Household Management and Everyday Life after the Operation

Before you are admitted to hospital, we advise you to prepare your home for your return:

• Floors: remove loose carpets and rugs (danger of slipping!), install anti-skid carpeting.
• Stairs: make sure that banisters /stair rails are secure and accessible.
• Furniture: make sure there’s enough free space between pieces of furniture. Place important articles in drawers and cupboard shelves at waist to eye height. Make sure you have a comfortable chair with arm rests and a high back.
• Lights: see that you have good lighting with easy access to light switches. Install night lights.
• Kitchen: prepare or buy deep-frozen dishes. Makes sure you have a plentiful stock of heavy, non-perishable items (e.g. drinks). Arrange for somewhere to sit in the kitchen.
• Toilet: Install a platform that makes sitting down and getting up easier, and possibly a handrail too.
• Bathroom: put an anti-slip bathmat in the bathtub. You could also place a chair in the shower.

General Tips:

• Avoid carrying heavy objects and carry any weights in a rucksack rather than on the crutch.
• Avoid placing stress on the joint by using a walking stick
• In the first phase avoid frequent stair-climbing and long periods of standing up.
• See that you have comfortable well-fitting shoes with soft slip-proof soles.

Sitting positions – you should avoid the following positions:

• Don’t bend your hips more than 90 degrees.
• Don’t cross your legs.
• Avoid exaggerated rotation of the operated leg.

Bending down:

• As far as possible avoid bending down with the operated leg.
• If you do have to bend down, hold on to a secure object and stretch out your operated leg to the back.

Stairs:  the correct way to go up and down stairs

• When going upstairs, always put your healthy leg forward first followed by your operated leg and your walking aid.
• When coming downstairs, always put your operated leg and walking aid forward first, followed by your healthy leg.