Hip Replacement Recovery: Q&A with a Hip Specialist

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There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to recovery after surgery, specially a major one such as hip replacement. How should you ready? What challenges should you expect? Volition y'all need a caregiver?

All of this takes conscientious planning among your care team, yous and your family members.  Johns Hopkins orthopaedic surgeon Savya Thakkar, M.D., an expert in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted total joint replacements, answers some common questions and shares tips about hip replacement recovery and rehabilitation.

When can I go home later on a hip replacement?

"Almost patients can offset walking and can go dwelling the solar day of the surgery," says Thakkar. Most people don't demand bed balance. In fact, moving your new articulation keeps it from condign stiff.

If y'all have a preexisting condition (a middle or lung condition that needs monitoring), or if no one tin can give you lot a ride and assistance around the house right after the surgery, y'all might need to spend the night at the hospital. People who had complex surgeries or lack support at home may benefit from starting their recovery in an inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Will I demand to apply a walker at first?

Your care team, which includes your surgeon, therapists and primary care physician, will evaluate the need for any assistive devices. To reduce falls, you lot might need a cane or a walker if you experience unbalanced walking on your own, merely it's generally not necessary to keep weight off the hip that went through surgery.

When volition my hip incision heal?

"The incisions for a hip replacement surgery nowadays are very small and are airtight upwardly with absorbable sutures," explains Thakkar. The incision is covered with a dressing and takes about six weeks to heal. During this time, information technology'south OK to shower, merely to reduce the chance of infection, bathing and pond should be put off until the wound fully heals.

How presently does rehabilitation therapy starting time later the hip surgery?

"Patients volition take physical therapy before the hip replacement surgery, and and then work with a physical therapist correct after the surgery to reinforce exercises before they get domicile," says Thakkar. Rehabilitation volition go along a few days later the surgery, with visits with physical and occupational therapists two to three times per week, likewise as domicile exercises.

Rehabilitation begins with getting used to regular movements and practicing daily activities, similar getting out of bed or a chair, and progresses to practicing more difficult tasks, such equally climbing stairs and getting in or out of the car.

Musculus forcefulness plays a big function in being able to perform these and other tasks. This is why resistance grooming of hip muscles and articulatio genus muscles in the legs is a major component of rehabilitation.

Hip and Knee Replacement at Johns Hopkins

The Johns Hopkins Hip and Genu Replacement program features a team of orthopaedic specialists highly skilled in joint replacement procedures. Our team will guide you through every step, from presurgical education to postsurgical care and physical therapy. Our goal is to render you to your desired level of activity as soon as possible.

What is considered a "normal" amount of hurting afterwards a hip replacement surgery?

Some swelling and initial pain at the joint are normal after hip replacement. To aid reduce pain:

  • Take time to rest between therapy sessions.
  • Ice the leg and the incision site.
  • Take anti-inflammatory medications, later on consulting with your physician, to help with these symptoms.

"Keeping the leg elevated above the heart when you lay down can also help the swelling to recede," advises Thakkar.

It'due south of import to pay attending to your pain levels. If yous feel like yous are consistently at a half dozen or more on a 1–10 pain scale, mention it to your dr., considering it could exist a sign of infection or another complication. As you go on physical therapy, your hurting levels should slowly decrease to about ane or two in 12 weeks after the hip replacement.

How long does it take to recover later a hip replacement?

"On average, hip replacement recovery can take effectually ii to four weeks, but anybody is different," says Thakkar. It depends on a few factors, including how agile you lot were before your surgery, your historic period, diet, preexisting conditions, and other health and lifestyle factors.

"Achieving a sure level of activity before you have the surgery tin assistance you bounce back more quickly," shares Thakkar. "We utilise a regimen called prerehabilitation, or prehab, to help patients get in a physical shape that will set them upwards for a successful recovery."

Preparing for Hip Replacement Surgery | Q&A with Savya Thakkar, M.D.

Savya Thakkar, a hip and knee replacement specialist, talks about which conditions may crave a hip replacement and what to expect before and after the surgery.

How soon can I return to regular activities after a hip replacement?

The goal of physical therapy is to get you lot dorsum to your normal life, whether information technology's going to piece of work, playing with kids, or engaging in your favorite sport or hobby. Depending on the amount of physical activity a task requires, the amount of fourth dimension it will have to be able to perform that job differs.

  • Driving. If you lot had surgery on your right hip, it may take up to a month to be able to drive safely again. If it was your left hip, then you lot might exist back in the driver'due south seat in one or two weeks. Start in a parking lot and slowly move to rural roads, working your way up to the highway. Taking medications that may impair your coordination, such as opioids, might delay how before long you tin can go back to driving.
  • Piece of work. If you accept a desk task with minimal activity, you lot tin return to work in about two weeks. If your job requires heavy lifting or is otherwise tough on the hips, it is recommended to accept off about six weeks to recover.
  • Sports. For sports with minimal activity, such equally golf game, you can return when y'all feel comfortable. For high impact contact sports you lot should wait most vi weeks to get dorsum in the game. Before getting into a pool, you lot should also wait about six weeks until the incision completely heals.
  • Sexual Activeness. Yous tin return to sexual activity whenever you feel comfortable.

What could slow down my recovery?

"As with any surgery, at that place is some gamble of complications during and after a hip replacement, which may include infection at the incision site, bone fractures and hip dislocations," explains Thakkar. If you discover a fever, drainage from the incision site, difficulty moving your hip or severe pain that is not relieved by your medication, contact your doc immediately.

Taking rehabilitation at a comfortable pace and avoiding sudden, abrupt movements can assistance prevent dislocations and falls that may delay the recovery.

How long will my hip replacement implant last?

Dissimilar older implants that were metal, modernistic hip prosthetics are fabricated of a combination of metallic, plastic and ceramic parts, so they are more than durable and crusade fewer issues. These implants can last xx to 30 years, and the gamble of failure and the need for echo surgeries is low.

How long after replacing one hip should I wait to supervene upon the other?

"If yous suffer from severe arthritis in both hips, you could get both joints replaced at the same time (double hip replacement). This might actually be safer and lead to quicker recovery in some patients," says Thakkar.

Having a double hip replacement reduces the risk of many complications that come along with anesthesia. Recovery is actually shorter but may require double the attempt, considering you would need to strengthen both legs at the same time. It may also be more challenging to get around the house initially, so yous might need more support at home.

If you lot want to have two separate hip replacement surgeries, information technology is all-time to wait at least six weeks between the replacements to lower the adventure of blood clots.