How to prepare
How quickly you recover from hip or knee surgery will depend on a variety of factors, including your general health, age and whether you develop any complications after surgery.
Advance planning for your recovery will help things go more smoothly after surgery, particularly as there will be many activities that you won’t be able to do independently and/or easily for a time, such as bathing, cooking and cleaning.
You will probably be spending more time at home than you are used to during your recovery. You will also be less mobile, so making modifications to your home before your surgery can help you get around afterwards.
There are a number of self-help aids recommended for a speedy recovery:
Our standard hip kit includes the items recommended by NHS hospitals for post hip replacement recovery. The classic hip kit includes a suction grab bar and a rotary cushion. The knee kit (coming soon) will be identical as the same things are most helpful. Separately, we stock a knee support cushion which some people find very helpful for both hip and knees.
We also recommend the following:
Attaching grab rails to your shower and placing a chair or stool in your shower.
Devices to help pick up items that are far away. Helping Hands reaching aids are an excellent choice.
Leg lifters to help you get in and out of bed and the car.
Long-handled shoe horns to help put on your shoes.
Installing a raised toilet seat.
Choosing comfortable, robust crutches or a suitable walking stick.
Booster cushions make sure that your thighs are 90° to the floor when seated. Using a booster cushion places less strain on knees and hips and make it easier to rise from a seated position
Swivel seat or Rotary cushion allows a smooth swivel transfer without painful jarring or twisting.
And it may be that you will need an indoor walker for a longer term recovery.
Some basic preparations you can make to get your home ready:
Ensure your home is set up to reduce trip hazards. This may mean moving furniture around, removing rugs, clearing wires, setting up a place to sleep in a different room (eg in a ground floor room if your bedroom is normally upstairs) and making enough space to move with crutches or a walker.
Make sure that everything you’ll need within the first week of your recovery – TV remote, your glasses, books, magazines, phone – is in the room where you’ll spend most of your time, and within reach.
Good luck, and we wish you a speedy recovery.
