Have you ever had a hip replacement or known someone who did, and if so, how was the recovery?

My late ex-mother in law had a hip replacement 20 years ago, and resisted doing her rehab exercises. A colleague had a hip replacement and was fanatic about doing his rehab, The difference between the two was incredible. My ex MIL needed a special chair in her family room to watch TV, could only get around the grocery store with a shopping cart to hold on to.

My colleague was running within 6 months, and was so happy to no longer deal with constant pain.

Tell your friend to DO HER REHAB!

@zenvelo I’m sure her PT exercises won’t be starting tomorrow.

@jca2 She might have been better going to rehab, I haven’t had a hip replacement but I know those who have. And I did have the broken ankle recovery. The prognosis is pretty good and most do well but the next few days/weeks will probably be somewhat painful. She will most likely be fairly immobile tomorrow and will need you to fetch and carry things for her. Not sure what her toileting arrangements are. Most likely she has a walker or something to enable her to get to the bathroom but she may need help getting up to the walker. I assume she can deal with the actual toilet part of it herself once there. (A raised toilet seat can be a big help if they have put one in.) She should definitely be taking her pain meds as prescribed and not wait until the pain is too bad. if she wants to sleep, let her.

@janbb My aunt had both hips replaced about 15–20 years ago, and I am not sure if she went to rehab but she was a professional dancer and is in tip top shape (still is, now in her early 70s), works out, etc. My friend with the hip replacement is short and heavy and not in tip top shape. I’m guessing she wanted to go home in lieu of rehab because the busy household with the two teens, although neither can drive. Maybe it was because she figured her own bed is better than rehab or maybe it’s insurance issue, with high copays, not sure.

@jca2 Sure. We all do what we need to do. I was in California when I broke my ankle but it caused a lot of stress to the family prior to my surgery so rehab with all the support and care was best for me post-surgery. They’ll work it out. My other points were more answers to your question.

Also, my art teacher had a hip replaced 2 months ago. She worked really hard on her PT and said the pain was finally gone a week or so ago and she still uses a cane. Although, I’m sure the pain was better than it had been initially.

Hip replacements generally do very well.

@janbb I wish I thought to ask her about a raised toilet, but I didn’t and it’s too late now, although her husband can always get one tonight or tomorrow.

The toilet I have at home, I chose because it’s about two inches higher than others and two inches doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s really helpful when it comes to getting up. When I go to the bathroom on a low toilet I can tell the difference.

Handicap bars help, too. I don’t think my friend has them. I have them in the shower. I had the shower redone about five years ago. A friend asked me why I put handicap bars in it. I said “I don’t need it when I’m in my 50s but maybe when I’m in my 70s, I’ll need it.”

My friend was experiencing a lot of pain and was waddling and could barely walk. I hope this surgery helps her.

^^ When I finally got home from California, I was able to set up some things in my house like a walker on each floor and step stools that I could use for getting up to them or to a chair. Having a PT or occupational therapist do some home visits can be a big help with set ups.

No need, since I was never hip to begin with.

One thing that can be sneaky helpful, is a “transition board.” At least, that’s what I have always heard them be called.
It’s just a typically wooden board, with lots of gloss on it, to reduce friction.
It can make a HUGE difference in how a painful person with limited movement, can move from say a wheelchair to a bed.
Sliding helped my mother, after she suffered a terrible accident. She had far more wrong than just a hip, but it was heartbreaking watching her try to get around. She doesn’t like help, and is very independent.

She still has her board, from like 13 years ago. She had to use it for years. It’s a very sad object. But. It raised the quality of her life, such as it is…

I’m sorry your friend is having to go through this. It sounds like at least she has lots of help.
Good luck, to both of you.

By the way. Physical therapy is often skipped, if possible. However. If she can afford it, I highly recommend it.

I had ro eat plenty of humble pie, when I had my right knee reconstruction.
I can’t speak, for post op hips, personally. But as soon as I was home in bed, they had a torture device that automatically moved my knee up and down constantly. The pain was absolutely excruciating. But, movement is essential for best recovery results.

As far as pain control, I will recommend ice. Circulating ice blankets can be rented, for recovery.
I would hope she is aware that nowadays, doctors won’t keep one on opiods for long. Doctors typically don’t even reduce pain meds, you just ask for a refill, and they suddenly say no.
Appropriate physical therapy, is essential in pain experience as well.

If she gets discouraged. Just remind her that “this too, shall pass.”

You’re a good friend @jca2 .

I’ll let you all know how the patient is doing later.

I’m going to go over there around 11, after stopping at my daughter’s school this morning. I texted my friend and asked how she’s doing and said I’ll call her when I’m on the way to see if she needs anything. If she doesn’t respond, I’ll call her husband first just to see what’s up.

I had one in 2020. Long story short, synovitis took out most of my cartilage in about 8 weeks. Then they found a secondary infection, so put in a temporary hip for two months while I had IV antibiotics. Then the new hip. So the process was really and long painful, and I did rehab between the surgeries with just two appointment afterward. I was also in a facility for those 8 weeks during which COVID struck (the world, not me) and was confined to my room for 4 week with no visitors. The biggest issue after for me was inflammation, but my case was in no way typically, so I don’t suppose it helps you much. I would just say take pain meds on the schedule prescribed, because trying to tough it out can bite you in the *** (hip).

@kruger_d I have a friend who is now going through something like that with a knee replacement.

@jca2 How did today go for your friend?

I was there Friday from about noon until 5. She was sleeping when I arrived, and another friend was there spending time, but was leaving at noon, which was the plan. The lady went over the medications and then my friend (the patient) woke up, and the lady gave her some more pain medication. She ate some food, and then we arranged some cushions so she could sit on the couch but be a little higher up with the cushions and elevate her legs on the ottoman. She went to the bathroom by herself. She had a big ice pack strapped on to her hip.

In the afternoon, she slept on the couch and I just sat there and hung out. Then she got up and did some walking with a walker.

I helped her get up and I helped her sit on the couch with the cushions arranged, and other than that, I just got her things (food, or if she dropped something on the floor, or need a blanket, or stuff like that).

I saw the big tape on her leg and a smaller one on her hip. She also has on compression stockings. She has painkillers, a muscle relaxer and antibiotics to take.

The surgery looks like no fun recovery and honestly, it makes me hope i never need to have a joint replaced. I couldn’t help thinking that she may have been better off going to a rehab but on the other hand, I can understand with the kids at home and just wanting to sleep in her own bed, recuperating at home was probably a very attractive option.

In a rehab, they would know exactly what she needs and they would have a lot of experience with this type of surgery, whereas at home, everyone is just winging it.