Hips Tips! by Bill Haggerty

Welcome to my personal review of things I learned from my successful left Hip replacement performed on 12/10/2021.

After hearing about the need for a replacement, it was a few years before I finally had everything physically in place and the time to complete the procedure without interference with my teaching schedule.

As I installed the items identified as needed during my recovery period, it became immediately evident to me that some of them would have proven useful even before the new hip procedure. As I had increasing pain in the last couple years, many items would have helped me during that time. That idea may prove useful to you even now.

One point of distinction is that I live in a two-story townhome with two master bedrooms upstairs and a half bathroom on the first floor. Consequently, I had to make accommodations for sleeping on the first floor before my hip was ready for the up and down stair climbing required to sleep in my bedroom upstairs.

I will start with the updates to the upstairs bedroom to use in case yours is on the main floor. Then I will review what was installed on the first floor to accommodate my sleeping there on my initial return from the hospital.

Installed items from left to right:

1. The tub railing. That could have helped me over a year ago. This one works for me as my tub is fiberglass and some of the others had foot notes indicating that they did not work on that type of tub. In addition to getting in and out of the tub, I use it to get on the scale. When I first put in in, I was amazed that my weight had dropped 23 pounds. Then I realized that my hand was still on the railing.
2. Inside Tub Railing (shown below). Included with both my upstairs tub/shower combinations is a railing on the sidewall. It is very sturdy and has been used by me during showers for quite some time. It may have also helped me avoid a tub seat with rails. You might need one of those as I gave a tub seat serious consideration and it was the railing that I have that dissuaded me from that. I tried suction cup rails and they were a complete bust.
3. The side-rails on the toilet. They could have been used earlier as well. For quite some time, I used the vanity corner to help in getting up. The side-rails, have made that effort much easier. Installation is completed by unscrewing the support for the seat and adding the railing support before re-securing the seat.
4. The raised toilet seat. This I did not like before the procedure. But, after I made it upstairs and used this bathroom following my hip replacement, the height of the seat was a very comfortable and non-invasive alternative. And, it was required by my medical team.

Included with both my upstairs tub/shower combinations is a railing on the sidewall. It is very sturdy and has been used by me during showers for quite some time. It may have also helped me avoid a tub seat with rails. You might need one of those as I gave a tub seat serious consideration and it was the railing that I have that dissuaded me from that. I tried suction cup rails and they were a complete bust.

I could have used this a long time ago!

This kit proved invaluable. There are many versions available on Amazon and this is the one I chose.

From left to right:

1. The sock tool. This is a very valuable tool. You work your sock over the white tube. Then simply insert you foot and use the ropes to pull the sock, not only on your foot but all the way up your leg (as high as the sock goes below your knee). Today (12/23/21) I only use it on my left foot but it proved invaluable on both feet during my first week at home.
2. The long sponge proves useful in washing my back, lower part of my legs and my feet without having to stretch or bend down. Not the best sponge but it does the job.
3. Pole with hooks on each end. This was very helpful in getting my socks off at night. It also helped on pulling up my pants when first getting dressed. In addition, when putting my left leg into my pants, it helped straightening the pant leg so I could just slide my leg into it. In the video provided on Amazon, it can also be used to put your arm in the sleeve of a shirt. It was not used for that.
4. Grabber. I had already purchased a set of two grabbers (shown below) but this one proved useful for picking up unique items that the others had trouble with. Plus. just having it available came in handy. The yellow item on the side of it is a clip the actually can attach to the leg of your walker. Very handy.
5. Yellow shoe horn. That long shoe horn is great for putting on shoes as I do not have to bend when using it.

I got this quite some time ago on E-Bay to duplicate, something my dad had a long time ago. The raised foot support (used to buff your shoes) is great for lifting my foot onto in order to tie my shoes. It is still awkward for my left foot but it allows me to complete it much easier. You do not need one of these, but some platform to lift your feet onto for tying shoes would prove useful. of course, you could wear slip-ons but for me, tied shoes provided more stability as I move around more.

I ordered a set of these so I could have one upstairs and one downstairs. They are fantastic and the can fold in half to accommodate storing them. The end can also function as a shoehorn. They will prove useful to me well into the future.

Moving to the downstairs, you can see the walker with my optional accessory tray. And you will see how I use the folding capability of the grabber in the next image. Of course, I had a second walker upstairs and soon that will be given to my next door neighbor who can use it for his upstairs movement.

That table is a life saver. Being by myself, I use it for bringing plates of food from the kitchen to the living-room. Also, I use it for my remotes, water in the cup holder and it has proven incredibly useful. In fact, I plan to use it well into the future as a portable table and desk, carry caddy, etc.

It took me a day of use to figure out the the grabber could be folded and inserted into the unused cupholder on the table. That really worked as now I conveniently have a grabber with me wherever when moving around the house.

I just recently added those glide balls to my walker and they really do make a difference. They glide smoothly and the noise is reduced quite considerably. I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

This is the ice pack that has been used twice a day to help reduce swelling and generally help reduce soreness. At first, I simply put it on my downstairs bed and laid on it for 20 minute intervals. It took me a couple days to realize the straps actually worked and I now walk around with it that way. I can also sit or lay down on the bed if I prefer. Very good product from Amazon.

When I was in the preparation room at the hospital, a manufacturer’s rep came in and gave me those saying they were from my Surgeon. I thought he did it to break up the boredom as there was quite a delay. But when in the hospital, they had something similar at the foot of my bed that wrapped my legs and ran continuously. So when I got home, I asked my support people to put them on my legs during the day. Once I moved upstairs, I was able to put them on at night as suggested during a conversation with the rep as that was the longest sedentary time for me. I used them at night until my follow-up appointment on the 22nd of December.

The manufacturer’s rep told me I could use them on long flights as he does. I like to drive long distances and will probably use them then as well.

This is my downstairs bathroom and instead of the seat riser, I chose to continue with my warm seat, continuous warm water bidet. The bidet is not related to the hip recovery.. However, it was something I had become accustomed to using and I wanted to continue. In order to use that bidet seat, as the back railings like I used upstairs did not fit, I installed the two hand-rails on the walls of the room itself (vertically, one on each side). They worked great and as the bidet is a little lower than the recommended height, the hand-rails allowed me to help support my weight. And certainly, they aided in my departure from the room.

Also, even before the bidet and before my procedure, the hand-rails would have proved very useful. They could be used as a suitable alternative to the side-rails used in my upstairs bathroom as well.

This is the bed I set up in my 1st floor living room. It is a travel cot and with the minimal mattress supplied and my added topper, it served me well in the studio apartment I used in Statesboro, GA while teaching there. However, my brother-in-law (an Orthopedic Surgeon) recommended that I raise it to a higher level for surgery recovery. I had some shelving and combined with a few 2×6’s it resulted in the perfect height. And, at that height, the high-back chair was able to slide under it and work as a suitable side rail for entrance and exit. There are retail lifters available but I liked using the wood I had on hand.

Notice the gripper attached to the back of the chair, the leg lifter hanging from the other side. I had an additional chair positioned and the foot of the bed in case it was needed.

That set-up was used for my comfortable night’s sleep Sat, Sun & Mon upon return from the Hospital. It was not until Tuesday 12/14 that I decided to go upstairs to sleep. The Outpatient Nurse that contacted me recommended waiting for physical therapy but my patience had worn thin and I went ahead and climbed the stairs. It was slow going but a relief to sleep in my regular bed, not to mention the ability to take a shower..

One issue that arose at home was the swelling of my ankle and foot. I contacted my surgeons office and they recommended raising my leg. On suggesting my recliner, I was instructed to instead raise my leg to a height above my heart. At first I tried a small plastic trash can on its side but it was uncomfortable and not very sturdy. While sitting in my other chair, I saw the second high back chair and realized I could put it face down on the bed and with a pillow use it to raise my leg. Using the leg lifter, it not only worked but it was stable, comfortable and got my leg over 3-4 inches higher than on the trash can. And, I used the chair’s pillow for my other leg.

I continue to use that downstairs bed to raise my leg, lie while I apply ice and take a nap during the day if needed. When finished with it, it can easily be folded up and stored away for a guest or other yet identified future use.

Today, I thought about those of you that do not have a high back chair. In my upstairs bedroom there is a small side chair that I thought I would try. I am happy to report that with a pillow under your leg, it should work as well. If your leg is longer that mine, you could attach a cross-piece at the bottom of the back legs. That would give you the extension you need.

Good luck. No swelling, no need for this.

After seeing an advertisement of a Firefighter who had back surgery and gave these supplements credit for a fast recovery I thought it would be a good idea. I started taking them in October and although all supplements had to be stopped seven days before the procedure, I started right away once getting home. Three vegetable capsules in the morning and I spread the fruit ones over yogurt during the afternoon. It is a great healthy treat to highlight midday.

Nothing to prove here, but I would not do it any other way. At my age, there is nothing to lose and it gives me a confidence that my body has what it needs to continue a full recovery.

They told me to view the bandage each day and when I looked at it Monday afternoon it looked a bit alarming. I sent the image to them via text message and was alerted that it was normal and that the bandage was doing its job by drawing any seepage away from the incision. The ironic situation here is that the design represented musical notes and realizing that point it was so exciting it made me feel like dancing.

That is it for now. The staples have been removed (12/22) and I received a very good report only twelve days after the original procedure. I am happy as a clam. In fact, that has made me so pleased, I really do feel like dancing! (they told me yesterday that I might have to wait 4 weeks for that). Okay, I will simply dance with my upper body ’til then.

Thank you for reading this far. These are the preparations I made that were relative to my home and single status. They gave me a sense of independence and have allowed me to function comfortably as my recovery continues to this day. Your situation may likely be different. If any of them appear to be of any value to you, feel free to enter comments in the box below or add a comment to the original post on FaceBook.

Special Thanks to:

1. My Brother-in-Law.
2. Pinnacle Orthopedics Dr Swayze and his Team.
3. Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
4. St Catherine of Sienna’s Knights of Columbus where I found Tom my driver and 1st support person.
5. Ana my good friend and neighbor, 2nd support person
6. Amazon.com where the products can be found.
7. Daily Rosaries (Multiple per day).