HIP REPLACEMENT(S)
Submitted by Mills Ripley, husband of Joan Winkel Ripley
Hip replacements are a piece-of-cake compared to Knees, especially when it comes to rehab.
These comments are designed to go with the well-done "B's Knees" article on this health site. I'll follow the same format and try to only add comments, not repeat what 's already been well said. Here goes.
KNOWING WHEN YOU NEED THIS SURGERY
Believe me you'll know when it's time.
PICKING YOUR SURGEON: Extensive experience is a must. My doctor had done 5,000 plus hip replacements over the past 20 years. This is no place for on-the-job training.
PRE-OP: These three things are very important.
BLOOD: Some hospitals have what they call "bloodless" surgery (Columbia Presbyterian comes to mind). This means, there is no need for blood transfusion during the operation. I don't think this will hold up if you are having both hips done at once, as I did. Most (including the Hospital for Special Surgery in N.Y.) have you give your own blood in the month and a half before surgery. You do it locally at the blood bank and they forward it to the hospital. .
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EXERCISES: Very important for quick recovery. Start about two months prior to surgery. Here are the ones to work on.
ARMS: You need to strengthen the triceps in order to move around the bed. A good way is to sit in a chair with strong arm rests and, using only your arms, slowly raise yourself up, hold and then slowly return to the sitting position. Repeat 10 times, several times a day.
LEGS: Strengthen your QuadsSit on the edge of a table and slowly raise your lower leg to the horizontal and hold for a slow count of five. Slowly lower the leg. Repeat 10 times, several times per day. Add small weights to your foot as you get stronger. Also, strengthen your Glutes (Butt muscle). Often neglected but much needed, this muscle is nearest the incision and the most affected by it.Lay on your stomach and raise your leg (hold it straight, don't bend). Hold for a count of five and slowly return. Repeat several times
VITAMINS: Consult your doctor, but you need to build your system up for the coming trauma. Start at least one month in advance. Hospital for Special Surgery recommended vitamin K to strengthen the blood. Others that I took included 500 units of vitamin C (to speed healing), a multi vitamin and vitamin E. Bad news, no alcohol for this same period either. Your liver will take a real pounding from the anesthesia and painkillers and needs to be in top shape.
WHAT TO TAKE TO THE HOSPITAL: Re: prunes, etc., whatever works, use it! Constipation is a real issue and, until fixed, becomes more distressing than the pain from the operation itself. It took a whole week and a half before things got back to normal.
IN THE HOSPITAL: Again, three important things to consider.
PRIVATE OR SEMI PRIVATE ROOM?
That's your call and will depend on the hospital.
PRIVATE NURSES? ( at least for the first day or two).
Again , your call but a must if you feel the nursing staff is at all "iffy." They catch things like wrong medications (!), missing medications, etc. I used the regular staff at Hospital for Special Surgery. They were fine with one exception (see "Pain Drip," below).
PAIN DRIP APPATATUS:
Make sure it's working correctly!! Mine got damaged between the recovery room and my regular room. It took three tries by different nurses before they figured out that there was a loose connection and nothing was getting through when I pushed the button. Ouch!
REHAB: It's vital that you continue your exercises on a daily basis once the rehab sessions are over. I stayed with mine for about a year. A short stay at a Rehab Center immediately following surgery is well worth it. If you are in the N.Y. metropolitan area, ask your hospital about the Burke Rehab Center in White Plains. They are known nationwide and do an outstanding job.
That's about it. Hip replacements have a high success rate and I'm sure you'll be glad you did it.
Mills Ripley
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