Hip replacement help, please

[LIDisneyFan]

My mom is 80. She (and the rest of that, for that matter) have had a rough few months.

My Dad died on July 4th at 89 - a few days from his 90th birthday. Mom and Dad were married 49 yers, and really expected to make 50.

Anyway, right before he died, mom started having back pains. She was using a walker by his funeral. The follwoing week, she had an MRI, and they thought she had cancer. She was admitted to the hospital, where she spent 2 weeks wondering about her progrnosis. Bone scans, Cat scans, MRI's, - you name it. In the end, they found a fractured pelvis and bad osteo arthritis of the hip.

She then spent almost 2 months in a nursing home in rehab. She finally moved in to assisted living last month, and has really been improving. With pain management and physical therapy, she has been able to walk well with a walker. She was looking forwrad to finding a senior apartment (oh, BTW, she sold her house this week too!)

The last week, after a PT treatment, she began the acute pain again. The orthopedist feels it is her arthritis. Now we're looking at hip replacement.

So, before I even suggest to this poor woman that she consider hip replacement, I'd like to know anyone's experiences with an elderly person - how successful was it, how ong is the recovery, etc.

Thanks a bunch

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

sorry to hear about this. I have no experiences to share, but I do hope that whatever you decide she'll be ok.

 

[Serena]

My 93 year old grandma had a hip replacement and she did wonderfully.
She had the surgery and then rehabilitation and she loved all the attention.

I think the recovery in rehab was about a month and then when she got home they had a physical therapist come and visit and of course family was there to help.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

Serena,

How long was her rehab? Was she in a nursing home/rehab center, or at home?

Thanks

 

[Serena]

She started out in a center and then had help at home for a while. I don't remember exactly how long. This was a couple years ago.

 

[Saphire]

Hi there,
I am sorry to hear of your mom's troubles and the loss of your dad. This will go down as being a difficult year. I am a physical therapist and have worked in a rehab hospital for eighteen years. I have worked with many people after hip replacements. The good news is these surgeries are often very successful and people almost always have full relief from their arthritic pain. On the negative side there are strict recovery precautions she would have to follow after surgery. While the hip is healing she would have to be extra cautious to avoid certain hip positions as there is a risk of dislocation. Turning and bending become restricted, but this is only temporary, around 6-8 weeks. People usually spend around 3-4 days in the hospital, then up to two weeks in the rehab unit, then go home with visiting nurse/therapist. If she isn't strong enough, sometimes a nursing home stay is required for a few weeks. Her doctor is the best one to advise her about surgery, if he or she thinks she can handle all this, it will be recommended. Best wishes and let me know if there are any other questions I can answer.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Boy, you came to the right place to ask this. I didn't know there were so many PT's here. I am a physical therapist who does home care. Almost every hip replacement patient I have seen does very well. The first 2-3 weeks are hard but then usually people are very glad they had the surgery. Does she know anyone that has had the surgery that she could talk to?

 

[LIDisneyFan]

Thanks for the replies. She really has no one that she knows who has had hip surgery, so she can't get a good opinion from a peer. But I'm hoping she'll do it (just too many things in a short period of time for her, I think).

Then, at 6:30 this morning, she calls, has been sick all night, can hardly move. So, I spent all day today in the ER with her - now they've admitted her again. Her WBC is really really high, so it may be an infection, . The sickness caould also be caused by interaction between her Vioxx (for arthritis) and the pain meds she's already on. She'll be in at least a few days - hopefully nothing serious.


Then there's selfish me - I want my life back. It's been a tough 4 months (is that all it's been since my dad died in July??!!), but I feel angry with myself that I'm already getting the 'here we go again' attitude. How do people do this for years on end!!??!!

Just venting. Thank you. We will now return to our regulary scheduled boards...

 

[Serena]

Vent away sweety, we all need to occasionally.