Terrible experience so far hip op recovery - will it get better?

[Dougt]

Hello, new to this board as mum has been independent and coping well so far but at 83 has just had a hip replacement. Otherwise well and reasonably active.

i just wanted to find out what other people’s experience of the immediate and longer term recovery is at this age.

It was done at a private hospital but NHS funded. She woke from the op at about 2pm on Friday and was discharged the following day at 11 Saturday. So less than 12 hours after op.

I understand it was decided she was suitable for this “enhanced recovery”, and she saw physio who said she was ok to be discharged. She was apparently confused and they thought this was the oxycodone so she was sent home with codeine and and paracetamol only.

my sister collected her and has been caring for her and it’s been a nightmare. She didn’t sleep, can’t move, is extremely tearful, has crutches only which are no good and was told she does not need a walking frame. 2nd night post op at home she was cold and feverish and called the hospital who told her to call 111, who told them to call and ambulance who have taken her back to hospital (NHS of course) my sister is terrified they will try to discharge her today but I hope the NHS will realise she is unsafe to be at home.

Does any of this sound normal? My sister feels she needs a proper electric hospital bed if she’s to cope at home and a walking frame so will the hospital help organise this? We were really unprepared, despite trying to do my research, the private hospital said she’d need someone with her for the first 24 hours only, that she would not need a frame (even when they discharged her) and would be fine with sticks. Even knowing about things like bed risers which might help would have been helpful!

In answer to the timing, there was a post on MN recently from a lady who'd had a double replacement and could walk unaided on the second day. That makes food a lot easier as you can shuffle around with a plate.

Otherwise you might be able to free up a spare hand if you can drop to one crutch after a couple of weeks.

I will need a new right hip. My osteopath says my right leg is very weak now because of this. I'm doing all the exercises, gritted teeth. But imagine if your leg is weakened how much harder it is to get going again

I had hip op and was in 4 nights, had a reaction to pain meds. No crutches, had 2 sticks, saw physio daily while in hosp. Once home def needed help to get in and out of bed etc. No surgical stockings just had tablets to take. If using sticks it is so easy to drop them so I attached wrist straps/loops to them so couldn’t drop them and get stuck. Really have to do the exercises. Hope your mum improves.

This is a VERY informative 40-page guide, from one of the Canadian health authorities. Lots of very sensible advice, what to expect, etc etc.

https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/sites/default/files/2022-02/CS-PIER-0115-Booklet-Hip-Replacement.pdf

Thanks, that site seems to be down for me at the moment, can’t access the link or anything on the saskhealth site will try again later

My mother had a hip op at 83 and had a good if slow recovery. She was in hospital for a few days as she had multiple comorbidities and was high risk for the anaesthetic but once home did her exercised and was independent again fairly quickly.

My MIL had an operation about the same time (not hip) and had a bad reaction to the anaesthetic despite being a lot healthier - she as very confused for nearly a week so there may be a few things going on with your mother.

Should have added, private hospital refused to operate on my mother because of her other health conditions and NHS put her in high dependency for a few days but she did fine.

My DM had a replacement last year. She paid for it as the nhs wait was ridiculous and she was becoming immobile with the pain.

She was in hospital for 4 days and then went to a private rehab clinic for a week. She had physio twice a day and nursing care if needed. It worked v well and she left not really needing her crutches, but used one for a short time afterwards.

Discharging after a few hours doesn't sound like good practice at all.

My mum (78) had a hip replacement in November. She went in on a Saturday for the op and was discharged on the Monday. She had full time help at home from family for two weeks. She did physio exercises from Day 1 at home and used crutches, then went on to a stick. It's a difficult balance between learning to move again so you don't seize up and you strengthen all your muscles and resting so you can recover adequately and don't over do it.

The sections related to anaesthesia in that booklet are really quite old fashioned. Can’t comment on the physio/rehab side of things though.

My Mum went straight from hospital (private but NHS paid for the op) where she'd been for two days after the op to a residential care home which she paid for herself. She stayed there for two weeks. She needed help with meals and initially with getting out of bed etc and no family members lived nearby to help. She had to arrange it all herself though, it was just assumed by the hospital she'd go home and someone would be around to help her!

Sorry for taking ages to come back.
Since having adequate pain relief she’s been doing really well.

There was absolutely no way discharging someone with paracetamol and codeine was a sensible idea.

Good to read your update, I'm glad she's getting on a lot better.

My mother was discharged with paracetamol and codeine - but that was ten days after surgery, not 24 hours.

Thank you so much @Twelvetimes and everyone else who offered advice and support.

We are now day 8. Her GP has readily prescribed more morphine, so it seems they think we might need it for a bit longer. Yesterday she did more walking and today was in lots of pain so has just stayed inside. Much better tonight so hoping for better day tomorrow.

I’m glad to hear things are slowly improving. I think one of the hardest things is getting the right amount of pain relief. Sounds like you have a supportive GP which helps.

The only thing they would give me 12 hours after a C section was paracetomol. Medical staff have a touching faith in its effectiveness.