For This Useful Post: traveler3309 (12-24-2012)
Dear Traveler3309:
My advice to you is to purchase all the dressing aids so that you can be completely independent of help from your family. You can get them at local medical supply stores or order them on the Internet. They are:
- reacher/grabber.
- sock donner
- long handled shoe horn
- dressing stick
These will enable you to dress without help. They are worth their weight in gold.
Sit in chairs with arms to help you sit and rise independently of help.
Get raiser for toilet seat - this makes a huge difference.
These aids will take a great burden off your family and everyone will be happier.
__________________
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: traveler3309 (12-28-2012)
I have not scheduled my THR yet. ANd do not know what to expect. I did not even think that I may have issues dressing myself or getting off the toilet. YIKES
They may provide you with the walker, grabber and shoe horn. I had a raised toilet seat because of back issues and it is something you really need when you get home. I bought the raised toilet seat and a shower seat myself. I think you can find everything you need on Amazon, but you should ask your surgeon or the person who sets up your appointment for surgery what will or will not be provided. I actually think buying the stuff yourself is cheaper, unless you have insurance that covers everything. They sent home some compression socks for my legs and they were not covered. Two pair cost me $180.00.
They may provide you with the walker, grabber and shoe horn. I had a raised toilet seat because of back issues and it is something you really need when you get home. I bought the raised toilet seat and a shower seat myself. I think you can find everything you need on Amazon, but you should ask your surgeon or the person who sets up your appointment for surgery what will or will not be provided. I actually think buying the stuff yourself is cheaper, unless you have insurance that covers everything. They sent home some compression socks for my legs and they were not covered. Two pair cost me $180.00.
HI:
I found a leg lifter very handy the first few days home. Some here made their own out of a sheet looped on the end. I purchased mine from a local medical supply store. You lift the operated leg off the bed with the lifter and also lift the operated leg up getting into the bed.It looks like a dog leash with no dog on the end as in the invisible dog! The lifter is rigid with a loop on the end to fit over the toes and lower foot.
Also I found a "dressing stick" super helpful and still use it. Good for pushing off shoes and also for lifting from the floor, undies, slacks etc. I find that avoiding lifting still saves my back even though both hip replacements a couple years "old". The stick is an ordinary long dowel with 2 padded hooks on the end. I love it.
If you have all the dressing aids you won't need any help at all to dress! This independence is so good for the spirit.
__________________
Had two hip replacements about a year apart - the last one being August 2009.
This is going to be a big adjustment for me..... past surgeries have never slowed me down much. I was back to work full time 10 days after a full hystorectomy. 3 days off for kidney stone surgery. 4 days for gallbadder removal.
DANG I need to do some investigation. I was thinking a would be back to normal in a couple weeks.
Re: Post op THR 
