Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I will be having operation at VA Hospital. Do you know if they tranfer patcience to a therapy facility temporarialy? My house has bedroom upstairs, 10 steps away. Arggg On Wed Jun 22nd, 2011 4:12 PM EDT Sharon LeVine wrote: >it will be hard but well worth it let me tell you do your PT more than they say the better you do it the faster you will get better take your pain pills that's what they are for. I'm so happy with mine I was 59 found out my breast cancer came back 5 weeks later was in surgery again then another 3 1/2 hour surgery so three in less than 3 month waiting till chemo to get my other one done. >Sharon LeVine > MY INTRODUCTION > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT TO EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi Norman, Post operative experiences vary depending on the surgeon and also what kind of " approach " is used. I would ask the OS what approach he uses - what short term restrictions he/she has and what long term/permanent restrictions - if any he/she has. I would also ask what kind of prothesis would be used. You are a young man (LOL) and so the expectation would be that you would be leading an active life after you recovered. I don't have stairs in my home. At the hospital, you will work with an occupational/physical therapist who makes sure that you are able to function in whatever environment you will be returning to. Stuff like stairs and whether you live with someone *should* be considered. If you live alone (as I do) my advice would be to ask to be transferred to a rehab facility - at least for a few days until you feel fully capable of functioning. There is a lot of information/tips people can give you in terms of setting up your home to make it easier to function until you are more or less recovered. Although most people do manage stairs, I do think that people try to minimize them so you wouldn't want to have a situation where you are up and down constantly. You would probably want to set up a cozy nest downstairs. Again, depending on the type of surgery you have, your restrictions might include not using lower chairs. Mine didn't but I felt most comfortable in my computer chair with arms (it was in a place where I couldn't slide across the room); a dining room chair with arms; lying on my living room sofa and in bed - I had gotten a foam Tempurpedic type topper for comfort. It's unsettling to have surgery - but it is amazing when you get on your feet the next day and that excruciating pain is gone. There is some surgical discomfort which is well controlled with pain meds - but it's nothing like the horrendous bolt of pain and constant ache I had prior to the surgery in which every move was becoming an agony - plus every day it gets better. Really it's more of a hassle than a painful experience in terms of recovery - i.e. it's difficult to navigate; I wasn't able to shower as easily as I was used to; I got tired of course (but naps in the afternoon were fun). On Jun 23, 2011, at 9:49 AM, Norman D wrote: > I will be having operation at VA Hospital. Do you know if they tranfer patcience to a therapy facility temporarialy? My house has bedroom upstairs, 10 steps away. Arggg > > On Wed Jun 22nd, 2011 4:12 PM EDT Sharon LeVine wrote: > > >it will be hard but well worth it let me tell you do your PT more than they say the better you do it the faster you will get better take your pain pills that's what they are for. I'm so happy with mine I was 59 found out my breast cancer came back 5 weeks later was in surgery again then another 3 1/2 hour surgery so three in less than 3 month waiting till chemo to get my other one done. > >Sharon LeVine > > MY INTRODUCTION > > > > > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT TO EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi Norman - I had a hip replacement in 2008 (at age 58). I came home from hospital on Friday after Tuesday surgery. I was able to go up and downstairs using one crutch and the railing. I did have my husband follow me, so if you are alone it might be more of an issue. But for me it was no problem. (By Day 10 or so I was navigating the stairs with a cane.) Make sure you get a 3-in-one bedside toilet / raised toilet seat / shower seat - you remove the " pot " and just use it to avoid sitting too low right at first. The hospital will undoubtedly order one for you. If you live alone in a 2 story house, you probably want one for each floor. My hospital " gave " me a kit that included a grabber, sock tool and a few other useless things. Google those - if not provided you will find them very helpful. I found it helpful for the first 2-3 weeks to keep a backpack with me that had pain meds, water bottle, current book being read, ice pack etc. That way I didn't have to constantly go in search of something. Since it was my left hip, I was driving at 2.5 weeks post op. Hope this helps, Betsy (LTHR 6/08) Re: MY INTRODUCTION I will be having operation at VA Hospital. Do you know if they tranfer patcience to a therapy facility temporarialy? My house has bedroom upstairs, 10 steps away. Arggg On Wed Jun 22nd, 2011 4:12 PM EDT Sharon LeVine wrote: >it will be hard but well worth it let me tell you do your PT more than they >say the better you do it the faster you will get better take your pain >pills that's what they are for. I'm so happy with mine I was 59 found out >my breast cancer came back 5 weeks later was in surgery again then another >3 1/2 hour surgery so three in less than 3 month waiting till chemo to get >my other one done. >Sharon LeVine > MY INTRODUCTION > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY > EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH > ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME > WHAT TO EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Talk that over as well. If you live alone, they may decide you'd benefit from staying in a rehab place briefly before heading home. In a message dated 6/23/2011 2:45:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, navyvet30@... writes: I will be having operation at VA Hospital. Do you know if they tranfer patcience to a therapy facility temporarialy? My house has bedroom upstairs, 10 steps away. Arggg On Wed Jun 22nd, 2011 4:12 PM EDT Sharon LeVine wrote: >it will be hard but well worth it let me tell you do your PT more than they say the better you do it the faster you will get better take your pain pills that's what they are for. I'm so happy with mine I was 59 found out my breast cancer came back 5 weeks later was in surgery again then another 3 1/2 hour surgery so three in less than 3 month waiting till chemo to get my other one done. >Sharon LeVine > ----- Original Message ----- > From: navyvet30 > Joint Replacement > Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:36 PM > Subject: MY INTRODUCTION > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT TO EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ Be your own advocate! The best patient is an informed patient! Groups Links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 Hi Norm, as your bed room is upstairs, you might want to sleep downstairs for a while. Are you alone? If you are, you might want to go to a rehab center for a few days. If not, then you might not need to. I didn't, but I live on one floor and have a " caretaker " . All the best, Joan ________________________________ From: Norman D <navyvet30@...> Joint Replacement Surgery Sent: Thu, June 23, 2011 5:49:54 PM Subject: Re: MY INTRODUCTION I will be having operation at VA Hospital. Do you know if they tranfer patcience to a therapy facility temporarialy? My house has bedroom upstairs, 10 steps away. Arggg On Wed Jun 22nd, 2011 4:12 PM EDT Sharon LeVine wrote: >it will be hard but well worth it let me tell you do your PT more than they say >the better you do it the faster you will get better take your pain pills that's >what they are for. I'm so happy with mine I was 59 found out my breast cancer >came back 5 weeks later was in surgery again then another 3 1/2 hour surgery so >three in less than 3 month waiting till chemo to get my other one done. > >Sharon LeVine > MY INTRODUCTION > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY >EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH >ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME WHAT TO >EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 that sock tool and grabber are a must..........and the raised toilet seat and shower seat....... MY INTRODUCTION > > > > I AM A 64 YEAR OLD NAVY VIETNAM VETERAN . > > I WILL BE HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SOON I BELIEVE. I HAVE HAD ALL NECESSARY > EKGS/ XRAYS/ MRI'S/ECG'S AND PRIMARY CARE DR. APPROVAL. NEXT I MEET WITH > ORTHOPEDIC DR. TO SET A DATE. > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO EXPECT ONWARD. IF ANYONE HERE CAN SHARE WITH ME > WHAT TO EXPECT PLEASE DO. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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