Hip Replacement Advice/Tips

[barabrith]

I saw the consultant last week and he has agreed that my right hip needs to be replaced because of osteoarthritis. He estimates that my op will be in about 8 weeks!!!
Has anyone had this done and if so any words of wisdom? I'm feeling rather overwhelmed!
Thanks

I know that a planned replacement tends to have much better results - and an all round better recovery - than an emergency op. Be good to get it over with for you

No words of wisdom but if it's any comfort I'm 22 and can expect to have the same thing in the next two years or so, but they would be "willing to operate whenever" because it is severe enough now...

Hand holding/distraction available if you want it until someone with more advice comes along.

Do you want to give the name of the hospital? Don't worry if you'd rather not.

Thanks for your replies and, yes, it will be good to get it over with! PastGrace, are you thinking about when it would be best for you to have the op done? In England the NHS "Choose and Book" system allows you to select the hospital you prefer for surgery, we didn't have this in Wales, where I lived until 18 months ago. I live in Somerset now.

Hi! A useful resource for this is the Bonesmart website, which has a forum catering or pre and post op people. The moderators have orthopaedic nursing experience and are very knowledgeable. Posters range from young people with severe hip disease to older people.Though its an international forum a lot of the posters are based in the US and you get an eye opening account of what this sort of surgery costs in the US, as well as how much sick absence is tolerated in US workplaces (not much).
I encountered the website shortly after I'd had mine done, when I was 47. Although it was a scary prospect, the op and subsequent recovery have been great and I am so glad to be rid of the constant pain and stiffness. It's great after years of hip deformity to be able to tie shoelaces, walk upstairs without needing a handrail, get into a 4x4 without needing a shove up, etc etc. You won't regret it!

Thanks Skylla, I'll have a look at the Bonesmart website.
Yes, it is a scary thought but the long term benefit should make it worthwhile. How long ago did you have yours and how long did recovery take? I'm worried about the fact that our lounge is upstairs, as is our bedroom but the kitchen is downstairs and I understand stairs are very difficult post op. There are also steps at the front of our house.

I had mine nearly 3 years ago, I took three months off work, to be on the safe side, as I can spend a lot of time on my feet.
At the hospital, they will teach you how to walk and manage stairs with crutches. I found that within a week I could get around the house without a crutch but I live on one level and didn't have to negotiate stairs to go to bed, or the loo. I live alone and don't have anyone to look after, so I could get on with getting better without worrying about coping with kids etc. I made sure I had plenty of food in the freezer, and wine in the fridge, had all my useful things like phone /iPod chargers at waist level so I didn't have to bend down to get to them. Make sure your house is nice and tidy beforehand because you won't fancy housework afterwards! Exercise afterwards is important. Even now the muscles in my butt on the right side are significantly weaker from years of dis-use. They will give you a sheet of exercise to do but if I were you I would see a private physio too to accelerate the recovery. I don't drive, they normally say no driving before 6 - 8 weeks.
You'll probably be in hospital for 3 nights. Take a mobile with long battery life, a radio and earphones. These were my lifeline! I didn't have a great deal of pain, and was discharged with some co-codamol, and some anti coagulant which I had to inject myself, which was ok.
I have probably forgotten a lot of the bad bits. Waking up after the op was awful, I got weepy around week 2 post op, and no one ever tells you about the constipation. But I love my post-op life!

Thanks again Scylla, that's exactly the sort of info I need. I've been told I'll be in hospital for 3-4 days. It's reassuring to hear that you didn't experience too much pain after your op.
I've started thinking about stuff I can prepare and put in the freezer. I'm hoping to be notified about the actual date soon so that I can organise things.
Does anyone else have any tips?