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Original poster

Mil Recovery from hip replacement

37 replies

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 13:48

I'm after some advice please from anyone in the know, how quickly you're up on your feet after a hip replacement? Mil had hers on Monday. She's really not up much yet and dh and I don't know whether to start encouraging her to do more. Apart from trips to the toilet she really just sits. Starting to be concerned she's not on it enough with the physio etc.

OP posts:

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 13:52

Is she at home, is she in pain or finding it difficult getting up from the chair. Have the physio given her walking aids and anything else to help her like raised seat cushions, raised toilet seat, a bed raiser rail. . She should stand at least once an hour just to relieve the pressure on her bottom.

mdh2020 · 01/05/2022 13:55

I was made to walk the day after the op and taught to do stairs the following day. I went home on the third day, walking on crutches. I hope she has been given the correct equipment as mentioned above. I had no pain at all and probably did a bit too much walking too soon but it paid off and I made a quick recovery. I think she should be walking and doing a bit more every day. The important thing is not to bend or twist.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 13:56

She's at home and has 2 sticks. She's mostly complaining she's very tired, not sleeping well at night but having an afternoon nap, which can be a vicious cycle. She's a more sedentary person by nature. We wonder if she should be doing a bit more... Worried about her getting stiff etc and not being good for the new hip.

OP posts:

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 13:59

The anaesthetic can be in your system for a few weeks which could make her tired and depressed. but she should be up walking by now, sitting in a chair all day is not good for her new hip or circulation. Has the physio given her exercises to do . Does she have stairs.

unicornsarereal72 · 01/05/2022 13:59

She needs to be walking short distances. They had me up and moving from day one and physio a few weeks later.

DalzielMilngavie · 01/05/2022 14:06

I can give you my anecdotal experience, I had my hip replaced last month and it's so sore!!! Like still a bit sore after the opioids sore.

I was also concerned by my immobility at about a week post-op and my physio told me there was little problem of scar tissue forming, just to do what I could. She had given me exercises to do while lying down and sitting, and my reps were zero for some of them for the first few days. At 10 days post-op I was able to do more, just woke up and felt better, it was weird. It still wasn't a lot, but definitely felt loads better. I'm mid-forties for context.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 14:08

She has been given some physio exercises to do from bed which she has been doing. It's more the just being up, standing. And walking. That we're wondering about.

OP posts:

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 14:10

She might feel more secure with a walking frame or trolley, sticks can be quite difficult to use. Does she say why she doesnt want to move about more.

purplesequins · 01/05/2022 14:18

my fil had his first physio session 2 hours after he was back on the ward after surgery.
he also had 2 months of (private) physio before the operation and another couple of months after.

I know everyone is different but he was almost pai free after surgery and then back to better that before within a couple of days.

Wombat98 · 01/05/2022 14:21

Anaesthetic can affect cognitive behaviour. Have a, read of the recent Guardian article. But essentially she needs to be doing the exercises.

boonducks · 01/05/2022 14:27

The anaesthetic can make you feel weak and drowsy for a week or so, an afternoon nap after major surgery isn't her being lazy as you seem to imply.
She will have been given quite detailed instructions on what to do and how much. Does she have a printed copy of exercises? As long as she is following that you shouldn't expect more after less than a week.

fallfallfall · 01/05/2022 14:29

It really depends on her age, did she fall and break her hip or was the surgery planned due to other reasons? Then there is the issue of the actual procedure and technique.
overall I believe it takes a full year to recover. So even though they now get you more mobile sooner kicking you out of the hospital quicker. The recovery is slow and steady.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 14:32

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 14:10

She might feel more secure with a walking frame or trolley, sticks can be quite difficult to use. Does she say why she doesnt want to move about more.

What she's says is she's too tired. The medication she's on has caused ibs so she's up several times in the night and has also been vomiting. So that's not good. In addition though she's recently bereaved so possibly doesn't have anything to get up for, if you know what I mean. She's also never been someone who would say go for a walk.

OP posts:

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 14:38

Do you know what medication she is on, is it water tablets that cause her to get up to the loo in the night. Any idea why she is vomiting, is she on strong oainkillers or constipated which is common after surgery and if shes not moving much. I would see if the gp or district nurse can see her, if she is ok to be at home she might need some carers for a while or more equipment like a commode and riser chair.

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 14:43

We think it's the blood thinners Dabigatran that are causing the stomach issues. Assume her body needs to get used to them. She's not constipated, the opposite actually.

At the moment someone is with her 24/7, dh and his sister are juggling.

We're wondering

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 14:44

Sorry,
We're wondering where the line is where we start to suggest to her to try to do a bit more. It's difficult.
She's gone back to bed now see.
She's early 70s.

OP posts:

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 14:46

Maybe next week?

OP posts:

SadHippy · 01/05/2022 14:46

I am sending you a PM, OP.

BlanketsBanned · 01/05/2022 14:51

Dabigatran can cause tummy upsets, have they given her anything to help with the side effects.. is she eating and drinking ok, if she has diarrhoea she could get dehydrated.

Swayingpalmtrees · 01/05/2022 15:19

Absolutely do NOT push her to do more!!!!

Not under any circumstances.

I had mine both done at 40 and 43, and I am/was very very fit and young. I actually felt like I had been hit by a train for the first week, it was that bad. Barely registered what was even happening around me, it is impossible to sleep for the first month no matter how exhausted you are, as you have to sit up all night and can't move properly. I was awake all night every night. I felt so depleted and broken from the surgery itself, it is unlike anything I have experienced before. Much worse than childbirth. It is a nightmare just to go to the loo and back, forget about doing more. The pain is pretty intense for the first few weeks. It is major major surgery.

She should aim to do the exercises given to her four to six times a day, just very short bursts and rest afterwards for a few hours.

Yes they get you up walking post surgery and up and down the stairs etc before going home, but it is a massively long haul back to anything like proper mobility.
People commented on 'how well' I was doing, but in reality it took me a good few months to be walking again, longer still to fully recover.

Your poor MIL will have been through hell.

I think realistically ten days with someone with her to keep her safe, a fall is your biggest worry at this stage, and should have to do it all again. After that she still needs help for another week or two afterwards at least, with people popping in with food, doing the housework and helping her.

I know everyone is different but he was almost pai free after surgery and then back to better that before within a couple of days

Honestly discard this post. It is ridiculous. You have had your leg dislocated, your hip joint sawn out, and a new hip and stem put in. You are NOT 'back to better' in a few days!!!!! 🙄A few months you will start to feel human again and walking without aids...

Original poster

Reluctantadult · 01/05/2022 15:24

Thanks @Swayingpalmtrees this is useful.

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 01/05/2022 15:30

Ask her about the physio exercises she was given. These are the most important thing for a good recovery. Its essential she does them. Three times a day is usual. Even if she can't manage the number of repeats for the first few days. Some peopld suffer more than others. Please listen to Swayingpalmtrees. She knows what she is talking about.

lljkk · 01/05/2022 15:36

The discharge team should have given her clear guidance about how much activity to do on what time table, & she should follow that, no less and no more. Advice tailored to her history & age. This is the single most common bit of advice I've heard from everyone I know who believes they had a successful hip replacement.

Neighbour, early 60s when she had her replacement, was walking very short distances around house with help from about 3 days.

Swayingpalmtrees · 01/05/2022 15:44

There are specialist recovery units that she can move into, if she is struggling op and you are finding it hard to look after her op. Also agencies that can send carers in just short term too. Almost everywhere has them for post surgery patients that need to go home. So don't feel you have to do it all.

Don't be disheartened though once she gets going, and finds her confidence the trajectory improves really quickly. The first three weeks are pretty shocking, but after that you will be pleasantly surprised by her recovery time.

When you are ready to leave her for longer
She needs:

Grabbers everywhere to pick things up
A fully charged phone with some kind of way to keep it with her all time - I had a special caddy on my crutches that allowed me to 'carry' things. Set up a charging station by her bed so she has access at all times for help if she needs it.
Lots of drinks and snacks by her bed
She can use incontinence pads at night, to limit the number of times she has go to the loo (and therefore the risk of a fall when she is really tired) Not nice, but better than falling
A huge amount of downloaded films and things to watch
Try to switch to paracetamol every 4-6 hours once it is taken continuously it becomes very effective, the stronger painkillers cause all sorts of stomach issues and side effects.
Consider a mobile physio that comes to visit her at the house. I recovered much faster with support.

Be very kind op, she wants to get better as quickly as she can, but the shock to the body is considerable, the pain is something else, remember she will be fine by the summer and back to her normal self in no time.

You are lovely to look after her

SoManyTshirts · 01/05/2022 15:46

I’m on Day 18 post hip replacement (see Gransnet). The poor woman isn’t even a week in! I’m on the quick ‘Enhanced Recovery Pathway’ and was only allowed 2 x 10 minute outside walks a day at that stage. No choice in walking round the house as I’m alone.

Some people are pain free and I am one, but most aren’t - as evidenced by automatic morphine and prescription in hospital.

Im 10 years younger than MIL, only taking aspirin for blood thinning no painkillers, and have been napping up to 3 hours a day on top of sleeping all night. Took me 2 weeks to be able to concentrate enough to read a book. It’s a shock to the body and takes time to get over.

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