So you are getting a hip replacement. Congratulations! You’ve joined over 300,000 people this year who will be walking more easily and with less pain. Here’s what to expect:
Before
Make arrangements for a ride to and from surgery as well as for help around your home and for meals for a week or two afterward. Patients have also found the following modifications helpful:
● Raised toilet seat
● Shower seat
● Bed rails
● Clearing pathways throughout the house for the use of a walker or crutches
● Placing everyday items at waist level
● Making arrangements for the care of high-need pets (you know if you have one)
During
Our surgeons are skilled in the advanced, minimally-invasive anterior hip replacement technique, which causes less trauma and reduces recovery time.
After
You’ll be encouraged to begin moving right away to reduce your risk of blot clots. You’ll also wear compression stockings or inflatable air sleeves on your lower legs. Blood thinning medication may be prescribed. Your pain will be managed with medications, and most patients are off their pain pills completely in a few weeks or soner. A follow up with your surgeon is done 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
Rehabilitation
You’ll need regular physical therapy to help you regain full use of your joint and muscles and to avoid movements that could dislocate your new hip.
In the first few days you’ll learn how to get in and out of bed, move to a chair, use a walker or crutches, and perform strengthening exercises in bed.
Next, you’ll undergo 4 to 6 weeks of therapy to help you walk independently, climb stairs, regain balance, and perform everyday tasks. Continuing therapy can optimize your results for work or sports.
Your situation may vary, but here are some standard recommendations:
● No driving for 2 to 8 weeks
● No high impact exercise, risky sports (i.e. skiing) or contact sports indefinitely
Hip replacement surgery can have a dramatic impact on your quality of life. All of us here at Sonoran Hip Center hope you enjoy your new, pain-free hip!
, pain-free hip!