Surgery can be very difficult to recover from and many types of hip surgeries are especially difficult. You have the traditional surgery recovery and then usually an extended period of time where you can not put wait onto your hip. My boss recently underwent this surgery and after 6 weeks can only put 50% of her weight on her hip. Whether it’s a full hip replacement or another type of surgery, recovering from hip surgery is tough.
Hip Surgery Gift Ideas
Since hip surgery is so tough to recover from we all wanted to provide gifts to help our friend get through the recovery process. We found several gift ideas she loved and got a lot of ideas for gifts that make hip surgery recovery better.
Today I’m sharing the hip surgery gift ideas I used and discovered while looking. These gift ideas are great for people who are going to undergo hip surgery or who are recovering now from their surgery. Remember that gifts are specific to the person so some gifts on this list may work better for some people than others!
Before you buy anything for a hip surgery patient, make sure you check with the hospital and see what will be provided for the recovery period. Often the hospital and insurance will cover things like a walker, crutches, a riser toilet seat, and any medically necessary accessories.
Grip n’ Grab Reach Extender Tool
Following hip surgery having a reach extender tool on hand can be really helpful for your loved one with limited mobility. Since hip surgery recovery requires lots of rest and little movement in the beginning this grabber tool can be helpful for people that want more independence during the recovery period. Having this tool on hand can make life easier as it brings items within reach even after recovery progresses and movement returns.
We recommend:
Shoe Horn
Shoe horns can be a very useful tool for hip surgery patients. These long handle shoe horns are perfect for putting on shoes or boots while standing. Easy grip handles make these tools perfect for assisting when you have mobility issues after hip surgery. Patients can easily slide into the back of any shoe without having to bend over. These shoes horns are inexpensive but they make a huge difference when people recovering from hip surgery are trying to get ready.
We recommend:
- Shoe Horn by Vive – Best Long Handled Shoe Horn
- Shacke Metal Shoe Horn – Double Sided Stainless Steel
- Extra Long Handled Shoehorn
Sock Aid
A sock aid is something you’ve probably never even considered before. It’s easy to dismiss a tool like this until you personally need help getting clothes and socks on your body! Following hip surgery it is likely that the patient is unable to bend in a way that allows for socks to be easily put on.Sock aids should be used even for the non-operated foot because it is so important to maintain hip precautions. This can continue for weeks so a sock aid is a considerate and thoughtful gift idea for hip surgery patients.
We recommend:
Walker Bags
Walkers are often used post hip surgery to offer stability walking in certain situations. A walker is especially useful for icy winter weather or wet areas where crutches might slip. It’s also essential for getting in and out of a pool when you do water therapy. A great gift idea for anyone using a walker during the recovery experience is a walker bag. These walker bags attach to the walker and give the user a bit of space to put important items they need to keep close by. Walker bags have multiple pockets and zippered compartments to keep enough little items close so the person doesn’t have to keep getting up and down to retrieve things.
We recommend:
- NOVA Medical Products Folding Walker Bag
- Duro-Med Walker Pouch, Multi-Pocket Carry-All Bag
- Ableware Double-Sided Quilted Walker Bag
Crutch Totes & Bags
At a certain point in recovery, hip surgery patients are usually using crutches provided by the hospital. As soon as our boss was able to use crutches she instantly realized how hard to was to work because she couldn’t use crutches and carry items. If you want to give a useful gift, these crutch totes are essential. It makes it much easier to carry certain things when going out on crutches after hip surgery.
We recommend:
Hand-Held Shower Head
A hand-held shower head allows hip surgery patients to control the spray of water while sitting and showering. This is one item the hospital definitely doesn’t supply but can make a huge difference in how easy life after surgery is for the patient. Hip surgery makes showering much harder due to the precautions that must be taken so giving your loved one a hand-held shower head will make it easier. Hand-held shower heads are not expensive and will only cost you around $20.
We recommend:
- Niagara Chrome Handheld Massage Showerhead
- HotelSpa® AquaCare Series Ultra-Luxury 7-setting Spiral Hand Shower
- Delta Faucet Universal Showering Components 7-Setting Handshower
Cleaning Help
During recovery from hip surgery cleaning is one thing that can fall by the wayside. A great gift for a hip surgery patient can be a series of cleaning sessions with a housekeeper or a robotic vacuum that can be turned on and let loose to do the job. Either way it’s a sweet and very thoughtful gift since many people hate how dirty the house can get without their attention and cleaning.
We recommend:
- iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot
- iRobot Braava Floor Mopping Robot
- Neato XV Signature Pro Pet & Allergy Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Books About Healing
Books are a great way to pass the time during recovery so giving a book about healing from hip surgery can be a great gift. It kills two birds with one stone: it gives information on healing and helps pass the time in a productive way. There are many books on healing from surgery so look through and find one or two you might want to pass on as a gift. They can be combined with another gift to make a fun hip surgery recovery kit full of multiple gifts.
We recommend:
- Heal Your Hips: How to Prevent Hip Surgery — and What to Do If You Need It
- Getting Back on Your Feet: How to Recover Mobility and Fitness After Orthopedic Injuries, Operations & Illness
- Your Complete Guide To Total Hip Replacements: Before, During, And After Surgery
Activity Books
During hip surgery recovery patients must spend a lot of time on bed rest. This can be troublesome for many people since it can be a very boring experience! A great gift idea for this problem is anything the person can use to keep busy and sane: word searches, crossword puzzles, playing cards, or coloring books! These activities might seem trivial but having them on hand can make the hip surgery recovery process a lot easier for many people.
We recommend:
- 399 Games, Puzzles & Trivia Challenges
- The Total Brain Workout: 450 Puzzles
- Adult Coloring Books: A Coloring Book for Adults
Scar Treatment Products
Scars are one of the unfortunate side effects of surgery. While no one wants scars, they are often something that is hard to avoid following surgery. Using a scar reduction gel or cream can help minimize scars following surgery. I’ve used Mederma before for scars and it has helped minimize any remaining scar appearance. This small surgery follow up can make a world of difference in self-esteem following surgery. Make sure you check with the patient’s doctor to make sure a scar treatment is approved and is not already provided by doctors.
We recommend:
- Mederma Advanced Scar Gel
- Insta Natural Stretch Mark & Scar Cream
- Body Merry Stretch Marks and Scars Cream
Hip surgery is tough but these gifts can make the recovery a little easier. Remember that a gift of your time is always a great gift as well and should be combined with anything you decide to purchase as a gift. We hope your friend or loved one has an easy and swift recovery!