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Original poster

Hip replacement operation tips please

26 replies

feelingunsupported · 27/01/2015 22:21

My lovely Dad is finally having a hip replacement op this weekend. He's terrified and has left it far too long - he's in horrible pain and it's awful to see him struggling.

He's 65 and otherwise fit and healthy. He's a stubborn old fool though and thinks he'll be out of hospital in 2 days and back to his driving job in a fortnight.

Their house isn't ideal for recovery - no downstairs loo or bedroom.

So... any tips / experience? ?

OP posts:

mummylin2495 · 27/01/2015 22:57

My dh had a new hip nearly three years ago now. He was 55. He went in on Thurs morning. Had op in the afternoon and came home on Saturday lunchtime, although I think he was just lucky and four days is more the norm. Like your dad dh was in terrible pain But I have to say it's the best thing he has ever had done. It helped that he did everything he was told by the hospital and didn't overdo things. I expect you have already been told about the height of the toilet, bed and chair etc ? My dh had to walk up stairs before he was allowed home. When he got home he had to have a daily injection of anti clotting drug clexane , I think it was for 30 days. This was easy and I got to be an expert at doing this ( I enjoyed it )
One of the worst things was changing the white stockings he had to wear, I only have small hands and it was a struggle to get them on. If I remember correctly these were for 6 weeks ! Your dad won't be able to bend down so he can't do this himself. I'm sure he will benefit hugely from his new hip. Tell him not to be terrified and if he wants to know anything else I can ask dh for him

mummylin2495 · 27/01/2015 22:59

I'm afraid he won't be back to driving in a fortnight.

temporaryusername · 27/01/2015 23:25

My mum had a hip replacement - I totally echo what Mummylin said about those stockings! Also the injections, DM did hers herself, the nurses showed her how before she left the ward. It seemed like different people on the ward progressed at quite different rates in terms of how soon they got home. If he has any reaction to the anaesthetic or morphine that can delay things a bit. Hopefully that won't happen though. My mum can't take morphine so the first few days after were hard for her, but everyone else was on the morphine and feeling a bit better!

Stairs - there is a special technique they will show him - I don't think DM found stairs the worst thing actually - finding a comfortable seating position was worse. It might be best at first to plan his days so he only has to go up and down once, so he could probably do with a chair and tv upstairs. It is best to have a chair upstairs as well as down so he can vary his position a bit without having to do the stairs.

There is no way he will be able to drive in a fortnight. I think it is around 6 weeks, if all goes well, but also I think the consultant has to approve you as ok to drive again. The height of chairs is a really important thing to try to get sorted - if I remember right you can't have your hips lower than the knees - they can advise you on this. Also I'd advise seeing a physio once he is up and about a bit (if you can get a private home visit) after he is home to check he isn't sitting or moving in a way that doesn't help with the recovery. He will see them on the ward but then there is usually a gap before follow up. Make sure he has a grabber to pick things up as he won't be able to bend (it can cause dislocation) and it will be very annoying to have to call someone every time something falls! Especially as the ironic thing is that it's usually the crutches that fall - so put the grabber within reach of him and the crutches.

He's really quite young and I think he'll be fine. He'll probably just be very bored as the recovery drags on, so if there are any books and dvds you can stock up on then do! Things vary a lot, the swelling continues to go down for a year apparently, though it isn't visible. Some people find recovery takes longer, but others get a great result in a shorter time. For many people it has a transformative good outcome, or they wouldn't do so many.

mummylin2495 · 27/01/2015 23:47

I bought my dh a laptop because I knew he would be bored best thing I have ever got for him.
I second a grabber and they also gave dh a big shoe horn to help with shoes and getting his pants on ! The occupational therapy people came here before his op to measure things. They have us a seat to higher the loo. It does need to be a high chair he will sit on. Each day he can walk a little bit until gradually he can get around everywhere. Again this takes time to build up.he is supposed to sleep on his back as well. Dh would not do his own injections. And last year my friend had her hip done and no-one would do hers either so I went every eve to do it for her.
Another tip we were given is that when he comes home from hospital he sits on a plastic bag as this makes it easier for him to seat himself. And I've just remembered something else. Jogging bottoms are best fir the hospital or any loose fitting trousers, and he had slippers a size bigger to allow for any swelling. Dh was lucky as he actually went to the hospital for exercises at the hospital as he was on a back to work prog. He is an electrician and has to scramble around in people's lofts etc. they showed him how to position his legs properly. He has had no trouble at all with anything at all.

mummylin2495 · 27/01/2015 23:49

Plastic bag on the car seat I mean, not at home !

Original poster

feelingunsupported · 28/01/2015 20:56

Thank you all so much - this info is brilliant! I had no idea about the injections - can't imagine he'll want to do them himself and mum is a bit of a wimp but I had to give myself injections for a while whilst pregnant so I can pop in and do those.

Surprised he'll be able to walk so soon - assumed he'd need a wheelchair on discharge!

OP posts:

ibbydibby · 28/01/2015 21:54

My DM also did the injections herself, she found it very straightforward once shown in hospital, and better than waiting for someone to come round and do it. A Red Cross (I think) lady came round to change the stockings. As others have said, make sure he follows instructions, especially with regard to not bending over. MY DM did bend over in the garden (think she got rather carried away) and ended up dislocating at 5.5 weeks post op. For her the hip-op has not been hugely successful (am skipping a lot of detail here), but I strongly believe it is 99% due to her ignoring advice.

SauvignonBlanche · 28/01/2015 22:01

He's right about being out in 2 days if all goes well but wrong about the driving.

It depends on his consultant but it is usual to walk patients on the day of surgery if they come back from theatre early enough or the following morning if he's back late.

Original poster

feelingunsupported · 28/01/2015 22:19

Wow - I envisioned him being totally laid up. Was going to book a taxi that can carry a wheelchair for him to come home!

OP posts:

mayfridaycomequickly · 31/01/2015 08:19

Hi (name changed op here)

Thanks for the tips everyone - he's at the hospital now. (He had to ring at 6am to make sure there was a bed and there are 5 other patients in the waiting room with him so no idea what time he'll get to theatre - why do hospitals do that!?)

I really feel for him, he's terrified of hospitals and is convinced he'll die under anaesthetic :-(

mummylin2495 · 31/01/2015 12:00

I'm sure he will be fine OP. Wishing your dad all the best, do let us know how he gets on

SauvignonBlanche · 31/01/2015 13:22

Fingers crossed!

temporaryusername · 31/01/2015 23:03

Hope all is well OP, let us know how your dad is doing when you can.

mayfridaycomequickly · 01/02/2015 21:44

Hi - he's had it and he's doing really well! He went down at 9am yesterday and he's been up for a shuffle this afternoon. He's had a little setback as he couldn't pass urine so they've popped in a catheter.

His pain is manageable though for the first time in as long as I remember and the angst has gone from his face. Thank you all so much :-)

SauvignonBlanche · 01/02/2015 21:49

That's great news!
It's lovely when patients come back from theatre and say that they're in less pain afterwards.

temporaryusername · 01/02/2015 22:59

That's very good news, sounds like he is really on course. I'd assumed he'd have a catheter, I thought everyone did. Shuffling a bit today is great progress. I'm sure the lessening of the pain will boost him through this post op period.

mummylin2495 · 01/02/2015 23:37

That's great news, glad he didn't have to wait too long until he had the op. Dh also had. Catheter but was taken out after a day. Good to see that he is already shuffling around. He will be so happy he had it done when he has recovered completely.

mayfridaycomequickly · 02/02/2015 08:10

He didn't have the catheter until the night time (op at 9am - he didn't pass water all day so mam raised it with the nurse and they popped it in at about 10pm.

He's being stubborn about pain meds - we visited, he said the meds were wearing off and he was sore. Nurse came round to do obs - asked if he was in pain and he said no! He seems to think it's a sign of weakness. I 'told on him' to the nurse though and she got him some pain relief.

His treatment has been brilliant - our NHS is amazing! He's also on a ward with a great bunch of blokes who are all chatting and rallying each other. :-):-)

mummylin2495 · 02/02/2015 11:16

He sounds in very good spirits. It probably helps that he has others in the ward to speak to. They will send him home with meds ( dh had morphine stuff ) in case he needs it but he didn't need any of it. He will be given his box of needles etc for his jabs. A sharps bucket for the used needles. And of course stockings and crutches!
I would imagine he will soon be home now, and will feel even better. Yes our NHS is brilliant.

HollyBdenum · 02/02/2015 11:21

Do get him to keep a look out for signs of infection - infections after hip replacements are rare, but very nasty.

Muststopworrying · 02/02/2015 16:49

My mum has has two resurface operations and a full replacement and each time recovery has been different but been astonished at how quickly she was able to do things. Carrier bag on the car seat was a good tip we used as she could slide in and out. Luckily her bed was raised so could get in and out etc. They did not discharge her from hospital until she could do so many steps in the stairs as then could get upstairs to get to the toilet. I can remember that someone came out and checked the house before they discharged her to check heights of things. Don't know if this is the case still. First time she had a chair that was borrowed which she loved as got my dad to position near the window so it was nicknamed the 'nosey neighbour' chair'. Injections were given by a nurse who came out which was fine. So much pain was my mum in that the pain she experienced after was bearable because of pre operation if you get my drift. The biggest pain was the stocking. More because they only issued a pair and getting them on was a mammoth task which usually resulted in lots of laughter. Also washing and drying it was a pain but shhhhhh never told the nurses about that. Driving was the main issue as was longer than they said as my mum just wanted to do the school run as soon as she could but couldn't. Hope all is well with the recovery. He will feel so much better for it.

mayfridaycomequickly · 03/02/2015 19:27

His high spirits have dropped a bit today - he's been discharged but his leg is very swollen and he's in a lot of pain. Does anyone know if that's normal? It has been swollen all day and he told the nurses before he came home but they didn't seem concerned.

mummylin2495 · 03/02/2015 20:36

I think it's quite normal. Does it feel over hot at all ? Did they give him any pain killers to take ? If you are worried give the ward he was on a call they will be able to tell you if it's a normal thing. My dh didnt get this but my friend did

temporaryusername · 04/02/2015 15:16

I think pain and swelling is normal, but if the leg as a whole is swollen I'm not sure, just don't know. I think it probably could be normal, but could also sometimes not be, so I'd agree on ringing the ward for further advice if it is still going on.

Hope all is going ok. It is still very early days remember. At this point I don't think my DM had managed to get across the ward with a frame!

Johnogroats · 04/02/2015 15:27

I had a replacement 3 years ago. Best thing ever. I don't remember leg swelling and being excessively sore. Is he taking ibuprofen? Perhaps speak to dr. I was mobile quickly but did the max and got very tired. I did need to rest and sleep every day for a while. Not easy with a 5yo!

Hope your Dad continues to improve.

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