Sen. Patrick Leahy 'comfortably recovering' after hip replacement surgery

[jimfields33]

Good news. Really good news that they gave him a replacement instead of having him recover from the fall naturally. I think they have finally decided that replacement is the better option for all hip breaks. This should cut the recovery time down a lot. So glad that he is doing so well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/sen-patrick-leahy-comfortably-recovering-after-hip-replacement-surgery/ar-AAZ3E5w


Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont is recovering at a Washington area hospital after surgery to replace a broken hip following a fall at his home, his office said Thursday evening.

The 82-year-old Democrat fell Wednesday night in McLean, Virginia, according to his office, which initially said the surgery was intended to “repair” his the hip. A subsequent statement said doctors decided to do “hip replacement surgery,” completed on Thursday afternoon.

Leahy and his wife, Marcelle, who were known to take long walks together on a daily basis before the fall, were “overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of support,” his office said in a statement following the surgery.

The senator's office added that he is expected to begin physical therapy “after sufficient healing.”

His office did not specify when Leahy is expected back on Capitol Hill. NBC News has reached out for comment.

The Senate is out of session until July 11.

Democrats hold the slimmest of margins in the evenly divided Senate. The absence of just one senator can sometimes delay a vote.

[Vinca]

1. That's great news. I'm approaching 2 months out from a hip replacement and it's probably a

whole lot quicker to recover from that than letting a fracture heal. One thing I didn't know about Senator Leahy was that he's blind in one eye. I don't know how I missed that since it's well known he's an accomplished photographer. He's a great man and I wish him a speedy recovery.

[MissB]

9. Hope your recovery continues to go well!

I’m angling for a knee replacement.

[Vinca]

16. Good luck. It makes all the difference in the world when that pain is gone.

[Novara]

12. I'm having a hip replaced this fall too

I fell and injured my hip and the blood flow to the femoral head was cut off. As a result the bone is dying and my hip is now shot.

Previously walking a lot should help him get back on his feet faster than if he was sedentary. I'm continuing to exercise as much as possible through the injury to maintain muscle mass so I can be back at work within a short time. I'll bet he'll be back at work in good time.

[Vinca]

17. I had my other hip done about 11 years ago and it was completely shot. The latest surgery was done

earlier in the game and I opted for the anterior approach rather than the posterior approach and was able to drive myself to my first checkup two weeks out. I've been surprised at how fast you can do virtually everything in less than a month. Good luck with yours!

[Novara]

18. That is very encouraging.

Thank you for posting that.

I've had surgeries before but this one scares me. I live alone and am fiercely independent. I have a real hard time when I can't do things for myself.

[Vinca]

19. I think it makes a big difference depending on the surgery you opt for. The last time I relied on

my husband for weeks - couldn't do much of anything alone for a couple of months. This time he helped me get in the shower on the first day and just checked on me after that. I had meals planned in advance in the freezer and that helped. I totally understand your independence because I'm like that, too. I wanted no part of rehab facilities, etc. Just get me home. If you stock up on everything you'll need for a couple of weeks, get all the equipment (shower chair, walker, cane) lined up and arrange for transportation if you need it, you should be okay.

[Novara]

20. Thanks. That's my plan.

When my Mom died I "inherited" her shower chair, walker, cane, wheelchair. I am sure I can't maneuver the wheelchair in my small house but I'll use all of the other items. I have assistive devices to help me get my clothing on without bending already (the pain has already severely limited some motion).

I'll need help in the beginning but I am continuing to do physical therapy to keep my muscles strong so I don't anticipate I'll need it for long. Best-laid plans notwithstanding.

LOL, I was in the process of buying a new car when the severity of my injury was diagnosed and I had ordered a manual-shift. I had to change the order to an automatic. Oops!

[JohnSJ]

2. Good, send home the very best wishes for a full and quick recovery

[Deminpenn]

3. Even in old seniors, the bones do heal in a matter of weeks

It's not the surgery as much as it is the anethestic and regaining full use of the hip muscles that can cause problems. Been there, seen it.

[Kingofalldems]

4. I am sure he's following the testimony of the Jan. 6 Committee.

Don't you think?

I hope he gets to see the video of Trump in the SUV which totally backs up the testimony of Ms. Hutchinson.

Get well soon Sen. Leahy.

[jimfields33]

5. Good grief. He's broken a hip. I'm sure he'll get back to politics after recovering

[blogslug]

6. I still love Patrick Leahy

Glad he's on the mend.

[luvs2sing]

7. My former boss had hip replacement at 80..

She was back in the shop walking with a cane ten days later. Hubster’s took much longer, though he was only 60, because he was recovering from pneumonia and sepsis and in the middle of chemotherapy, so was very weak to start with.

I wish Sen. Leahy the very quickest and fullest recovery possible. Those long walks with his wife will make his recovery easier, I’m sure.

[Johnny999r]

8. Patrick Leahy

I just don't want another Ruth Bader Ginsberg scenario. I was saddened by her passing, but upset she was determined to hang on until Clinton won the election. In my opinion, the odds were too close to take that chance and I had a bad feeling she was going to lose. Besides which, Justice Ginsberg had many close calls and my gut told me the worst case outcome was going to happen, and it did. However, McConnell and his cult would have blocked any nomination somehow because it didn't help that Obama wasn't the aggressive type, Michele preferred the "high road" proven by McConnell blocking the Garland appointment with the so-called election year farce. Yet, Trump appoints religious cult member Barrett just weeks before the election.

[Johnny999r]

10. Patrick Leahy

And why do many of these Senator's hang on by their nails when they should have stepped down alot earlier? Leahy is a classic case as shown when he was the senior Senator during a Senatorial session and it was obvious he was impaired. I think so much so Nadler took over for him.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

11. Seriously?

[Johnny999r]

13. Patrick Leahy

A warning shot, it's time for him to retire. Good guy but long over due because of other health issues. Retire while Biden is still the President.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

14. Leahy announced more than 7 months ago that he's not standing for reelection in 2022.

He doesn't require "warning shot" (interesting phraseology, by the way) from you.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. "However, McConnell and his cult would have blocked any nomination"

That is the "answer" and not the rest of the RW spew and other nonsense in your post.

Democrats only regained control of the Senate in January 2021 after 7 years of GOP control because GA helped to elect 2 Democrats in a runoff and special election, to replace 2 rethugs.

Whoever controls the gavel controls the floor business including nominations and it took Harry Reid invoking the nuclear option back in 2013 to even get the regular nominations moving with a simple majority... and it had nothing to do with someone being "aggressive" or not.

The lack of Civics 101 continues on DU unabated.