Re: Getting into a car after THR

[Guest guest]

Hi -

It may depend upon the type of replacement you have - I have a large ball, metal

on metal - which carries less dislocation risk. I only used the plastic bag,

seat reclined all the way back (no cushion) on the way home from the hospital.

9 days after my replacement I was off the walker and on to a cane and my husband

and I went out to dinner - no plastic bag although I did recline the passenger

seat. I was driving (left hip, auto transmission) at 2 weeks, although it was

still an elaborate event getting in and out of my small car for the next 2-3

weeks. By 5-6 weeks it was no big deal at all.

At 6 weeks my surgeon lifted all restrictions, subject to me " listening to my

body " . I am exactly 5 months out now and I feel great - I still know something

went on in my hip - twinges from time to time; some nights it aches a bit until

I change position in bed, but I do everything I want to do, including the

dreaded leg crossing (which is ok with my hip). Some days I " feel the hip " more

than others and when I feel it a bit, I don't behave relatively conservatively.

But I do low impact aerobics 3 days a week and work out fully on machines at the

gym 3 days a week and my hip doesn't limit me at all. I expect to heal more

completely in the next 6 months.

Not sure who is telling you this about precautions or sure what type of hip

you'll be getting, but you might want to question your surgeon and talk about

the alternatives.

Wishing you the best,

Betsy

From: kenneth5831

Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 3:22 PM

Joint Replacement

Subject: Getting into a car after THR

I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

FOREVER. Opinions please.

[Guest guest]

My experience is more like Betsy's. I also have large ball, metal on

metal--both hips. One done two years ago and the other in September.

For both hips, I rode home in a car without recline or cushions two

days after surgery. Like Betsy, all restrictions were lifted after 6

weeks.

Have you asked your surgeon why he's given you such restrictions?

Were you aware of the restrictions prior to surgery?

>

> Hi -

>

> It may depend upon the type of replacement you have - I have a

large ball, metal on metal - which carries less dislocation risk. I

only used the plastic bag, seat reclined all the way back (no

cushion) on the way home from the hospital. 9 days after my

replacement I was off the walker and on to a cane and my husband and

I went out to dinner - no plastic bag although I did recline the

passenger seat. I was driving (left hip, auto transmission) at 2

weeks, although it was still an elaborate event getting in and out of

my small car for the next 2-3 weeks. By 5-6 weeks it was no big deal

at all.

>

> At 6 weeks my surgeon lifted all restrictions, subject to

me " listening to my body " . I am exactly 5 months out now and I feel

great - I still know something went on in my hip - twinges from time

to time; some nights it aches a bit until I change position in bed,

but I do everything I want to do, including the dreaded leg crossing

(which is ok with my hip). Some days I " feel the hip " more than

others and when I feel it a bit, I don't behave relatively

conservatively. But I do low impact aerobics 3 days a week and work

out fully on machines at the gym 3 days a week and my hip doesn't

limit me at all. I expect to heal more completely in the next 6

months.

>

> Not sure who is telling you this about precautions or sure what

type of hip you'll be getting, but you might want to question your

surgeon and talk about the alternatives.

>

> Wishing you the best,

> Betsy

>

>

> From: kenneth5831

> Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 3:22 PM

> Joint Replacement

> Subject: Getting into a car after THR

>

>

> I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months

but

> FOREVER. Opinions please.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have had bilateral THRs and I pop in and out of cars with no problems.......

From: kenneth5831 <csckrj@...>

Subject: Getting into a car after THR

Joint Replacement

Date: Sunday, November 23, 2008, 12:22 PM

I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

FOREVER. Opinions please.

[Guest guest]

>

> I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

> FOREVER. Opinions please.

I was told the risk of dislocation eases after 6 weeks. You just have

to give the muscles and ligaments time to adjust after the trauma of

the surgery. My husband's THR done in 2006 gets a lot of work;

driving, walking, farm maintenance; and has not been a problem at all.

My large-ball metal on metal resurfacing done last year is fine with

most activities - I have a slight tendon problem but not enough to

stop me doing what i want. Both were posterior approaches, with the

wound along the outer side of the buttock. My surgeon used

electrosurgical techniques.

I don't know about any risks other methods, though.

[Guest guest]

Would someone explain to me the purpose of a plastic bag for riding in a car?

Jane

---- Sue Millard <sue@...> wrote:

>

> >

> > I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> > cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

> > FOREVER. Opinions please.

>

>

> I was told the risk of dislocation eases after 6 weeks. You just have

> to give the muscles and ligaments time to adjust after the trauma of

> the surgery. My husband's THR done in 2006 gets a lot of work;

> driving, walking, farm maintenance; and has not been a problem at all.

> My large-ball metal on metal resurfacing done last year is fine with

> most activities - I have a slight tendon problem but not enough to

> stop me doing what i want. Both were posterior approaches, with the

> wound along the outer side of the buttock. My surgeon used

> electrosurgical techniques.

>

> I don't know about any risks other methods, though.

>

[Guest guest]

A plastic bag on the seat reduces friction when getting in and out. It

makes it much easier to slide your body round from the " feet on the

ground " to the " feet in the footwell " position and vice versa.

The cushion I used, BTW, was a wedge that levelled out the contour of

the car seat and kept the hip angle a bit more open. Keeping the seat

well back makes it less necessary to pull your knees up and close the

hip angle when getting your feet into the car and out. I liked to pull

the seat forward again once I was in, so I had foot support. You know

you're getting better when you forget to adjust the seat ...

Sue in the English Lakes

> >

> > I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> > cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

> > FOREVER. Opinions please.

>

>

> I was told the risk of dislocation eases after 6 weeks. You just have

> to give the muscles and ligaments time to adjust after the trauma of

> the surgery. My husband's THR done in 2006 gets a lot of work;

> driving, walking, farm maintenance; and has not been a problem at all.

> My large-ball metal on metal resurfacing done last year is fine with

> most activities - I have a slight tendon problem but not enough to

> stop me doing what i want. Both were posterior approaches, with the

> wound along the outer side of the buttock. My surgeon used

> electrosurgical techniques.

>

> I don't know about any risks other methods, though.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks!

Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has leather seats.

Does this make a difference? Do you still use a plastic bag, or would it not

slide properly? I should probably practice this...

Another rather basic question--I've been trying to see what it's like to keep my

hip joints at an 80-degree angle. It has been very, very awkward and since I'm

at a higher risk of dislocation due to tendon/ligament problems, I'm somewhat

worried about whether I'd slip up and accidentally just bend instinctively, too

far. Is this a problem? Do you have to maintain a constant, vigilant awareness

of maintaining the correct angle?

I couldn't for the life of me figure out, for example, how to get into bed!

Jane

---- Sue Millard <sue@...> wrote:

> A plastic bag on the seat reduces friction when getting in and out. It

> makes it much easier to slide your body round from the " feet on the

> ground " to the " feet in the footwell " position and vice versa.

>

> The cushion I used, BTW, was a wedge that levelled out the contour of

> the car seat and kept the hip angle a bit more open. Keeping the seat

> well back makes it less necessary to pull your knees up and close the

> hip angle when getting your feet into the car and out. I liked to pull

> the seat forward again once I was in, so I had foot support. You know

> you're getting better when you forget to adjust the seat ...

>

> Sue in the English Lakes

>

>

>

> > >

> > > I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> > > cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

> > > FOREVER. Opinions please.

> >

> >

> > I was told the risk of dislocation eases after 6 weeks. You just have

> > to give the muscles and ligaments time to adjust after the trauma of

> > the surgery. My husband's THR done in 2006 gets a lot of work;

> > driving, walking, farm maintenance; and has not been a problem at all.

> > My large-ball metal on metal resurfacing done last year is fine with

> > most activities - I have a slight tendon problem but not enough to

> > stop me doing what i want. Both were posterior approaches, with the

> > wound along the outer side of the buttock. My surgeon used

> > electrosurgical techniques.

> >

> > I don't know about any risks other methods, though.

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jane, Are you having one or both hips done?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has

leather seats. Does this make a difference? Do you still use a

plastic bag, or would it not slide properly? I should probably

practice this...

I think you answered your own question there Jane! FWIW, a plastic bag

has two layers and they slide on each other, that's the trick, even if

one layer sticks, the other slides.

>

> Another rather basic question--I've been trying to see what it's

like to keep my hip joints at an 80-degree angle. It has been very,

very awkward and since I'm at a higher risk of dislocation due to

tendon/ligament problems, I'm somewhat worried about whether I'd slip

up and accidentally just bend instinctively, too far. Is this a

problem? Do you have to maintain a constant, vigilant awareness of

maintaining the correct angle?

>

> I couldn't for the life of me figure out, for example, how to get

into bed!

You'll get advice (at least I did) from a therapist who will educate

you in how to do things in a way that doesn't involve too much bend at

the hip. If you are at risk of dislocation the medical staff ought to

be extra careful to tell you how you should move your body, and

monitor your moves. Getting into bed you turn back the bedclothes, sit

on the bed, put your hands on the bed and lift your body backwards so

the bed supports your thighs, before swivelling your legs onto the

bed. Your reacher tool will be useful to pull the bedclothes over your

legs.

If you are only having one side done you'll quickly adapt to doing

most of your bending using the other leg and " saving " the operated

one. Your body will keep you aware of it :-) Can't offer advice for

bilateral though, as I've only had one done so far.

Sue in the English Lakes

[Guest guest]

Sue,

One--my left hip.

Jane

---- Sue Millard <sue@...> wrote:

> Jane, Are you having one or both hips done?

>

>

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has

> leather seats. Does this make a difference? Do you still use a

> plastic bag, or would it not slide properly? I should probably

> practice this...

>

> I think you answered your own question there Jane! FWIW, a plastic bag

> has two layers and they slide on each other, that's the trick, even if

> one layer sticks, the other slides.

> >

> > Another rather basic question--I've been trying to see what it's

> like to keep my hip joints at an 80-degree angle. It has been very,

> very awkward and since I'm at a higher risk of dislocation due to

> tendon/ligament problems, I'm somewhat worried about whether I'd slip

> up and accidentally just bend instinctively, too far. Is this a

> problem? Do you have to maintain a constant, vigilant awareness of

> maintaining the correct angle?

> >

> > I couldn't for the life of me figure out, for example, how to get

> into bed!

>

> You'll get advice (at least I did) from a therapist who will educate

> you in how to do things in a way that doesn't involve too much bend at

> the hip. If you are at risk of dislocation the medical staff ought to

> be extra careful to tell you how you should move your body, and

> monitor your moves. Getting into bed you turn back the bedclothes, sit

> on the bed, put your hands on the bed and lift your body backwards so

> the bed supports your thighs, before swivelling your legs onto the

> bed. Your reacher tool will be useful to pull the bedclothes over your

> legs.

>

> If you are only having one side done you'll quickly adapt to doing

> most of your bending using the other leg and " saving " the operated

> one. Your body will keep you aware of it :-) Can't offer advice for

> bilateral though, as I've only had one done so far.

>

> Sue in the English Lakes

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You'll cope! It's amazing what our bodies can do to protect us when

they are recuperating.

Sue

> > >

> > > Thanks!

> > >

> > > Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has

> > leather seats. Does this make a difference? Do you still use a

> > plastic bag, or would it not slide properly? I should probably

> > practice this...

> >

> > I think you answered your own question there Jane! FWIW, a plastic bag

> > has two layers and they slide on each other, that's the trick, even if

> > one layer sticks, the other slides.

> > >

> > > Another rather basic question--I've been trying to see what it's

> > like to keep my hip joints at an 80-degree angle. It has been very,

> > very awkward and since I'm at a higher risk of dislocation due to

> > tendon/ligament problems, I'm somewhat worried about whether I'd slip

> > up and accidentally just bend instinctively, too far. Is this a

> > problem? Do you have to maintain a constant, vigilant awareness of

> > maintaining the correct angle?

> > >

> > > I couldn't for the life of me figure out, for example, how to get

> > into bed!

> >

> > You'll get advice (at least I did) from a therapist who will educate

> > you in how to do things in a way that doesn't involve too much bend at

> > the hip. If you are at risk of dislocation the medical staff ought to

> > be extra careful to tell you how you should move your body, and

> > monitor your moves. Getting into bed you turn back the bedclothes, sit

> > on the bed, put your hands on the bed and lift your body backwards so

> > the bed supports your thighs, before swivelling your legs onto the

> > bed. Your reacher tool will be useful to pull the bedclothes over your

> > legs.

> >

> > If you are only having one side done you'll quickly adapt to doing

> > most of your bending using the other leg and " saving " the operated

> > one. Your body will keep you aware of it :-) Can't offer advice for

> > bilateral though, as I've only had one done so far.

> >

> > Sue in the English Lakes

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Try it out -- to a great extent it will depend on what one is wearing

in terms of creating " friction " between the leather and the seat --

cloth seats are VERY " sticky " whereas most people can slide pretty

easily on leather -- of course no sweaty skin in the summer LOL.

I got a pair of satin pajama bottoms for the first few days when I got

home to help me slide into bed -- of course satin sheets would work as

well.

On Nov 30, 2008, at 8:20 AM, jcraig@... wrote:

> Thanks!

>

> Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has

> leather seats. Does this make a difference? Do you still use a

> plastic bag, or would it not slide properly? I should probably

> practice this...

[Guest guest]

The leather seats are quite easy to slide in and out of. But I'd better not

wear a suede coat! I'm guessing I'll be dressed in sweatpants coming home from

the hospital, and they should slide pretty easily. I'm a little worried since

I'm tall and long-legged, which makes my knees almost always above my hips when

I sit.

In some ways, I wish I didn't have two months to worry about all of this!

Jane

---- jujulabee@... wrote:

> Try it out -- to a great extent it will depend on what one is wearing

> in terms of creating " friction " between the leather and the seat --

> cloth seats are VERY " sticky " whereas most people can slide pretty

> easily on leather -- of course no sweaty skin in the summer LOL.

>

> I got a pair of satin pajama bottoms for the first few days when I got

> home to help me slide into bed -- of course satin sheets would work as

> well.

>

> On Nov 30, 2008, at 8:20 AM, jcraig@... wrote:

>

> > Thanks!

> >

> > Ok, absolutely dumb, dumb question--the car I'll be riding in has

> > leather seats. Does this make a difference? Do you still use a

> > plastic bag, or would it not slide properly? I should probably

> > practice this...

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I ahve had my right hip and left knee replaced and drive a Hummer. I

drove 1 week aftyer both operations. The Hummer is harder to get in and

out of than most cars as it is much highier but I managed with not too

much diffilculty. Good luck.

Bill.

>

> I've been told that you should follow the full precautions (thick

> cushion, plastic bag, seat right back) not just for 3 or 6 months but

> FOREVER. Opinions please.

>