Total hip replacement any good advice pls

Agree with getting the grabbers, one for upstairs and another for downstairs. Also used those kneelers that you use in the garden that allow you to push yourself up so using your arms to lift yourself. The exercises are really important and so is walking which you should build up on a daily basis. They will instruct you on how to turn ( like a robot) and go up and down stairs. Do everything they tell you for the first few weeks and you will soon feel years younger. If you have suffered with back problems they will also improve. Good luck and enjoy your improved life.

Glad all went well Sunfield.
Can I ask how long those who recently had hip operations had to wait? I have already waited 6 months just fir a triage appointment and in great pain.

Well done do far. You'll be fine I'm sure. I'm almost four months out and can honestly say I don't even think of my hip. Unfortunately, my other hip is now being attention seeking and is very painful in a different way.
Re those socks : I jettisoned them at 3 weeks. It was very hot here and I was taking blood thinners and walking about a lot.
Good luck with the rest of your recovery.

Glad you have come out the other side. I also had an issue with pain management and actually passed out during the physio... When they found out how undermedicated I was they were amazed I did it at all. I think for me it was a good 3 months of recovery before I started to feel normal but at 6 months I was fine. Patience is the key, do the physio but don't overdo it! Listen to your body...

Hello everyone, well had my new hip on 23/11 and survived,I was asked by a few people to let you know how I fared.
First of all I wasn’t able to have an epidural the consultant couldn’t get the needle in at the bottom of the spine properly because it’s twisted, so I had to have a full anaesthetic which didn’t bother me at all. The awful pain I used to have in my shin knees thighs back groin has all disappeared,I am still sore at the sight of the operation on my right hip I’ve still got the Clipson and I have some residual pain in my right groin its bearable.
It’s now six weeks of anti embolism socks and 12 weeks of crutches and Zimmer frame. I’m rather anxious about going home on my own and having to use the crutches and the banister to go upstairs, in the hospital I was in you just got perhaps 10 minutes training on stairs,
The nursing staff as expected were overworked but unfortunately it impinges ,without meaning to ,on the patient, my pain relief was spasmodic,
There was one unfortunate incident when they tried to roll my body onto a bedpan on the bed and it was absolutely so painful and I have to say I am a person who can usually stand pain but that was horrific. However I’m sure it will slowly fade from my
memory. Not keen on having the six weeks of stockings as I will Have to keep asking my daughter to help

I had my ankle totally replaced about 15 years ago and asked for a epidural, which they did. I highly recommend it instead of general anesthesia. I have had many operations and the ankle replacement is the only one I could come close to calling fun. They gave me some sort of medication in my IV which made me feel absolutely carefree and wonderful. I kept trying to talk/joke to my surgeon and nurses and so they kept getting more meds into the IV to put me into a sleep - to keep me from talking. NO PAIN AT ALL.

I remember asking for some Pink Floyd to be played and the surgeon put it on for me. Good times! I'm in the US by the way.

I get extremely anxious before operations and I was before this. My teeth were chattering with terror while I talked to the anesthesiologist, so he assured me that would all stop as soon as they started the IV and it did. Remember to pee before they do the do the epidural. I actually tried to get up to visit the loo after the epidural started working, lol.

After the operation was complete I felt really good and could eat right away - unlike with general anesthetic.

My ankle is as good as new and it's hard to believe it's completely artificial.

Joint replacement surgeries and the best because your quality of life improves SO MUCH afterwards.

Were any of you offered the option of a general anaesthetic rather than a spinal one?

Hi sunfield - I had my hip replacement just over six weeks ago. When you see the anaesthetist tell him/her that you don’t want to know anything about it. Mine told me when he was giving me the sedative and I wasn’t aware of anything until it was all over. The first week is the hardest but then you’ll fly! Imagine, a lovely pain free Christmas walk to look forward to. Best wishes ?

I’m also having a hip replacement in the new year.I’m in a lot of pain and it seems to be getting worse.To be rid of the pain will be marvellous.I had a spinal for my knee replacement never felt a thing and recovered quickly.
Good luck Sunfield let us know how you get on.

In 2015 I had a hip replacement. No one was more scared of what would be done than me. I have a terror of hospitals but no idea why! Anyway I was in so much pain that as long as that was stopped I’d endure whatever happened to be pain free. I was told that after the hip is replaced the pain just goes. I thought no way can that be true. Well take it from ,me it is! Absolutely amazing . I had the spinal and asked for a strong sedative so came round just as operation was finished. Couple of days in hospital and then home. Followed the instructions re excercises and was back to normal within weeks. Maybe I was lucky but most people I’ve talked to have had the same result. Go for it and don’t worry about a thing, you’ll be so glad you had it done.

My sister just had the op. When I wnt to collect her, I went into the ward, asked how she fekt, and she said"I dont think they have done the op, I'm just waiting for the consultant to come and update me" She just felt "a bit whoozy". The new hip was done, and she is getting along fine, now. So good luck to you.

I also bought one of those cheap devices to clean between my toes. £5 and really useful. I had the spinal injection too and was a wimp but all fine. However I was under medicated after the op and in a lot of pain when doing the physio so do make sure you are medicated properly for the recovery.

The sock puller oners and long shoe horns are useful too

Thank you so much everyone for all the helpful comments and advice,NotToOld. I am going on Amazon now to on to look at grabbers
Thanks again everyone

OH was sedated but woke up half way through, no pain but could hear the conversation and activity, a bit like a dream.
Recovery was very quick, the physio had him on his feet within a couple of hours and I made sure he took all his tablets and did the exercises, after 2 yrs all is good.

I've had three spinals with sedation so far. Always OK. Please don't worry about them. I was out for the count each time.

Wishing you well Sunfield. I am in dreadful pain but am only just Starting the long journey, Will need a lot of patience before I get to the top of the long long waiting list, only 6 million to go....
I wish I was in your place.
Good luck, best wishes and let us know how it goes.

It wasn’t the thought of waking during the op that worried me, it was the thought of the epidural happening. When I mentioned that at my meeting with the anaesthetist he said he could give me a mild anaesthetic beforehand so that was what I had both times and was completely unaware of both the spinal and the op.

Headphones should be provided and you will be asked what kind of music you want. I don’t remember anything about mine, apart from falling asleep and waking six hours later!

Best tip - buy two grabber things in case you drop one!

THR is a wonderful op. I had my right hip replaced about five years ago. Like you, I was terrified and did not realise until just before the op that I was having an epidural and I was very worried that I would be conscious and see or hear what was going on. I need not have worried as it was nothing like that. I was completely out, heard nothing, saw nothing, and felt fine when I woke up. Recovery from an op is quicker than it used to be only a few years ago and you just feel like you have had a nap, no sickness or anything like that any more. The anaesthetist will come round and speak to you prior to the op, so explain your fears and s/he will reassure you. I sent mine a note afterwards apologising for being a wimp! Two tips for you - get one of those 'grabbers' for picking things up as you should not bend down for a while and the other thing is, make sure you do the exercises that the physio will give you. They really do speed your recovery. All the best! You will be fine.

DH has had three hip replacements, the first two were under general anaesthetic but for the last one he had an epidural. He was vaguely aware of noises but drifted in and out throughout the procedure. The difference in his recovery was amazing, he was able to call me soon after he was taken back to the ward and he sounded really alert. The next day he had recovered so well he was able to come home in the evening. My DH tends to take things in his stride but if you are concerned I’m sure they would give you a stronger sedative. Try not to worry, it will make such a difference to your quality of life.

9 years ago I was 2 weeks away from a THR, with the same questions as you. The sedation pretty well knocked me out completely. I did surface briefly at one point, heard some noise and changed my iPod from relaxing classics to something more upbeat! I was so chilled out it didn’t matter one bit. Anaesthetist told me later I’d been singing along! The recovery afterwards is so much quicker with the this sort of anaesthetic.
You will be sore afterwards but that can be controlled with good pain relief. Do the recommended exercises and you should make a good recovery. Good luck!

For me it was a most successful operation.
I had an epidural, I dozed for most of it and woke the next day pain free.
It is awkward and uncomfortable for a couple of weeks but nothing compared to the pain before and a lot less painful and faster recovery than from my knee replacement.One year on and it is wonderful.

Sunfield, I'm going to have to have this op on the new year, and have exactly the same fears as you. I don't want to hear ANYTHING. Good luck, I'm sure it will be fine.