hip operation

[nextqueen]

my mother in law had a hip operation last week, i think it was the uncemented kind. we went to visit her at home as she was allowed out after 2 days. she has crutches and seems pain free and delighted with the results so far. however, the instructions given to her for mobility seemed rather ambiguous. it said she should be weight bearing for the first 3 weeks and then weight bearing fully for the next 3 weeks. she thinks she isnt allowed to go out for 3 weeks, is this true? surely she needs to exercise and move around quite alot. im just concerned that she will become housebound as she will be afraid to go out then she will stiffen up and the operation will prove fruitless. she says she hasnt even got to have physio, only going to have her dressing changed next week i think.

[RATTER15]

I would imagine that she could walk into the garden etc but not to walk too far as she needs a bit more time to get over the operation, really she just needs to potter around the house really to keep moving but not to do to much for the first 3 weeks.

[Sqad]

Well, she should be doing whatever she feels like now, this being different for everyone and there is no set procedure and as Ratter says, with her crutches, she can now do as much as she feels like.

[nextqueen]

will she need to have physio as she wasnt given any sheet even with instructions/diagrams on it?

[Sqad]

No ......physio is not required...........just let her do and go wherever and whatever pleases her.

[nextqueen]

thats good to know, thanks for your replies, we have been so worried that she was doing the wrong thing, takes a weight of our minds. as we dont live nearby, its hard to gauge whats going on over the telephone, we dont want to meddle where its not due!

[ethandron]

i would have thought she would have at least have been given a sheet of instructions, including some basic physio, when she was discharged. when i had each of my hips done, i had two physio sessions and a sheet of exercises to be done at certain stages of recovery.
if it were me, my mum or mother-in-law, i'd be ringing the hospital for some advice as if she overdoes certain things (bending too low, crossing legs, sits with knees higher than hips) during her recovery she may do more harm than good and i'm very surprised she's not been given more advice.

[Sqad]

ethandron....that is unusual in my opinion.....daily physio is done whilst in hospital and instructions on how to walk etc is also given at that time. After discharge one should be well versed in the do's and don'ts.

Your after care was, in my opinion, exceptional.

[merciasounds]

Well from that I gather that she should use her crutches for three weeks, then after that do without them - if she's not got any physio, was she told to walk a certain distance a day? Best thing is to contact the hospital - all this should have been explained to her properly (with written info to refer to) when she was being discharged

[Sqad]

mercia...there is no set rules for post operative hip management as each individual differs in their endeavors, one does what one feels like doing.
I know of many that do without crutches after a month, others may still be on crutches after 5 months. Everyone is different.

[ethandron]

i was never told to walk a certain distance a day, but was told in no uncertain terms that the exercises were absolutely essential for a full and best possible recovery. i took it on myself to do lots of walking, round and round the garden and up and down the path at first, as i was terrified of developing a clot. i set myself a target of walking for 10 minutes every hour which i stuck to religeously. even when sitting down i would flex my leg and foot almost continually. i was on crutches, partial weight bearing for 6 weeks, then two sticks for another 6, then one stick. as squad says it depends on the individual and the implant used, and the surgeon.
having said all that, i believe the hospital in this instance are a bit remiss in not giving this lady more advice. it you are a non-medical person then you really have very little idea of what will or won't cause yourself harm, or the importance of doing or not doing certain things.

[NoMercy]

I work in Orthopaedics at present. Usually after a joint replacement, there follows a period where you are advised to be non weight-bearing but mobilise as pain allow.

[NoMercy]

Just as a matter of interest, was she "workshopped" before the procedure?

[nextqueen]

my mother in i noticed had an uncemented hip replacement if that makes a difference. at the moment since saturday her legs have really swollen up. it could be the post op tablets as my father in law read the contraindications. they looked awful on sat. the ward was rang and the doc and she was told she should have her legs raised which was never mentioned in hospital. the doc came out on monday, she finished the tablets anyway on sat night, theres not much change today, maybe one has slightly gone down a bit more than the other. is this normal?