Re: THR in February, Any basic information would be welcomed.

[Guest guest]

its really up to how you feel and how you can tolerate painjaclaire8 <jaclaire8@...> wrote: Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the time.Thanksjaclaire

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[Guest guest]

jaclaire, don't worry, I know we are all different, but i'm 4 weeks post op - yup the first 10 days were a little rough, but since then its onward and upward - at 4 weeks I'm walking 45 - 60 minutes a day, doing my barn chores, driving and cooking and doing laundry. If all goes well you will be fine - I'm having some knee problem now, but its probably because I'm walking so differently than I was and I'm sure will pass. If it was a knee, not so easy, but a hip even with the PT problems I had in the hospital, you quickly forget the first few days. I will honestly say I was in more pain before the op than after - different pain, stiff and sore, but not that chronic ache. Good luck, keep in touch, a good bunch here.

ann

THR in February, Any basic information would be welcomed.

Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the time.Thanksjaclaire

[Guest guest]

Hi Jaclaire

I had a THR 6 weeks ago (I'm 41). I found the first couple of weeks I needed

a lot of rest, interspersed with getting up and walking around the house. I

wouldn't've wanted to eat out until week 3 or 4, when most of the op

pain/swelling had gone.

My husband did the cooking, shopping and washing for the first few weeks. If

you're like me, you'll get easily tired to begin with (and I was very fit

before my surgery). At this stage all your body's energies are directed at

healing after what is major surgery. I 'turned a corner' after week 3, in

that my energy increased in a major way!

Now at 6 weeks, I potter around with no cane, only using a cane if I'm

walking any distance outside. I'm back exercising on a stationary bike: I

feel like a new woman

THR in February, Any basic

information would be welcomed.

Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect

in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What

kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?

Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and

self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the

time.

Thanks

jaclaire

[Guest guest]

Jaclaire: Your questions are those that you should ask

your doctor. We're all different, with different kinds

of prostheses, physical characteristics, health, age,

and so forth, so a lot is determined by these

characteristics. If your hospital offers a hip/knee

replacement orientation class, go to it! I found the

one at my hospital VERY informative before my surgery.

I'm guessing you will definitely NOT be in bed all the

time. In fact, I was encouraged pretty much as soon as

I was conscious after the surgery to move around and,

when I was ready, get out of bed and walk around (with

my walker). I was even given exercises to do while

lying in bed. An occupational therapist from the

hospital should teach you how to take care of

yourself. --Arthur

--- jaclaire8 <jaclaire8@...> wrote:

> Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb.

> What can I expect

> in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat

> in a week? What

> kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in

> bed all the time?

> Things like that, just basic information. I live

> with my husband and

> self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm

> alone a most of the

> time.

>

> Thanks

> jaclaire

>

>

Arthur in Pennsylvania

LTHR November 10, 2006

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Jaclaire, I had THR on Dec. 8. I was in the hospital 4 days, then had home care, both RNs checking on me and a PT to work me out. During that 3 weeks, I wasn't "supposed" to go out--Medicare pays for home care only if you're homebound. Rules say "only church and doctor's appts." Your situation may be different.When I did get out for a meal, I carried a pillow to add height to the restaurant chair. I was surprised how quickly I lost my appetite--the food looked so good, but after I'd eaten half my serving I was done! I've been the same way at home so far.As for staying in bed, that's the last thing anyone will let you do! We had a houseful of family for the holidays, and I didn't want to miss a moment; and now with all the outpatient PT I've got such a full calendar

I'll never get to sleep in. Besides, it takes twice as long to bathe and dress one-handed (I'm using a cane now) and every time I drop something I have to get the reacher...I put a ring on the reacher so it hangs from my cane when I'm moving around the house.I have a favorite chair for reading and sitting, but it doesn't keep my hips higher than my knees. So we moved the cushion from another chair in on top of the regular one. Feels funny but is quite comfy.Be sure to have a telephone within reach so you can answer it when you're alone, and can call people to chat. I have a tray with sides (beer tray) that I can put my food, coffee and drink on for breakfast or lunch. When I was using a walker, I had to get someone else to carry it to my snack table, but now with just the cane I can balance it in one hand and wait on myself.I'm 77 years old; if you're a lot younger, you may feel like kicking up your heels

sooner.Barb

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[Guest guest]

Hi jaclaire- I was resurfaced in October of 2006. A relatively new

procedure,only approved in the US in May of 2006. It leaves much of

the bone of the femur intact, giving a better wear on the body,

eliminating some difficulties associated with regular THR.It can be

checked out by googleing BHR-resurfacing, or by going to the

group surfacehippy. It uses a ball that doesn't cut away as much bone

from the femur as does a THR, and uses a large diameter ball with a

metal on metal bearing surface. I had a bilateral in October, the

17th & the 31st, & am very happy so far.

Worth looking into. I am 45 years old & want to resume normal

activity, & from my research the resurfacing has fewer long term

restrictions than a traditional THR.

The recovery I had was pretty good, what you can do when depends I

think on how good a shape you're in now. I have been doing

construction & working quite hard so I was able to get myself up &

muscle myself around pretty well. Went home from the hospital to a

restaurant after the 2nd one.

Going back to work next week. Can't wait. Feel great.

Peace

Hozak BHR 10/17-31/06

[Guest guest]

Welcome ... I hope you have a smooth recovery. I needed much help for over a solid week - my friend didn't go to work, but stayed with me 24/7. I slept a lot, and spent time managing my pain. I felt better going on the 2nd week ... he was home during the day, worked nites, so that was good - by the 4th week it was a big turn around for me & I could see that I was feeling much better.Everyone is different. My muscles are bad and I am getting my left hip replaced. Some people on this forum were doing laundry at the end of the first week! A friend of mine was walking with a cane in 2 weeks... and so on. In Beauty, JackieFrom: jaclaire8 [mailto: jaclaire8@...]Joint Replacement Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:11:23 -0000Subject: THR in February, Any basic information would be welcomed.Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the time.Thanksjaclaire No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement Jackie. I've been going through all the entries and truly begining to feel some hope in advance. I've had DJD for at least 20 years and have a high pain tolerance but that kept me from having this done sooner, I think. I've been bone on bone for some time now and can't wait to get this taken care of. While reading through differnet entries I found out about a leg lifter, wow. I was trying to figure out how to make shift one, and didn't think to research it. I've been in PT on and off for the last few years but I can hardly drive now becasue of the pain (it's my right hip) hard to get in and out of the drivers seat and getting hard even to get into the passengers seat. My husband will be working and probably working overtime when I have my surgery. He can take off the day of surgery and probably the next. My daughter can take off a day of two after I come home from the hospital but I

honestly am pretty much on my own. Any suggestions? Earlynne (jaclaire8)Jackie Olsen <jaolsen@...> wrote: Welcome ... I hope you have a smooth recovery. I needed much help for over a solid week - my friend didn't go to work, but stayed with me 24/7. I slept a lot, and spent time managing my pain. I felt better going on the 2nd week ... he

was home during the day, worked nites, so that was good - by the 4th week it was a big turn around for me & I could see that I was feeling much better.Everyone is different. My muscles are bad and I am getting my left hip replaced. Some people on this forum were doing laundry at the end of the first week! A friend of mine was walking with a cane in 2 weeks... and so on. In Beauty, Jackie From: jaclaire8 [mailto: jaclaire8 ]Joint Replacement Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:11:23 -0000Subject: THR in February, Any basic information would be welcomed. Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect in the way of initial

recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the time.Thanksjaclaire No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

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[Guest guest]

Earlynne, Until you get your leg lifter. Use the one you came with! I use my "good" leg to support my week leg by slipping the ankle of the good one under the week one and use it as an impromptu lifter. I did w/o a lifter most of the time using this little trick. PatI can hardly drive now becasue of the pain (it's my right hip) hard to get in and out of the drivers seat and getting hard even to get into the passengers seat.

[Guest guest]

don't worry, if you can get into rehab for a few days - I really didn't need anyone mothering me, but I will say coffee in bed was rather luxurious - I miss it now. Its amazing how much you can do after a hip replacement - I too was bone on bone and the pain is a hell of a lot less after the op than before. Yes you are stiff, but not the same pain - not in my mind anyway. Now you won't be cavorting, but you can manage - I went shopping 10 days after the operation with my husband. I cooked xmas dinner 2 weeks after so you should be okay.

ann

THR in February, Any basic information would be welcomed.

Hi I'm new here and getting THR at the end of Feb. What can I expect in the way of initial recovery. Can I go out to eat in a week? What kind of help will I need around home? Will I be in bed all the time?Things like that, just basic information. I live with my husband and self, one daughter lives nearby but very busy. I'm alone a most of the time.Thanksjaclaire

No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com

Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debatein the Answers Food Drink Q & A.

[Guest guest]

Dear Earlynne -- I believe some of the others remarked about keeping things near you - liquids, kleenex, phone, tv remote... etc. I also went to Lending Hands in my area and got a hospital bed to put in the living room because I can climb stairs (my clothes are also in a laundry basket behind my bed. I had a good friend make me meals that I froze and just warmed them up when Mike wasn't home. Here are the items I have: 1. Reacher/Grabber2. Clothes assist - helps put on clothes/underwear...3. Socks Assist4. Long Shoe Horn5. -- I saw one after I got mine that came with a tray table - though you can also purchase a basket/bag to carry things at the local Walmart or Meijers if you're in the Midwest.6. Leg Lifter Again, if your left side is ok ... you'll probably recover faster than I did. So don't despair. Do you have a friend that could stop by to check on you? I live out in the country and my friends are 50 miles away --- so that wasn't an option for me. You might also check with patient discharge at your hospital. Some have this and will help you make arrangements for a visting caretaker, if needed.Hope this helps...JackieNo banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com