Hip Replacement Recovery

You should begin planning for hip replacement recovery before you ever go in for surgery.

Hip replacement is a major operation and it takes three to six months for most people to recover from it. Depending on health and other factors, some people may need as much as a full year before they are able to resume their old routine.

Some things to consider include: how to modify your home and schedule for recovery; questions to ask your doctor about recovering from surgery; and how to spot complications that may arise.

Hip replacement recovery time differs from person to person. You may spend one to four days in the hospital after surgery. Expect another three to six months to fully recover.

Following your surgeon’s instructions can shorten the time it takes to get back into your routine following a hip replacement operation. Physical therapy or an exercise program can reduce joint pain and stiffness after you receive a new artificial hip.

You should prepare your home for your hip replacement recovery in the weeks before you have surgery.

You won’t be able to get around as well after the procedure. Routine tasks may be impossible for some time after you come home. And it could take days or weeks to resume even the simplest routines, such as cooking or running errands.

Recovering from hip surgery is different for everyone. Things like your age, weight and overall health can make a difference in how quickly you will recover.

But your surgeon should have a pretty good idea of what you may expect in your particular case. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions. The answers may make it easier for you to understand how well you are progressing after surgery.

Daily physical activity and exercise, beginning as early as the day of your surgery, is necessary for a successful recovery. It is important to get into a regular routine.
A physical therapist can recommend strengthening and mobility exercises following surgery. These will improve blood flow around the new hip and improve the strength of your muscles. They will also reduce the amount of scar tissue and give your new hip a wider range of motion.

Following your therapist’s instructions will help you walk without a walker, crutches or cane sooner.

You may experience some pain during your therapy sessions. Ask your doctor to recommend a pain reliever you can take a half hour before your exercises. Use a heated compress to warm up muscles around the hip before exercising and a cold compress immediately after to reduce soreness. These can each be used for 10 or 20 minutes.

You should talk to your doctor about when it is safe for you to return to sports or other physical activities you enjoy.

Low-impact sports like swimming, cycling, golf and hiking are generally considered safe for people with a hip replacement. But sports with a greater risk of falling or high-impact sports are not usually recommended. These include downhill skiing, running, basketball, soccer, softball, racquetball and yoga. You should talk with your surgeon before resuming any of these or related sports.

Carefully following your doctor’s instruction can improve your chances for a speedy recovery from hip surgery. Precautions differ based on the surgeon’s preferences and technique, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Working on your own and with a physical therapist to build up strength and mobility may also get you back to a normal routine sooner.

A lot of things go into a successful recovery. You’ll need to prevent infection, watch for complications, build muscle around the new hip and avoid unnecessary strain on the implant while you heal.

This may sound like a difficult balancing act but following a few simple tips can keep you on track.

In most cases, a new hip replacement should last 15 to 20 years. But some hip devices will fail sooner. It’s important to watch for warning signs of a faulty implant.

The risk of complications is much lower than in the past. But when complications do happen, they can become serious. It is important to let you doctor know at the first sign of a problem to prevent things from becoming worse.

Because hip replacement is a major surgery, there is a risk of blood clots that could damage the heart or lungs. Your surgeon may place you on a blood thinner for a while following surgery.

You may also notice a change in leg length because of muscles contracting. This is rare and stretching and strengthening those muscles will help.

The most serious complications patients may experience during recovery include infections, fractures, dislocation or the implant loosening. Any of these may require surgery to repair or replace the implant. Nearly 30,000 hip replacement lawsuits blame defective implants for causing these complications.