Hip replacement surgery is major surgery, and it is good for you to help through the recovery. Before surgery, you will be evaluated by a nurse care manager who will instruct you about the process of hip replacement and hip replacement recovery time.
As a role of the educational session, the care manager will recognize your unique requirements and perform a comprehensive plan of care in hospital stay and release from the hospital.
Following hip surgery, with the help of a physical therapist, the vast majority of patients are suitable to put their full weight on the replaced hip and accept a walker or crutches to walk independently on level ground as fine as walk up and downstairs. As a consequence, most patients are capable to be safely released from the hospital to their homes.
Remember, following surgery physical therapists will advise some prescribed exercises that reduce your hip replacement recovery time.
The plan of care that emerged before surgery will take into account the physical layout of the home, sleeping arrangements, toileting, showering, food preparation, and transportation. Some alterations to her home may be required for the anticipation of returning home following surgery. If you live alone, you will require making plans for someone to stay with her for those first few days after departing the hospital. You will probably require family help with food preparation and transportation for office visits.
A physical therapist will visit your home twice a week for the first two weeks following surgery. The physical therapist will ensure that you can walk safely in her home, continue to teach about movement precautions, and help perform the exercises taught to you in the hospital. You will be able to move alone at home and you will not need help for a short distance walking.
Most patients will apply a walker or crutches during a week to two weeks following surgery. The physical therapist will evaluate your need for a walking aid each time while the therapist visits the home. As pain diminishes, you will be capable to move with greater ease and walk longer distances. Ultimately, you will have physical therapy at an outpatient center to further improve the strength surrounding the hip muscles.
Most patients have a remarkable change in their hip-related symptoms very shortly after a hip surgery. Although, most individuals will require pain medications to control their pain for the first 2 to 4 weeks following surgery. Your surgical team will evaluate your needs for continued pain medication at the first follow-up appointment 2 weeks after surgery. Many individuals will have great pain control as soon as 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
It is common for patients to be weak after a total hip replacement, which is expected in part to anesthesia, blood loss, pain, and the necessity of prescription pain medications. This weakness will slowly resolve over the course of the first 6 weeks after surgery.
Most people will be able to continue their normal activities within 6 weeks of surgery. Usually, around this time patients will continue driving as long as they are not taking any prescript pain medications. Within 12 weeks after hip surgery, many patients will recommence their recreational activities, such as long walks, cycling, or playing golf. It may get some patients up to 6 months to fully recover after a hip replacement.