Hip dysplasia, and the inevitable total hip replacements that go along with hip dysplasia, cause some very unique issues, especially with self-care and comfort. Here are some items I personally recommended that can help make your life so much easier.
By means of full disclosure, I may earn a small commission from Amazon for links to any products or services from this website. I also want to add that, as a person with bilateral hip dysplasia, and having bilateral hip replacements for 25+ years, I have purchased and/or used each of the products I am recommending.
Never struggle to shave your legs again! These were developed for women when they are pregnant (and some are even advertised for men to use to shave their backs) but the long-handled razor is perfect for people with hip dysplasia or who have hip replacements. No more struggling, straining, and twisting like a pretzel to get smooth, silky legs.
If you are going to sleep on your side with hip dysplasia, or even more importantly, after a hip replacement, you need a knee pillow to keep you hips safe as you side sleep. I have had at least six different kinds of these, and this one is the best by far. The memory foam holds its shape while staying comfortable. I recommend you get it in the gray color — because the white color always turns ivory with age, and looks icky, even when it isn’t. A knee pillow for people with hip dysplasia or replacements is essential.
You may look at this and think, “It’s a back scrubber. I can manage that.” But what this Silicone brush is best for is scrubbing your legs and feet! The silicon bristles are soft and pliable, so they won’t scratch your skin. Unlike loofahs, natural fiber bristle brushes, and scrunchie puffs on a stick, this brush rinses clean with no worries of mold, mildew, or any other “yucky” stuff. This silicone brush stays clean, and dries on its own. I put a suction cup with a small hook on my glass shower doors, and just hang it up when I’m finished.
Of course, a grabber (or reacher) is always essential for members of the hip dysplasia club, this particular one folds in half so you can fit it in a suitcase, bookbag, or a really large purse. I find it is fabulous to have this for traveling, going to doctors appointments or imaging where you have to change into a gown, or just to keep in your car or office. You never know when you’ll need it!
This is my favorite sock aid (I call it my sockerator!) It has white terry cloth on the outside, and smooth blue vinyl-type fabric on the inside, so the sock stays on the terry cloth, and your foot slips in easily. I especially like that it is lightweight, you can curl it up to fit in a suitcase or bookbag, and it has loops on the end of the strap for those of us who don’t have a good grip. I will tell you, if you use this daily, you do have to replace it every few years, but it is totally worth it.
If you have trouble reach down and getting between your toes, this handled foot and toe cleaner is tops! The soft yellow sponge easily pushes between each toe, to keep them squeaky clean.
This is the best lotion applicator I have ever had (and I’ve bought many of them in my time, only to find they are unwieldy.) You put the lotion of the roller, and you can use it on your back, your backside, your legs (front and back), and even your hard-to-reach feet. It also works well with creams. It even comes with two washable replacement rollers. I’ve had mine for years, and I’ve never even had to replace the roller cover once.
I know what you are going to say. “I need a heavy-duty metal long-handled shoehorn.” I beg to differ. Metal long-handled shoehorns are slippery, easy to drop, and hard to hold on to. They are also heavy in your hand and not the least bit flexible. What you really need is a lighter weight, plastic shoehorn, and this one folds so you can take it with you on vacation, or store it away in your drawer.
There are dozens of kinds of seat cushions on Amazon that say they help keep you comfortable when you have a job that requires sitting most of the day (or if you are just always at the computer, like me.) I’ve tried 5 different kinds of cushions, and 4 of them fell short. The Cushon Lab seat cushion is the only one that allows me to sit for long periods of time without becoming stiff or painful. I realize they are a bit expensive, but which would you prefer – spending your money on a cushion that doesn’t really help and then not using it, or buying the best? (I have two of these in my home.)
If you are getting the Cushion Lab seat cushion, you may want to also get the Cushion Lab back cushion. (I have two of these at home as well.) They provide incredible back support, and when paired with the Cushion Lab seat cushion, they can make any desk chair into the most incredibly comfortable desk chair. It has a strap that goes around the chair to hold it in place. They have different colors. The Cushion Lab seat cushion, back support combo provides supreme comfort.
With hip dysplasia or hip replacements, being intimate with your partner can seem daunting. As osteoarthritis sets in as we age, it can become even more difficult to find comfortable ways to enjoy intimacy. This straightforward book can help you find ways to enjoy intimacy again even with painful or replaced hips. Let’s face it — hip dysplasia is notorious for limiting our abduction, adduction, pelvic strength, and flexibility. This book has the answers you never dared ask.
Here’s a link to my first book, Embracing Life’s Limitations: Letting Go of Who You Were Supposed to Be. It is a story of growing up with bilateral hip dysplasia, and learning to adapt to, and even embrace, its many limitations. My book is also available as a paperback and a hardcover through this link.
