AllNat
Insider
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2026
- Messages
- 80
- Age
- 55
- Gender
- Female
- Country
Canada
Welcome to BoneSmart, @avalon54 ! 
Like you, I was getting increasingly nervous about my approaching hip replacement surgery and trying to do a lot of Internet research, which was just feeding my nervousness. Since discovering this forum, I have been recommending it to anyone who mentions having hip or knee pain. 
My hip replacement was done on March 30. My surgeon also used the lateral approach, which I was a little nervous about after having read so many positive things online about the anterior approach, but it has been fine. He's an excellent surgeon and did a wonderful job.
As people have mentioned above, you will develop a post-op routine very quickly. Here is a list of tools from my routine that I found to be very helpful in my recovery.
Lounge Doctor: After struggling for days with trying to sleep on my back (my natural sleeping position is on my right side, where I had my THR) and with getting my leg swelling down, I learned about the Lounge Doctor in this forum. I purchased the inflatable version (with pump incl.) because it's lightweight (I could rest it on top of my walker to move it from one room to another) and also because it's wide enough to safely rest both legs on it and not worry about one of my legs falling off in the night. It was a game-changer!
A leg lifter: I bought the type that has a metal rod inside it to keep the loop open. I hung it on my bedpost to be easily accessible when getting into bed.
A terry-cloth sock aide: There are many sock aides on the market. I recommend the terry-cloth version over the smooth plastic version, because it is better at holding the sock in place as I put my foot in.
A long-handled bathing brush: Great for washing my feet and back. I bought a nice solid wooden one with boar bristles, rather than the type with just a sponge glued onto a plastic handle, so that it would be durable.
Kabooti angled seat cushion: I used it when sitting in our car and in any seat that might be a bit low and risk breaking the 90° rule. It's very comfortable and has a washable cover and a very useful carry handle.
A 2-wheeled walker: It has been very helpful to ensure that I am walking with balance and confidence, and its visibility has helped to make other people aware of my presence and to be careful around me when out and about. Yesterday I went for a physiotherapy appointment and used my cane rather than my walker for the first time; there were two instances where people walked too close to me because they just didn't notice my cane (even though it's bright blue!), and that had me missing my walker as well as wishing that people would slow down and pay attention to their surroundings.
I increased the usefulness of my walker by adding a Rhino Valley walker bag that I found on Amazon. On a tip in one of the product reviews, I attached it to the inside of my walker, rather than to the front of it, to avoid causing the walker to tip over. It's been very helpful to carry a water bottle, my phone, a book, a pen, my portable grabber, my keys. In fact, at my physiotherapy appointment yesterday, I noticed the woman next to me in the gym had the same kind of bag on her walker, and it turns out that she was the woman to whom I had recommended that bag at my previous appointment, who ordered it after our conversation and was now loving it!
Stick Safe: A clever hiking stick/cane holder that I discovered on Etsy. It helps me hook my cane almost anywhere and keeps it from falling to the ground.
Good luck with your upcoming surgery! We're right here with you!
Like you, I was getting increasingly nervous about my approaching hip replacement surgery and trying to do a lot of Internet research, which was just feeding my nervousness. Since discovering this forum, I have been recommending it to anyone who mentions having hip or knee pain. My hip replacement was done on March 30. My surgeon also used the lateral approach, which I was a little nervous about after having read so many positive things online about the anterior approach, but it has been fine. He's an excellent surgeon and did a wonderful job.
As people have mentioned above, you will develop a post-op routine very quickly. Here is a list of tools from my routine that I found to be very helpful in my recovery.
Lounge Doctor: After struggling for days with trying to sleep on my back (my natural sleeping position is on my right side, where I had my THR) and with getting my leg swelling down, I learned about the Lounge Doctor in this forum. I purchased the inflatable version (with pump incl.) because it's lightweight (I could rest it on top of my walker to move it from one room to another) and also because it's wide enough to safely rest both legs on it and not worry about one of my legs falling off in the night. It was a game-changer!
A leg lifter: I bought the type that has a metal rod inside it to keep the loop open. I hung it on my bedpost to be easily accessible when getting into bed.
A terry-cloth sock aide: There are many sock aides on the market. I recommend the terry-cloth version over the smooth plastic version, because it is better at holding the sock in place as I put my foot in.
A long-handled bathing brush: Great for washing my feet and back. I bought a nice solid wooden one with boar bristles, rather than the type with just a sponge glued onto a plastic handle, so that it would be durable.
Kabooti angled seat cushion: I used it when sitting in our car and in any seat that might be a bit low and risk breaking the 90° rule. It's very comfortable and has a washable cover and a very useful carry handle.
A 2-wheeled walker: It has been very helpful to ensure that I am walking with balance and confidence, and its visibility has helped to make other people aware of my presence and to be careful around me when out and about. Yesterday I went for a physiotherapy appointment and used my cane rather than my walker for the first time; there were two instances where people walked too close to me because they just didn't notice my cane (even though it's bright blue!), and that had me missing my walker as well as wishing that people would slow down and pay attention to their surroundings.
I increased the usefulness of my walker by adding a Rhino Valley walker bag that I found on Amazon. On a tip in one of the product reviews, I attached it to the inside of my walker, rather than to the front of it, to avoid causing the walker to tip over. It's been very helpful to carry a water bottle, my phone, a book, a pen, my portable grabber, my keys. In fact, at my physiotherapy appointment yesterday, I noticed the woman next to me in the gym had the same kind of bag on her walker, and it turns out that she was the woman to whom I had recommended that bag at my previous appointment, who ordered it after our conversation and was now loving it!
Stick Safe: A clever hiking stick/cane holder that I discovered on Etsy. It helps me hook my cane almost anywhere and keeps it from falling to the ground.
Good luck with your upcoming surgery! We're right here with you!
