spring33

It will be the first time that I will be flying with a hip replacement. What should I do to make this an easy trip. I am concerned about security and safety measures. Thanks

Patrick

Gee, there are millions of people out there doing it all the time. I'm sure if you're not fully recovered, you might suffer a little discomfort.
I traveled with my mother just after having both knees replaced. Surely you have a card that shows your replacement for security? Other than that, I can't imagine any problem.

bonniebroad

About knee replacements, my sister, who is 70, is getting ready to have one the end of October. She is planning to travel to Florida via car the first of January (about 11 hours in the car.) She is thinking she should break the trip with a night in Savannah..... Do you guys with experience with these operations think she'd be ready for a trip in two months? Also, have the surgeries you've had/ are familiar with.............. gone well, and you're happy with the results? My sister is a bit frightened, but a year after knee surgery, she doesn't see any choice! Thanks (and thank you, spring33, for letting me hop in on your question!)

ChristieP

You should have gotten a card from your doctor showing your implant. My mother has one for her knee replacement. It has an X-ray of your hip with the implant, the surgeon's contact info, and the date of surgery. She shows this to the TSA, and aside from having to be wanded, has no hassles whatsoever with it.

Patrick

It's been about 10 years or more now since Mom had BOTH her knees done a week apart. Originally they said it would be 6 weeks of in home therapy, so she arranged for a family reunion in Ohio for 2 months afterwards. I went with her and she had no problems, although we did use a wheelchair in the airports to "save her energy".
She had lived with such pain and such limited mobility for so long, that she worked hard and sailed through the physical therapy. Not to be too positive though, I know she met a woman in the hospital having both hers done at the same time and had a much longer recovery time. They kept in contact and Mom called this woman a "crybaby" as she didn't want to do the therapy because it hurt too much. Mom just knew she was going to be so much better, she ignored the pain.

bonniebroad

Patrick, when I googled medical message boards, on one I saw that around 25 percent of people have a lot of pain in the knee (severe) after the replacement, and that the physical therapy can be really difficult. I will be optimistic for my sister, though; she's been told to expect recovery in about the same time-frame as your Mom. My sister says she is so sick of the pain, swelling and immobility that the surgery and rehab can't be much worse! Thanks for the info, Patrick (your Mom sure has a good son! )

gail

I have been behind persons in line at security who have set off metal detector with their artifical body parts - after careful "wanding" of body part in question, they were allowed to proceed.

I am usually hesitant to give medical advice here - (I am a rehab RN) - but knee replacement surgery rehab can be tough (much more intense than hip rehab). But most people who need new knees are in such pain and have such limited mobility before surgery that it is worth it.

As far as an 11 hour car ride - I think planning to stop part way would be a good idea. I would guess she would get pretty stiff sitting in a car for that long. And having just returned from Savannah, I can't think of a nicer place to stop.

bonniebroad

Gail, I appreciate your comments, especially considering your profession. Like Patrick's Mom, my sister is at the end of her rope........ her personality is being affected by so much pain and so many limitations. She's a tough lady; I'm sure she'll manage the post-op period if anyone can. And, yes, she loves Savannah, as do I, so that will soothe her!

spring33

Are there any exercises that i can do on the plane that would help my leg and what should i expect from security. I do have a card from my doctor thanks again

Patrick

Spring, I'm unclear when you had your surgery, but surely your doctor or therapist offers follow up. If they didn't provide you with a list of exercises to do the rest of your life, you really should call and ask for suggestions for your flight.

kikahead

Ah, my father has a titanium hip. He has no card or anything, they just wand him a whole lot. Just be prepared to take a little extra time as you will be pulled out for the secondary screening. He has travelled multiple times since his hip replacement.

spring33

Dear Patrick.. I don't know what is unclear about my comments. I wanted to know if there is anything that I can do in a limited space that would help me during a four hour flight. If you don't know anything, that's ok with me.

Patrick

Wow, spring I was sincerely trying to help, what was with that rude comment?

I'm sorry, but I have reread your posts. I still am unclear if you had the surgery last week or last year. It WOULD make a difference, that's all I'm trying to say, now wouldn't it? And I DO KNOW SOMETHING. I offered the best help you can possibly get. Call your doctor or physical therapist instead of asking a bunch of strangers what kind of exercises are appropriate for you to do. If a total stranger tells you the best thing you can do is ankle rolls, are you going to believe that over the advice of your doctor? And I wouldn't have suggested except that surely any good surgeon offers such advice freely and willingly during your recovery period. I'm sure your doctor himeself would rather you follow his advice that the suggestions from a travel advice board. Now don't you agree?

I'm really sorry you find such good advice not helpful. Am I wrong or was your post meant to be as rude as it sounded? Both of my posts were certainly meant to be genuninely helpful. I'm sorry you didn't find them to be. "If you don't know anything that's fine with me," you say. What is it you would like me or anyone else to know?

kayd

Re getting through airport security with a new hip joint:

The card or letter from a doctor may save you from having to undress to show the scar on your hip, but if you ring the bell as you walk through the metal detector, expect a thorough wanding. It will probably also involve a hand inspection of bags that have already been through the carry-on X-ray. And you may have to wait a few minutes for a TSA officer of the corrrect gender to come and perform the wanding.

You'll be more at ease about it all if you allow 10 or 15 minutes more than you used to, so you won't get stressed about missing your plane if screening does delay you a bit.