Anticipated healing process following hip replacement surgery: Understanding the stages of recovery
Hey there! So, you're getting a hip replacement, huh? Here's the scoop on recovery time:
Generally speaking, you can get back to light activities within 3 to 6 weeks of surgery. But everybody's different, so your doc might advise you to avoid certain activities, like sex, intense exercise, and work in the first few weeks. They might also prescribe some meds to help with pain and swelling.
Before the surgery, it's essential to prepare your body. This includes discussing the surgery with your doc, doing exercises to strengthen your legs, maintaining a moderate weight, quitting smoking if possible, and arranging help for daily tasks after you return home. You'll also want to make your home more accessible, like by getting a raised toilet seat, safety bars in the bathroom, a walker, or crutches.
After the surgery, you'll probably be in the hospital for 1 to 2 days, but some folks might go home the same day. In the days following, your doc will likely give you pain relievers like opioids, local anesthetic, NSAIDs, or acetaminophen. They might also stitch or staple your incision for 2 weeks and advise you on wound care. They'll encourage you to start moving around as soon as possible, and you might even be able to walk with assistance on the same day as the operation. A physiotherapist will show you exercises to strengthen your hip and might advise you on what activities to avoid.
In the weeks after returning home, you might need help with daily tasks for several weeks or might need to stay in a rehabilitation facility. You'll likely experience some pain and discomfort for a few weeks, and you should continue taking any prescription medications. A home health aide, nurse, or physical therapist might check in to help with recovery. You should keep the surgery incision wound dry until the stitches or staples are removed.
By 10 to 14 days after surgery, you should no longer have stitches, and pain and swelling might start to go down, although this could take longer for some folks. During this early recovery period, you might still need a cane or walker.
In the weeks beyond 2 weeks, you might be able to resume light activities of daily living, put more weight on your leg, and feel stronger, more stable, and comfortable. You might even be able to return to work after 6 weeks and have sex again after 6 to 8 weeks. You should continue physical therapy as your physical therapist recommends, for at least two months after surgery, and speak with your doctor about when it's safe to do additional exercise like swimming or walking.
After 3 months, you may be able to resume daily activities. You should check in with your doctor to evaluate your progress and discuss the types of physical therapy that will benefit you the most.
Everybody heals differently, so it's essential to follow your doc's advice and pay attention to your body during recovery. You can help the healing process by taking good care of yourself. For example, follow physical therapy exercises, try gentle exercises like daily walking, use cold compresses to reduce swelling, take any prescription medications as directed, use walking aids if necessary, and avoid sitting still for long periods or engaging in intense exercise.
Recovery might be more challenging for older adults, as they may already have compromised mobility. In some cases, older adults may need permanent assistance after hip surgery.
Here's a little insight: Typically, it takes several months for someone to resume heavy activities after hip replacement surgery. High impact activities like jogging or intense exercise might require several months of rehabilitation to ensure the hip is fully healed[1][5]. It's crucial to follow a personalized rehabilitation plan provided by your healthcare provider to ensure a safe return to heavy activities[2].
• follow physical therapy exercises as a physical therapist instructs• try other gentle exercises, such as daily walking• sit in a reclining position• use a cold compress to reduce swelling• take any prescription medications as a doctor instructs• use walking aids, such as crutches, if necessary
Stay strong, and take care of yourself on the road to recovery!
[1] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/total-hip-replacement-recovery-timeline[2] https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1014386-ROCKEFELLERUNIVERSITYPRESIDENTSRESEARCHCENTER/12027246[3] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/hip-resurfacing-surgery[4] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/diseases-conditions/total-hip-replacement[5] https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-hip-replacement-arthroplasty/recovery/[6] https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/74B/6/648/5085983
• sitting still for long periods• crossing the legs at the knee• bending the hip more than 90 degrees• bending down to touch the feet or ankles• sitting in low chairs• intense exercise, which may involve jumping or sudden turns• moving or lifting heavy objects
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