A new hip can help you enjoy the things you once loved. From walking around your neighborhood to attending a yoga class or gardening in your yard, hip replacement surgery can increase your daily activity and overall quality of life.
While every hip surgery is different, many individuals find they can walk without assistance the first day after (and sometimes, even the day of) their surgery. Full recovery can happen in a few short months to one year following your procedure.
It's completely understandable if you're nervous about an upcoming hip replacement. However, take comfort knowing technology has come a long way, and the vast majority of patients are thrilled with their new hip.
To make your procedure a success, you should think about hip replacement surgery recovery before you return home from the hospital. We'll share how to put a plan in place and begin your road to recovery.
Please note: This post is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Please work directly with your physical therapist and orthopedic surgeon to devise a hip replacement surgery recovery plan that works best for you.
Hip Replacement Recovery Begins Before Your Surgery
Before your scheduled surgery, your doctor will give you the run-down on what to expect. If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask — you should feel fully confident about what to expect before and after your procedure.
Do your homework prior to surgery to increase your success during the recovery process. Ask your surgeon how to best prepare for surgery (which will certainly earn you a gold star within the "best patient" category). According to John Hopkins Medicine, here are a few steps you can take:
If you smoke, stop: Smoking can delay wound healing after surgery. While the risk factors of a hip replacement are minimal, infection and bleeding are two known complications.
Do conditioning exercises: While it can be difficult to exercise if your hip causes you pain, regular exercise can decrease your overall recovery time. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends doing activation exercises in your glutes, quads, calves, and feet before your procedure.
Pack for a short-term stay: Plan to stay at the hospital for 2-3 days. Pack a bag of necessities, and ask a neighbor to watch over your home, plants, or pet, if you have them.
Ask for help: You may need help around the house for the first two weeks following surgery. Ask someone to pick you up from the hospital and do anything that requires heavy lifting. If your bedroom is on the second floor, you may want to create a makeshift bed on a couch or cot on the main floor (although some individuals can climb stairs the first week following surgery).
Install the Snug app: If you live alone, install the Snug app on your phone and assign a friend, family member, or neighbor to be your emergency contact. With Snug, you schedule a daily check-in to insure your loved ones you're ok. If you miss a check-in, we'll notify your emergency contact so they can go check on you.
Hip Replacement Surgery Recovery at the Hospital
Your hip replacement surgery recovery begins at the hospital. A total hip replacement will take 2-3 hours, after which you'll be moved to a recovery room. Over the next few hours, your anesthesia will slowly wear off. The staff will monitor your blood pressure and check to see if you need additional pain medication.
Since blood clots are a risk factor with hip replacement, your doctors will ask you to move around the day of surgery. You might wear compression sleeves on your calf muscles to help with circulation, or be given blood thinner medication.
Physical therapy will start at the hospital. Your physical therapist will work with you to return strength and mobility to your hip joint (we'll discuss a few hip exercises below). Lastly, you'll start walking and climbing stairs before you return home.
Hip Replacement Surgery Recovery at Home
A successful recovery requires you to be diligent with physical therapy exercises. You’ll also need to find the right balance between rest and mobilization. Here are a few tips for making your hip replacement procedure recovery as smooth as possible:
Schedule your physical therapy appointments: Set up a routine schedule with your physical therapist (try to take care of this during your hospital stay). While many physical therapy exercises can be done at home, meeting with a trained professional ensures you're maintaining proper form and progressing (i.e. healing) as expected.
Walk and climb stairs with an assistive device: You will probably need to walk with a cane or walker your first two weeks at home. Learn how to use a cane here, or view this post to find the right walker for you.
Ice and elevate daily: It's common to experience swelling after any surgical procedure. To minimize swelling, ice and elevate the area for 15-20 minutes 4-5 times per day.
Keep moving: While rest is an important part of the healing process, so is moving. Walking and other light activities help prevent blood clots, increase muscle strength, and reduce hip pain.
Watch for complications: Blood clots and infections are the most common complications in hip replacement patients. Monitor your incision point carefully, and call your doctor if you experience any new swelling, pain that doesn't respond to medication, flu-like symptoms, or redness or drainage from the incision.
Hip Replacement Physical Therapy Exercise Videos
One of the main reasons people want to get a new joint — whether through a knee replacement, hip replacement, or other procedure — is to return to activities they once loved.
Physical therapy is imperative after any joint replacement surgery. If you want to return to normal activities you love (without the pain, of course), be diligent with your rehab exercises. Your physical therapist will prescribe certain exercises for you, but here are a few videos to try at home:
Physical Therapy Exercises After Hip Replacement: The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons put together this basic rehabilitation program for postoperative patients. The video is eight minutes long, and includes both sitting and standing exercises.
Post-Operative Exercises Weeks 1-4 Total Hip Replacement: Heartland Orthopedic Specialists pieced together this video to help with your first month following surgery. Almost every exercise is done from a sitting or laying down position.
Total Hip Replacement: Rehabilitation: The University of Wisconsin Hospital created this video to help with all aspects of hip replacement rehabilitation. It shows exercises to do before and after surgery, and what to expect following a total hip replacement surgery.
You Play an Important Role in Hip Replacement Surgery Recovery
When it comes to hip replacement surgery, you hold the key to your own success.
To return to activities you love as quickly and safely as possible, be diligent about your physical therapy exercises, ice and elevate your wound, and keep moving about your home.
You can start preparing for your recovery process before you even reach the hospital. Ask a friend to pick you up from your surgery, pack an overnight bag, and install the Snug app on your phone. For the first 1-2 months following surgery, you might consider subscribing to the Snug dispatch plan. That way, a dispatcher can keep a closer eye on you and arrange help if you miss a check-in or experience any complications.