Hip replacement must haves?

[AnneShirley18]

Hi, my mother is going in for a long overdue hip replacement next month. If you've been through one, or helped a loved one through one, are there any items you recommend to get through recovery? Could range from the very practical to the pampering. Thanks in advance for any wisdom!

Slow release morphine for the first few days. My DH had his done privately and all of his meds lasted 4 hours only. He ended up in our local GP surgery 72 hours post surgery (home for 2 days by then), as he just couldn't cope any more, and he's not a person who usually complains. The GP was vastly annoyed with the hospital and said it's not unusual.

A raised toilet seat so it's easier to get on and off the toilet. You can get them that just fit over the current toilet seat.

To be honest, unless she has other problems, she won't need anything much - although pampering is always nice. Hip replacements are two a penny these days. I had mine in 2015 and it was a complex one rather than the run of the mill ones most people have. The surgery was at 7pm, I was up and in physio after breakfast, discharged by lunch, and pretty much back to normal! They advised limiting exercise / walking for a couple of weeks, and I wasn't able to drive either. But that was about it. In all honesty I barely noticed it and had no problems.

A little push along trolley with wheels, so she can move things around the house, to put cups of tea or a sandwich on and then push back through to sofa or table.

Something to help with washing, maybe some of the bed bath wipes.

Hopefully OT should help afterwards with things like raised toilet seat and device for helping get socks on etc.

I think you must be an exception rather than the rule.
Before my hip operation it was impressed on me that although hip replacement is a very common operation it is regarded as major surgery
I found the first 6 months after the surgery horrendous. But I have to say it's been life changing for me and being able to walk again pain free was wonerful.

As regards what OP 's DM might need, I found I was given lots of things by the NHS to help with the immediate recovery - the wee gadget for helping to put shoes and socks on , the grabber for helping dressing and picking up objects from the floor, kitchen stool, walking sticks etc etc . All of which were invaluable in the aftermath of the operation.
Best wishes to your DM for a successful and life changing operation.

They never used to let people go home unless their armchair was sufficiently raised that their hip was never below the knee.

Ps if it isn't, they may loan blocks for this.

Gosh - nobody I know has found it that difficult. Glad it worked out for you in the end though.

Will someone be with her for the first couple of nights? I had mine in my late 40s. Getting out of bed for the first few days was the worst, especially if I needed a pee during the night. I used a really heavy duty black rubbish bag under my bum to help me swivel out of bed, but you can get transfer mats. They’re also helpful in the car.

As a pp said, a raised toilet seat with handles and also a firm seat cushion - check what chairs she usually sits in. And remove any rugs to avoid tripping.

I used a wheeled walker for a coupe of days, especially to and from our en suite. I moved to crutches after that and then a walking stick.

I found the sock thing useless. I just wore easy to slip on, rubber soled, wool slippers.

I assume as she's elderly she'll have a cemented hip. In this case the recovery will be much quicker and she'll be allowed to weight bear early on. I agree with others re raised toilet seat etc

Many people who have elective hip surgery are able to get out of bed and walk the very next day! With a walking aid obviously.
Make sure you do your physio, would be my main piece of advice!
I didn't have a new hip but did have a metal plate and screws. I was told I was well enough to leave the ward after a week. But that was from a trauma accident, so elective sometimes you can be up and moving sooner.
Bring her an iPad and load some of her fave movies on there, and make sure you bring her all her favourite snacks. She'll need help bathing at first but the nurses should help. She might want you to help her bathe the first time she does it in the hospital.

showerproof wheelchair or seat in the shower

Have you a home bargains near you? They sell the long handle grabbers for less than £2.00 and really useful to have. In my store they are hanging with the tools section.

I remember this same with beds and toilets, there was some research that showed with modern hip replacements these type of precautions were no longer necessary. Has to be said though things at good height are going to make transfers much easier.

DH has had both hips replaced a few weeks apart. He had crutches for the first two weeks. He got into the over bath shower once he was allowed, two weeks after surgery. He used a small step. He had a raised toilet seat for the first couple of weeks too. He didn't need anything else, no grabbers or push along walkers. He's 81 and after two months since the last one, is back to normal.

Yes definitely these, my other used them a lot. Also yes to the raised toilet seat. We got a load of other aids from occupational health for her but I remember taking most of them back unused. She never used crutches or walker but I suppose it depends on age/overall fitness before the op.

Just had my second hip done.

Was loaned a Zimmer frame (only used for a few days), crutches and a perching stool.

Had the feet to raise the bed and a raised toilet seat from the first procedure.

Bought my own grabber sticks, sock thingy, long handled shoe horn and booster cushion.

Physios very much emphasised not bending the hip more than 90 degrees, so I've used the grabbers a lot. I do find the sock thingy easy to use.

Other things: wipes, long handled shower puff for strip wash until I can get a shower (over bath), shower attachment for mixer tap as I find the kitchen sink easier for hair washing.

Wow thank you everyone! I really appreciate all your responses. Some really practical advice. It's heartening to hear so many of you have experienced/witnessed such great recoveries. My mum is 79. She is a very tough lady and just gets on with things but she's been in so much pain/discomfort the last 5 years. I really hope she gets her quality of life back because she does live life to the full. She broke her hip 12 years ago and that was a really long recovery. She was militant about her physio then so I'm sure she will approach the post op rehabilitation with same attitude. Thanks again, all 😊

Well good for you.

I very talked to various people over the years and they of course had varying experiences. From straightforward to problematic ones

I just don't think you are doing anyone a favour to assume your exceptionally easy experience is the norm for everyone. Everyone is different.

The Occupational Therapist will assess her for the bigger equipment that she may need i.e. chair and toilet raises or a trolley.
It is the smaller aids that she will have to buy. I recommend a Soxon sock aid:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helping-Hand-Soxon-Sock-Aid/dp/B003NTP0B4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1TCQ2SX7ATW7D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fXNsHmE5WUsip8iZZyLutWn27eGthljaAudu6ZLPqr-XNi04haeNuiR_w22U7V0ENMdt6qZ9H3GPcHhml3KGb5F_XtBZBOsHUhQRzJHM-ebhJN0DHzj_IicixaaThiGrl78lPtvgPQqcrJG2s82-egZnYnLMtmVSn9RXfevWs7gVmfia8ttfOaAuaykbqu1pVdSXAND6-zxW3yOvnzC625jBtjJ_PHQwqIOL-yg2pPtnTqsrR5DXWRtnkiiPLiJLpKpB5mtooxcbG1hV6qqzYZ58JAcIaY4yo1w7A8iT7J1M-fppjytRWcySEg_huLYtNgBpIlEk1WBMAQRTWI9hOhvqGiQiYYUOrn__GIcZCY0fEoN8aoyXmtM8iowEhpN4e9VFInKq8Wc6CuR4Q5VLYv3-nzble1nKPbb0fnj5ojojjTWCo95T4HBvMMKH-wWJ.9OjacI36FflfQj_hmort1R2PnxGIeeMKkI92mxVpjLk&dib_tag=se&keywords=soxon+sock+aid&qid=1739714399&sprefix=soxon%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-5
Long handled reacher:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helping-Hand-Classic-Pro-Reaching/dp/B01JZ2WP8I/ref=asc_df_B01JZ2WP8I?mcid=107b54c633a835f6956c32d547b517a1&hvocijid=10508167024269986978-B01JZ2WP8I-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10508167024269986978&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006679&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&gad_source=1&th=1
and a long handled shoe horn:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Homecraft-43-cm-Plastic-Shoehorn/dp/B0056PSWG8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=KD63BHO00C44&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QMLlX-G5x_GE5hX70Co7LDmtZLfYPue-HeeHGblzpshnWof7nYRKxRNqw9NnGBA_Y5N9qXDpn6ZSwzMgnIaEeLPCxWjxy4VU_2grBGtlQ-AwyKdm-Tov3o7jLWPhZ3o94p4L7ka1DhPKF-UCOUybkBdgu_l85CH900O-n4EtNPJjW5aq4-SD30TSqUa6SRgbA2TEAuHQeAfPug5MX_gnO2ncAehpRCNdkDzknqNILivh66m7uIfIplJ73VML81zFmQCqzgoiUwwoSNCD2aJX97Lysc9v6ijXU3wEbU2yJb1RUblx11HbmUbdtSXzOALViRWZhXGO3YAA1aqWQE9RiBvQnZCnPJMCqo7hZaZ7nWA.eFIIGYjz3cMnxLcVla6Obcp5L2ZdH57Nz-Dmquef0x0&dib_tag=se&keywords=long%2Bhandled%2Bshoe%2Bhorn&qid=1739714484&s=drugstore&sprefix=long%2Bhandled%2Bshoe%2Bhorn%2Cdrugstore%2C110&sr=1-4&th=1
I hope it goes well for her.

My DM is in her 80s and recently had her shoulder replaced. After a week she had chucked her pain relief in the bin as even allowing for surgery, the pain was so much better than it had been with her own arthritic joint for the last 10 years.

We chatted to a lady also in her 80s going home after a hip replacement. She lived on her own, wasn't going to have carers and could potter about with a zimmer frame.

She and my DM bonded about how they were 'old school' and just got on with things. OP it sounds like your mum is very similar!

The ward was a very slick operation with lots of physio and OT input. I stayed with my mum for the first week and my top tip is an Amazon Prime account for all the stuff you suddenly find you need, I think we had a delivery of random items every day.

An electric recliner chair would be my suggestion - only way DH could get comfy and get some sleep!

If there are stairs, get an extra pair of crutches (sent home with one pair) then you can leave one crutch upstairs/one down. So much easier and safer than carrying the bannister hand one up and down. Although hopefully all being well she wont need crutches too long.

Food was an odd one - I think maybe the drugs make stuff taste weird but DH didn’t fancy the stuff we usually eat much. Opiates caused constipation so he soon went to just paracetamol/ibuprofen. Nights were the worst with pain/discomfort.
Freezer gel ice packs were helpful.
Plastic bag to slide into car seat.

Pre OP, Hospital sent him home with a body wash to be used everyday 5 days before op, and had to have clean sheets and towels every day in the 5 days before the Op, I think for MRSA prevention.
He came home with crutches, shoe horn, toilet raiser, sock thing and grabber from hospital so check before you go buying Extras!

It’s been a harder recovery than we were led to believe - he’s 50. I’ve read older people with less muscle sometimes bounce back quicker as less to heal. There are helpful FB groups if you use social media. Good luck!

Pain and discomfort wise she will feel so much relief.

The best thing I bought was a massive full body pillow. You're supposed to sleep on your back for the first few weeks and it stopped me turning over in the night. It was also useful when I could sleep on my side so I could put my leg over it and it supported the joint.

i've had both hips replaced, def a raised toilet seat and grabber. i also bought a second hand riser recliner armchair for my last op which was such a help. I pretty much slept in it for the first 2 weeks. I also bought a c shaped table on wheels so i had everything to hand. I also pre booked shopping slots for 6 weeks and stocked up on disposable plates bowls and cutlery so i didn't have to worry about washing up. I have a small dog and also put him into kennels for a fortnight. A slide sheet was invaluable too. I also bought Tena pants and a she wee to use as getting to the loo quickly i knew would be an issue