Help me not to catastrophise about a broken hip

[Jean24601Valjean]

MIL broke her hip a few days ago. So far mine and DH's parents have been in good health, but still obviously getting on. This broken hip has made all our thoughts about what will happen when they start to need more help a lot less abstract, as it's such a familiar plotline for "a fall" and broken hip to be the start of things going downhill. Can anyone tell me from their experience that this need not be the case?? I do already have an example myself as my grandmother (in her 90s) broke her hip a few years ago and has completely recovered. I'd actually forgotten that it happened. My mum had to remind me. But DGM is a medical (and other kinds of ways) marvel so it's not so comforting as an example. Can you tell me if any of your parents or relatives broke a hip and then didn't go from there into needing lots of help and care?? Give me hope!! (I do know that providing help and care is probably inevitable at some point, but just really need it to not be now. I also know there's never a good time for it.)

My 97 year old grandma broke her hip in the autumn, two weeks in hospital back to the residential home after that, using her Walker as before in no time. The physiotherapist told my mum they have never met such a resilient 97 year old. For reference she is in the home for dementia.

Completely incredible recovery which has amazed everyone including family as we really thought she would never leave hospital.

Hope it's a good recovery with lots of good health still for her to look forward to

My mum (80's) has recovered from a broken hip. They did a replacement while she was in surgery so she doesn't even need a stick to walk anymore.

From falling to being up and about was less than a week.... She ditched the walking aids after 6 months.

My nanny broke her hip 18months ago - she's 93, back in her own home (lives alone), does now have a carer to help her shower but walks round her house without using aids. She was sore for a little while but she really surprised us all with how quickly she recovered!!

Thank you everyone! These stories are all really heartening and I'm happy all your relatives pulled through so well!

Mental capacity helps. My NDN broke her hip, but was very aware that the “easy” route (of not persisting with physio etc) was a route to the care home. So she recovered, and she and her DH still live in their own home with no obvious family support and no LA support

My DM broke a hip at 90 or 91 (can’t remember) but recovered well and went on to 97, even though she also had pretty bad dementia at the time.
She wouldn’t do any of the recommended physio but still managed back at her care home, with a Zimmer frame when she did remember to use it.

Having said that, despite a very frail appearance, she had the general constitution of a rhinoceros. We were told that the anaesthetist for her hip op had remarked, ‘Boy, this is one tough old bird!’ 😂

While she was in hospital a DSis heard her telling the nurses that she was going to tell her father of them, and he’d have them all put in prison.

To which one nurse replied, ‘Well, I’ve spoken to your father, and he says you’ve got to eat your lunch.’
They were brilliant with her.👏

My MIL broke her hip aged 82 two years ago. She got better and is living at home alone again, walking her dogs and generally gone.

Generally FINE is what I meant to write!

My mother broke her hip aged 85. Didn’t do well initially. Was in wheelchair. After (lots of) physio and perseverance made full recovery within 3 months. Two years later is walking fine - no stick, walker or wheelchair needed.

Provided she is patient and persevering with the exercises your MIL should be back to her usual self in a couple of months.

This thread is very important for me to see right now... My old dear has also just had a fall and my fears where taking over. Thanks all.

MIL fell about this time last year and broke a hip. She was frail before the break but is back to exactly where she was before the surgery. No better, no worse.

This is good to hear, thank you and glad the MIL is doing good.

I totally understand the worry though as my dad fell in similar circumstances and went downhill very fast. But the factor which hastened his demise was the dementia, he was just so confused and unable to engage with physio, I’m not sure he even knew he was in hospital. But MIL had all her marbles and was out in about 5 days.

make sure you gave everything she’ll need like toilet raiser seats or an armchair she can push herself up from before she’s discharged. Mil was lent both the chair and loo seat from the hospital.

Yes I think she needs a few of these things to help but she is stubborn But also very determined.
So hopefully this will be on her side.

Not a broken hip but broken shoulder that required surgery to pin and a fractured pelvis - my 93yo mum, despite 8 weeks in hospital, a severe chest infection / dehydration and kidney injury, is now back home and in better health than before she went in. We honestly thought it would be the end, or the first step to carers / care home but this hasn’t been the case. I hope your MIL recovers well op.