They are used for knees. Not necessary for hip replacements.
Has anyone's OS told you that a narcotic prescription will go home with you and you should ONLY take it when the pain is bad and only for one week. Other than that to take tylenol. Now I'm even more scared!
Well, if he holds to that, I suggest you contact your PCP(GP) and see if he will help out. I know of some people who have managed with only Tylenol but not many. At most you might only need codeine 60mg 4 times a day along with the Tylenol (1,000mg 4 times a day) or maybe Tramadol. Another point is that the period of needing strong pain meds may only be a very few weeks, sometimes it's only a month and thereafter, Tylenol is perfectly adequate.
I would also emphasise that being able to do stairs is/should be a #1 criterion for discharge. It is the PTs job to ensure you are safe for discharge and if you have stairs at home, that you are capable of using them safely.
Another point is that hips actually don't need much or any exercise to get better. They do a pretty good job of it all on their own if given half a chance. Trouble is, people
don't give them a chance and end up with all sorts of aches and pains and sore spots. All they need is the best therapy which is walking and even then
not to excess.
But it's perfectly common for people to range between uncertainty and outright panic. This is a big deal and you will be handing yourself over into the care of total strangers that you will probably not even set eyes on and letting them do things you have no idea about and that is scary. Only crumb of comfort I can offer is that these strangers do this several times a day, every day of the week. Or to put it another way, for you this is a big, unknown and scary deal, for them it's just another day at the office. But you can trust them. I used to be one of those unseen and unknown people in the OR and I took care of every individual that came into my care just as much as if they had been my own mother or father. They will too because they are professionals and know their job. So the only thing you really have to fear is the unknown and that we can help you with. Read around here and be educated. It will help you greatly.
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