Welcome to St Vincent's Private Hospital Toowoomba

Our Hospital’s Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Team will work with you to regain normal function after your operation.

They will provide you with advice and a home exercise program to enable you to continue your rehabilitation at home.

Please take the time to read through the information in this booklet as it is relevant to your recovery and outcomes.

Post-operative care: for your safety and care

• Do not get up or walk without assistance from your nurse until you are informed that you are safe to do so
• Wear appropriate footwear
• Follow hip precautions at all times if prescribed
• You are in most danger of dislocating your new hip in the first 12 weeks. However even after this initial period, it is still advisable to continue the precautions set out on the following page of this booklet.

Pain relief

Co-ordinate your pain relief medication (analgesia) with your treating team. It is important to take your pain medication as prescribed. It is normal to have some discomfort and stiffness following surgery. It is important that you are taking pain relief medication regularly so your can move, walk and exercise comfortably.

General post-operative advice: Hip Precautions 

Exercises: immediate post-operative

Exercises: bed

Exercises: standing

These exercises should be performed whilst you hold onto a firm support, such as a kitchen bench. Remember to keep your back straight. Aim to do these exercises two (2) times a day.

Overview of your hospital stay

Discharge goals

You are ready for discharge when:

• You can get in and out of bed yourself

• You can get on/off a chair by yourself

• You can walk well using a mobility aid or you can get on/off a chair by yourself

• You can go up and down a flight of stairs

Home or rehabilitation

Some people will be able to achieve their discharge goals within 3-5 days and are ready to go home. However, some people have complex medical conditions, live remotely or are living in circumstances where they require a higher level of function to be safely discharged. If this applies to you, a period of inpatient rehabilitation may be recommended.

Discharge Plan

You will be able to discharge immediately home with follow up services within 3-4 days. It is better to be at home rather than in hospital.

Equipment for home

It is your responsibility to arrange equipment required at home prior to discharge.

Your physiotherapist will advise you on which mobility aid is best and can provide brochures with information about equipment. In addition to a mobility aid you may wish to consider the following:

• Over toilet frame - provides a raised toilet seat height as well as arm rests to help push up from.
• Handy reacher - assists you to reach further and pick objects off the floor.
• Shower chair - this ensures safety in the shower.
• Orthopaedic chair - having a firm, tall, high backed chair with arms decreases the risk of prosthetic dislocation. Avoid using recliners or low soft armchairs for 3 months after surgery.

Local suppliers - Toowoomba

Aidacare Mobility and Healthcare Equipment

3/342 Taylor Street, Toowoomba

Phone: 07 3086 2990

Opening hours: 8.30am - 5.00pm Mon-Fri

Friendlies Mobility and Independent Living

8 Mylne Street, Toowoomba

Phone: 07 4637 1888

Opening hours: 8.00am - 5.30pm Mon-Fri

8.30am - 12.30pm Sat

Independent Living Specialists

18-22 Prescott Street, Toowoomba

Phone: 07 4639 3977

Opening hours: 8.00am - 4.30pm Mon-Fri

9.00am - 12.00pm Sat

Helpful hints for the home

Sleeping

• Ensure your bed is at the correct height to get in and out easily
• Remove any trip hazards around the bed, including coverings that may catch on your feet
• Turn bedside light on prior to getting out of bed at night
• Discuss with your surgeon regarding side sleeping

Sitting

• Use a tall chair with arms
• Keep knees apart and do not cross your legs or ankles
• Use an over the toilet seat until advised

Bathing/showering

• If you do not feel confident standing in the shower use a stable shower chair
• A long handled toe washer/dryer can assist in washing/drying

Dressing and reaching

• A sock aid and long handled shoe horn can assist with shoes and socks
• A handy reacher will allow you to pick up objects off the floor. It can also assist in washing, drying and dressing

Kitchen

• Store items at waist height
• Where appropriate leave commonly used items out on the bench
• Slide items along the bench to avoid carrying
• Use a kitchen trolley if necessary

Domestic tasks

• Avoid reaching into low cupboards, ovens, bottom shelves of the pantry or fridge
• Avoid working on low garden beds, be aware of trip hazards outdoors such as hoses and uneven surfaces

Frequently asked questions

Getting in and out of a car?

To get into the car

• Passenger seat as far back as possible to give you enough leg room
• Passenger seat-rest reclined so that, once sitting, your hip is at less than 90 degrees bend
• Reverse into the seat
• Keeping your knees at least two fists apart, move the operated leg out in front
• Keep your knees apart as you lower yourself to sit on the car seat
• Once on the seat, lean backwards (to decrease the bend at your hip) and bring your legs into the car one at a time

To get out of the car

• Lean back and swivel as you bring one leg out at a time
• Lean forward to stand up, with your operated leg straight out in front and stand up on your good leg

Should I have further physiotherapy once I am home?

Yes, your physiotherapy options will be discussed with you while you are in

hospital.

How much should I walk and exercise at home?

Once you are home it is important that you GRADUALLY increase your walking. It is

recommended that you do regular (3-4 times) short walks instead of 1-2 long walks

each day. Any large increases in your walking level can aggravate the pain and

swelling. If your thigh is swelling or your pain increases you are probably doing too

much. If you are tired and achy then listen to your body and rest. You will naturally

tend to walk more once home so don’t be surprised if your pain and swelling

increases once you are home.

You should continue to do the exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist.

Driving

You will need to check with your surgeon in regards to returning to driving. The

passenger seat must be as far back as possible with seat reclined. Move your

operated leg out in front, and slowly sit trying to lean backwards towards the back

rest as you sit.