Driving an automatic motorhome after a left hip replacement

Shrimp i thought I was the only one! The reason I don’t take painkillers such as Co-codemol isn’t because I am being brave, it is because they make my feel nauserous and disconnected. Thanks for the support.
 
Left hip done 3 years ago following 45 years of deterioration after I dislocated it in a 'bike accident. I maintain it was nothing to do with me because I was asleep at the time of the impact, but the court disagreed. Anyhoo - I made a point of pushing myself a bit through the recovery process, doing all the physio and attending the sessions in the pool etc etc. It's 100% pain free and has been for over two years, unless I do something particularly stupid that twists it beyond normal limits, but then that's the same for the other hip. I drive a manual Boxer based MoHo without any issues.

Edit to add: the comments about getting in and out of vehicles and posture are very important. The concern is not letting your hip joint go past 90 degrees, i.e. knees too high, as thay can lead to the joint dropping out backwards until the muscles knit back together around it and firm up - your settee is probably too low, as is the loo seat. (When buying the booster seat, check the aperture required ... there are some considerations specific to seated males that you might not consider until the first time you use it). ;)
 
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Trevor Wbm I picked up on the toilet seat level issue but not the aiming point, thanks. Also I did not think about sitting on normal furniture. How long was it before you could\were allowed to sit on low chairs?
 
when i had the first hip replaced two occupational therapists came to see me at home and they were brilliant tbh.

they gave me a toilet riser, left some seat risers for 2 different seats i used at home, a grabber and an adjustable walking stick.

The 2d one i was sent home the next day with a toilet riser and that was it.

Also the first one, the surgeon asked if i’d wanted to donate the piece of sawn off hip bone so they could cultivate and grow the bone to help with babies who were born with spinal deformities
 
Hi.
Had left hip replaced 2000. So scared i had put the " Dressing gown on ? OOops " the wrong way round,so was walking down the DRI clutching the front of the gown. ( It was NOT a dressing gown ) and when asked why i had not put the pants on said " Oh,i thought it was a hat ""
Came around after the op. No recollection of any noise/pain during and when i was fully awake.... IN NO PAIN.Sheer bliss.
DO AS YOU ARE TOLD BY THE PHisio whatsites. On driving after 6 weeks to the day,manual gearbox, as told,the only niggle was that the seat squab that secures your left buttock after a while caused some " Mild discomfort" to the scar tissue. THATS ALL.
Two laughs. 1. About week 3 i was out with Wilfy the Wolf ( B/Collie) walking and fell down. Tried to get Wilfy to come a bit nearer so i could use him to get up and he just stood there LAUGHING at me.
2. Back at work week 8,dieseling up down near Exeter,tripped and fell over by the pump. This HUGE young bull of a fellow ran over to help me.. I shouted for him to STAY AWAY.... I thought he looked a big rough lad and in helping me,could pull my left leg OFF.... Told him why when i had got up and we both had a laugh.
Tea Bag .
PS. Had the TOP Cup replaced couple of years ago here in Portugal,it had worn/come lose.. Wanted to take the old unit out and put in new one , a long recovery process due to it being glued in. I asked why they could not just fit a new cup that fit/sort of. Answer Yes if we can find one,they found one, result !! and i was up and about driving in 6 weeks again.
Best of LUCK,nothing to fear.
Tea Bag

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lol
i had the gown on the right way but ended up with the a piece of the pants in each hand when i tried to pull them up 🤣
 
Now sat in room waiting but 2nd on the list so a couple of hours to stew I guess
 
Things are progressing, now have a very fetching outfit of stockings, paper pants and a gown - no photos!
 
I've had both hips replaced the first one started to squeak a few years ago when I walk with a stoop or walk up steps.
It is getting worse and is very loud, sometimes it growls like a dog.:giggle: Its very embarrassing, I have worn rigger boots for years and blame the squeak on them when people ask me where the noise is coming from but in best shoes I am stumped for an answer. I had ceramic joints fitted by the way. PS this is not a wind up it really is true. john.
 
fifthwheel said:
I've had both hips replaced the first one started to squeak a few years ago when I walk with a stoop or walk up steps.
It is getting worse and is very loud, sometimes it growls like a dog.:giggle: Its very embarrassing, I have worn rigger boots for years and blame the squeak on them when people ask me where the noise is coming from but in best shoes I am stumped for an answer. I had ceramic joints fitted by the way. PS this is not a wind up it really is true. john.
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WD40 or silicone spray - seems to be the stock answer on this forum 😂
 
Consultant greeted me today with
'Ah you're the gentleman who needs both hips and both knees done'.

So much for the doctor who repeatedly wouldn't refer me to a consultant as my 'worst' hip wasn't bad enough to justify it 🤬
 
Bustup15 said:
Consultant greeted me today with
'Ah you're the gentleman who needs both hips and both knees done'.

So much for the doctor who repeatedly wouldn't refer me to a consultant as my 'worst' hip wasn't bad enough to justify it 🤬
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Loving the "live" updates.. Keep em coming.. (y)
 
Update on op.

Decent pain free night but with no sleep due to the air bellows on the air bags triggering every 30 seconds. Like Chinese water torture, even when it was silent you knew it was on its way.

Had a couple of doses of anti bac., a couple of painkillers and now dressed waiting for physio.

Hopefully out this evening if all goes well.

Got a raised toilet seat, and a picker.

Just had a right bollocking for been out of bed unsupervised 🙄

Spoke to consultant who says no flying 6 weeks, no cycling 6 weeks, generally no driving 6 weeks but that's not hard and fast. He is totally happy I won't dislocate the joint, main concern is reopening the wound.

Quote 'if it weeps, leaks or splits DO NOT LET YOUR GP TOUCH IT. Get back to see me.
 
Should have added, potentially getting other hip done in Sept/Oct, waiting for revisit to consultant in 6 weeks and then review knees after that. He is hopeful the knee issues are a direct result of the hips and that they should improve sigificantly afterwards 🤞

Looks like no Europe for us this year.
 
namwaldog said:
Purely on a quicker recovery.

There were six hips/knees done on the same day as me 3, epidurals and 3 generals. All the epidurals were walking around quicker.

The anaesthetist recommended epidural and is sat beside you ready to administer general if needed.
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This is an interesting one, I asked the surgeon about not having a general anaesthetic when I had a hernia, the response was there was no way he would want to be awake when being operated on. Recovery time from the general anaesthetic will probably be quicker than the operation also you will hear and smell everything. Guess it’s personal choice
 
Coolcats said:
This is an interesting one, I asked the surgeon about not having a general anaesthetic when I had a hernia, the response was there was no way he would want to be awake when being operated on. Recovery time from the general anaesthetic will probably be quicker than the operation also you will hear and smell everything. Guess it’s personal choice
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I had injection to spine at 4:45 yesterday. Never heard or saw anything during op but was awake before I left theatre.
No feeling to lower half which is odd but returned within 90 minutes.
Feeling great this morning - so far.

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Bustup15 said:
I had injection to spine at 4:45 yesterday. Never heard or saw anything during op but was awake before I left theatre.
No feeling to lower half which is odd but returned within 90 minutes.
Feeling great this morning - so far.
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Incredible stuff they can do hope the recovery goes well.
 
Physio now been, spent all of 10 minutes with me.
Brought in a walker frame. Did 5 steps with that.
'Throw that away you won't need it' he says .
Brought 2 sticks out, walked back and forth across the room - 'that's brilliant he says, no issues at all.'

Feels a bit weird as he has lengthened the op leg by a few mms which apparently he sorts out when he does the other hip 🤷‍♂️

So can I get discharged now - 'oh no, you have to do stairs first but that's not till this afternoon' 🤬

All good progress though.

And another x-ray before I go to confirm everything is where it should be.
 
Bustup15 said:
Physio now been, spent all of 10 minutes with me.
Brought in a walker frame. Did 5 steps with that.
'Throw that away you won't need it' he says .
Brought 2 sticks out, walked back and forth across the room - 'that's brilliant he says, no issues at all.'

Feels a bit weird as he has lengthened the op leg by a few mms which apparently he sorts out when he does the other hip 🤷‍♂️

So can I get discharged now - 'oh no, you have to do stairs first but that's not till this afternoon' 🤬

All good progress though.

And another x-ray before I go to confirm everything is where it should be.
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Good luck with the recovery! I had my left hip replaced in October 2020. Timing was almost perfect as it coincided with us going into Level 3 lockdown so we couldn't use the motorhome again until April this year.

As others have said, do the exercises, gradually increase the intensity and avoid the positions that might lead to dislocation. I pushed myself as much as I felt comfortable with and that was one of the reasons why I stopped all the painkillers after a week or so. Once I'd got comfortable with walking on flat and even surfaces (pavements, tarmac roads) I found it useful to start walking over uneven ground. We have a stony beach nearby and it's surprising how much harder the muscles around the hip have to work to maintain balance.

6 months on and I'm back to pre hip pain normal. Cycling, walking in the hills, but no return to running.

Stairs is pretty straightforward provided you can remember the order of legs and crutches. I had it written down on post it notes stuck at the top and bottom of our stairs at home!
 
Just got my date - 8th June! Pre-op exercises have been delayed a little as I broke two ribs in a fall last week. Getting back to normal now and will be cycling, walking and swimming this week. Just need a strict 19 day diet to get my weight down. Very grateful to Bustup15 for his diary.
 
Conal said:
Just got my date - 8th June! Pre-op exercises have been delayed a little as I broke two ribs in a fall last week. Getting back to normal now and will be cycling, walking and swimming this week. Just need a strict 19 day diet to get my weight down. Very grateful to Bustup15 for his diary.
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Make sure you pack some shorts - it's very hot in a hospital and something to pass the time, ipad, phone, books etc.

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Had both hips and one knee done. No Surgeon or Doctor will tell you when you can drive. He/She will bounce the ball back to you with an answer along the lines of "When you think you can safely do an emergency stop". In the world of blame they don't want the "but he said" :gum:
 
Bustup15 said:
Physio now been, spent all of 10 minutes with me.
Brought in a walker frame. Did 5 steps with that
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Are they still emphasising "No crossed legs" ?

When you are due to leave hospital, try and arrange to be picked up in a car that has a reasonably high (off the ground) sitting position to make it easier to get into. As above a couple of carrier bags on the seat to allow you so swivel.

Once home, I set a timer on a watch to go off every hour to remind you to get up and move around.

Making and carrying a brew is "interesting" when you have to use a stick/crutch :confused:

Take care.
Little and often
 
namwaldog said:
Are they still emphasising "No crossed legs" ?

When you are due to leave hospital, try and arrange to be picked up in a car that has a reasonably high (off the ground) sitting position to make it easier to get into. As above a couple of carrier bags on the seat to allow you so swivel.

Once home, I set a timer on a watch to go off every hour to remind you to get up and move around.

Making and carrying a brew is "interesting" when you have to use a stick/crutch :confused:

Take care.
Little and often
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Yes definitely no crossed legs - my standard position, feet up and ankles crossed 🙄

Wasn't bothered about carrying a brew but I did question a beer 😂. His response was practice balancing and walking until you're comfortable using 1 stick, problem solved 🤔. Or send missis to the bar that's a win win!
 
Conal said:
Trevor Wbm I picked up on the toilet seat level issue but not the aiming point, thanks. Also I did not think about sitting on normal furniture. How long was it before you could\were allowed to sit on low chairs?
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I think it was about 4 weeks. I remember thinking that for the time I used the the high armchair we'd purchased I could have persevered with a dining chair and a cushion. That said recovery rates are different for everyone, - my advice is to do the exercises and move as much as you can to help knit the muscles back together and build them up again.
 
You could raise a lower seat by securely packing up under the legs. I think that's what I will do as all our comfy seats are quite low.

I knew the ramps I made from sleeper boards would come in useful for something else. Don't think Mrs B will be happy with the cosmetics but as you say it's only for a few weeks.

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