Showering After Hip Replacement | Setup, Equipment and Technique for Tub Shower 

Bagaimana keadaan setelah melakukan operasi

Thanks so much for the advice. Through the whole video I was wondering how to turn on and off the water with out doing before you get in otherwise the floor will get soaked before I have time to get in and pull the shower curtain... I'm so confused my orthopedic and nurses were telling me to set everything up for the operating leg to get in the bed and shower first but the videos are showing the opposite and I don't have a physical therapist yet Thanks to my horrible primary doctor it's been been 10 days and I'm in pain and so confused on what to do or not do other than 90 degrees. I have avascular necrosis so both my leg muscles are weak before surgery. Any advice on anything else I'd love to hear, exercises or which leg you used to get in bed 1st?

Good luck! I hope you recover nicely!

That is a very good idea! My neighbor, who is alone, went to a very nice rehab hospital when she had both her knees replaced at the same time. It was a wise the decision. I would definitely get all the help you can, including good meals. I will be joining you in 4 weeks - let's hope we are both walking, pain-free, and normally, again, in a couple of months! 👍

good luck i'm 61 alone and about to get the surgery on feb 16... i've had to struggle for 6 months on 2 canes because i had no health insurance..had to wait for obamacare to pay for the $47,000 surgery, so i've suffered quite a lot. struggled daily for 6 months to take care of myself, my home and my animals. i'm ready to be able to walk !

@@Berley_1234 Good wishes to you! I hope you have some friends to help you. I'll be joining you, with my new hip, 10 days later!

@@Mistydazzle Thank you, I took the injection in my hip, it helped a little, but I still will need the replacement, now pushed till July, I wish I would have taken the surgery, I told the Doctor I wasn’t ready, and because of the Cortizone shot, he said I would have to wait, because I’m likely to get an infection if I do it sooner.

How did it go? Hope you are doing fantastic, now! I get a new hip in Feb. Just starting to prepare, now that I’ve been to the surgeon.

Overall recovery from my hip replacement mid September has gone very well. I still have a way to go to normal movement in all respects but my surgeon lifted joint precautions November 6 and I've been able to resume activities like driving, do some stationary cycling to get a little cardio exercise again. I still have some issues causing pain in places other than the hip and hope to get them resolved so I can walk longer distances outdoors more comfortably and without my cane. I only used the bath transfer bench for about a week after my surgery, it was the most difficult thing I was doing because of the crowded space in our bathroom. We installed grab bars on all three walls of the bath enclosure and I showered safely standing up ever since. I do have good leg strength from years of bicycling and always use the rubber bath mat in the tub. I step over the tub edge by flexing each knee in turn to raise my foot back towards my derriere, holding the grab bar for safety. This may not work or be safe for everyone but has been good in my case.

@@e.b.gilligan7423 good to hear your favorable outcome, thank you! Great tips.

Thank you!

Some options include Terry cloth slippers and a well adhered floor rug and an oversized bath towel.

What if i dont have that double showerhead.😮

It isn’t required if the shower bench fits with the glass doors in place and you aren’t requiring a person outside the shower to assist. The glass doors make it harder to have help, but I agree they are a much cleaner, more visually appealing option!

Yes! The leg lifter can be held anywhere along the length of the handle and that would make it work for your height. You can go left leg first if that is how your bathroom best accommodates the modified strategy. Good luck!

Definitely possible! I still recommend having something to sit on early in recovery in case the meds or post surgical pain makes you woozy in the shower.

Me too having same approach I think I'm told I won't have to go threw all that nowadays. 2023

Me too but how are you planning in getting your leg in the bathtub? Unless your shower is a separate unit...

Yes, just don’t submerge or oversaturate the healing incision. It’s good to gently clean with a low scent or neutral soap!

That's encouraging!! It validates why I want the anterior. Do you know who can't have the Anterior? I have some dysplasia in my joint. No problem.

A shower chair should be fine in your case and most find a shower every 2-3 days sufficient.

Yes, I love to have the water up to temp before getting into the shower and then using the control valve on the hand held shower head to turn off the spray while transferring in.

If it isn’t possible to install a hand held shower head, you can either do you shower alternating sitting/standing (if tolerable/safe) or use a measuring cup to fill while seated to help get yourself thoroughly rinsed. Make sure you cover your incision with some cling wrap early on if you’ll have a lot of water hitting it.

You can stand from the bench and then leaning forward won’t be significant enough to break precautions. To do it seated would require additional tools based on the type of control you have (lever versus knob, etc.).

I use my grabber and turn on the water. I do have a single handle on and off lever not the knob type. Good luck

Yes, it is totally possible to stand, but keep in mind that initially you’ll be weak, sore, and woozy from meds, so having a seat option is a good idea 🙂

Good point

That's where a helper comes in.

You’re so kind! Thank you 🥹

Glad you mentioned that,I have the same concern. Its going to be difficult for me post operatively as I live alone and it seems like a lot of help is needed at home etc 😃

Some have, yes, but it depends on your surgeon and the approach they use for the surgery. Some are still going home with limitations that fit this instruction.

I plan on recommending them as an OT in Acute Care. Thanks so much for all your hard work!

Thank you so much for sharing❤️❤️

I was hoping that she'd answered this also!

INVEST IN YOU A HANDHELD SHOWER HEAD, THEY COME WHERE YOU CAN HANG THEM LOW...

Glad it was helpful!

​@@EquipMeOTthanks for the video. I'm going to be getting a right hip replacement. I only have a shower that's walled in with just a small door to get in and out from the shower. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Thank you!

For many I have them turn the taps on before entering the shower with the hand held shower head placed in a holder at a position that doesn't aim directly at the seat. That way it's already on and warmed up before entering and would allow it to be turned on without bending forward.

You’re welcome!

simp

YEP !

Oh dear!

I was wondering about how to turn on the water as well. Wish she would have covered that. Even if you do it before you get in, you would still have to bend to turn it on. Methinks I'll be limited to sink-based sponge baths for the first several weeks.

While I was still using the bathing transfer bench in my first week I simply stood up to turn on the taps (which advice I read somewhere, and I had installed a suction shower head holder lower down I could stick it into.) After a week it turned out the hardest part of showering for me was the bathing transfer bench itself as I was very steady on my feet. When I took my water proof bandage off on Day 7 I didn't want to be sliding on the bench any more so close to my incision and one of my post-surgical physio exercises showed me I was safe stepping over the tub edge by bending my knee and raising my feet in turn behind me while holding a grab bar for safety. We installed 2 more suction grab bars so there's one on each wall of the shower/tub enclosure and I'm safely showering on my feet, now. I don't know if I'm unusual in this but it's a lot less stressful than the illustrated method which I stuck to at the beginning. I'm on Day 10 after surgery.

@@e.b.gilligan7423I’m having my right hip replaced on October 21, 2024. May I ask how old you are? I’m 71. I’ve been thinking of just doing sponge bathes for the first week instead of all that hassle. I have a tub shower. The water handle is a single knob which is kind of hard to adjust normally, plus the toilet is really close to the tub, so there’s no way I could safely try to turn the water on and adjust it. I’m overwhelmed by the toileting and bathing. I guess I could have my husband get the water going for me before hand. Not looking forward to this!

@@deborahallen5249 I was 72 a year ago when I had the surgery. As per my reply to V Kunkel 11 mos. ago (will requote it below) I found the loaner bathing transfer bench the most challenging thing I was doing post-surgically and I stopped using it after a week, switched to showering standing up. I got in and out of the tub/shower enclosure, changed positions in the shower etc. ensuring I wouldn't fall by holding suction grip bars installed on the three walls in the shower enclosure for safety. With an extra long rubber bath mat in the tub and the safety grips, this worked for me. In case my description is hard to follow, I stepped into the tub holding a grip bar on the back wall for safety and lifting each foot in turn BEHIND me towards my buttocks. (I've actually stuck to that method ever since.) I have fairly strong legs from years of exercise and never felt unsteady on my feet in the shower. Our bathroom is small and the toilet being so close to the tub really limited where a bathing bench could go and made swinging my leg over into the tub a real balancing act, having to lean way back in order for my leg to clear the toilet without breaking "joint precautions" about bending the surgical leg. (Frankly, I was so disgusted with not getting to clean up in the hospital for two days post surgery while using a bedpan, I relished showering again.) Of course, everyone is different and you will be the best judge of what's safest and most comfortable for you, whether that's sponge bathing, following the routine in this video to the letter or some solution that fits your space and your ability. Remarks 11 mos. ago, repeated: “While I was still using the bathing transfer bench in my first week I simply stood up to turn on the taps (which advice I read somewhere) and I had installed a suction shower head holder lower down I could stick it into.) After a week it turned out the hardest part of showering for me was the bathing transfer bench itself as I was very steady on my feet. When I took my water proof bandage off on Day 7 I didn't want to be sliding on the bench any more so close to my incision and one of my post-surgical physio exercises showed me I was safe stepping over the tub edge by bending my knee and raising my feet in turn behind me while holding a grab bar for safety. We installed 2 more suction grab bars so there's one on each wall of the shower/tub enclosure and I'm safely showering on my feet, now. I don't know if I'm unusual in this but it's a lot less stressful than the illustrated method which I stuck to at the beginning. I'm on Day 10 after surgery.”

You’re welcome!

Magicunicorn you're a very smart person, my bathroom is too small even to get in with the walker, so I'LL DO THE SAME 😅😅😅 I expect your recovery will be the best for you😅😅😅❤

Glad it was helpful!

They can apply, but it depends on how high up the femur repair goes. I would definitely use this as a conservative guide, but you may not need to be quite as strict. You can always clarify with your orthopedic surgeon. Safe healing!

Sure! It’s definitely hard to film because the space is awkward. Maybe that will be my first “RU-vid short” 😉

I like to give all the options to cover the largest number of people possibly viewing. I would suggest an OT consult to give you a more personalized plan of care.

You’re too kind! Thank you ☺️

I am going to try to do the same thing, especially the first week, as I have seen a person who went through this said he did washcloth clean ups at the sink. Hopefully, at week 2, I will be able to do this method. Definitely using the chair for stability after the incision has healed to get wet again.

You can stand and reach down a little to turn it on and off when in the shower or once you exit the shower and are standing. It really depends on how your shower is set up.

It would depend on whether it’s truly a walk in shower or if it has a small ledge that needs to be stepped over. If there is a ledge you may still need the transfer bench to bridge that gap.

Do you have Amazon? They have just the leg lifter as well as a whole set of "after knee and hip surgery" tools.

The OT department in the hospital has staff that comes around with the leg lifter and the reachers and the sock aides that you can purchase. The leg lifter and the reacher I have used at home during my recovery and especially when you have those hip precautions anywhere from 4-6 wks of not bending over. Amazing how often we drop things during this time. You can use them also when you have knee surgery/replacement.

I live in British Columbia

Depends on the handle type, but some will work with a Juvo dressing stick. The knob variety are tougher.

You’re welcome!

I strongly encourage it for pretty much all lower body surgery recovery. Good luck!

@@EquipMeOT thanks!

Your Family and Friends will tell you .......😀

There is no mention of pain I your videos. Does the preop pain of osteoarthritis disappear after THR?

You’re welcome!

This is a common question. Often, i suggest turning on the shower before getting in and again after getting out. It also depends on the type of controller (pull knob/turn, lever, 2 separate knobs, etc.).

@@EquipMeOT Thank you.

You’re welcome.

Thank you!

Awesome question. This would depend on the type of faucet you have (knob versus lever). The Juvo dressing stick amzn.to/3kVNjFm is really sturdy and rubber coated and can be used on a lever style. Knob style is trickier 🤔

@@EquipMeOT I absolutely love your instructional video! I have a center knob on both showers. One stall shower (very small) and a tub shower. In the stall shower I would have to step in first with my operated leg(right) in order to face the faucet. In the tub shower my good leg would go in first. I am perplexed at which one would be better. I have seen a few videos where the operated leg is bent at the knee behind but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Any other suggestions you have regarding this showering process would be helpful. I live alone and sadly don’t have anyone to help out. My support system is further away where I used to live. Would it be OK to stand in the stall shower? It’s very tiny no. Not sure there would be enough room for a chair and any movement of an outstretched leg. So appreciate any suggestions you might have.

My initial thought is you might be able to stand for brief showers in the stall shower, but it would depend on how your endurance is prior to surgery. If you use the tub shower, you can sit and possibly stand to reach the faucet. As long as you don’t bend beyond 90* at the waist to reach the faucet, you might be alright. Hope this helps a little! It will probably take a little trial prior to surgery to see what works!

@@EquipMeOT Thank you once again. Yes, definitely going to have to walk through some things prior to surgery which is on the 30th of this month. I am 65 years old and a young 65 if I do say so myself. I do not have an arthritic hip but have a severe tear with FAI and bone spurs. I had two different surgeons putting their heads together deciding whether to go the arthroscopic route or the hip replacement route. Because of my age and the amount of stuff needed to be done the arthroscopic surgery was ruled out and the hip replacement was decided.

Good luck! I hope the surgeons get you up and running!!

You will likely need to get your own.

I’m sorry to hear equipment can be so difficult to source for you. The goal of these videos is to provide a thorough breakdown of all the options. I have worked with hundreds of patients and they all recover differently. Some need all the equipment, some only need a few items, but I try and provide a deep level of resources for the purpose of these videos.

You wash your hair with your hands.

The salon should be ok as long as the chair isn't too low. They recline back so there shouldn't be a problem with hip angle, more concerned about getting back up comfortably.

I'm exactly 3 weeks post op, anterior approach. Surgery was around 5.15 pm, discharged around 2.30 the next day. The night of the op I was briefly on a frame, the next day they had me walking on crutches including stair techniques. Once home with furniture and walls I didn't need the crutches at all but took one with me 'in case' when doing my recommended short walks. Within a week I didn't need crutches at all and with the recommended exercises my strength has returned very quickly, for example I can climb stairs normally and only have trouble with steps that are abnormally high. Little pain . I can't recommend the anterior approach more. I can now put socks on my foot again without using a gadget!

Depends a bit on the type of knob. A lever style will work differently than a knob. If you can use the handle from your long handled sponge or similar to prevent having to lean forward. Another option is to stand to reach, so you don’t have to bend forward as far.

I was wondering the same thing. I am also very tall and long legged.

Yes, that should be safe.

It works pretty well, won’t seal all water out but will prevent the soaking most surgeons want you to avoid.

Puppy Pads work well to create any size bandage. Since they are made to trap moisture on one side while preventing moisture getting through on the other side, they are great for covering wounds and keeping them dry....just cut to size and use surgical tape to adhere it to the skin. Also, there are products for waterless bathing that are excellent. Wet the spongy material with a little bit of water, no need to rinse...just dry and DONE! You can even wash your hair with it.