Rehabilitation after hip replacement surgery

Hip replacement surgery is a lifesaver for those who don’t want to put up with constant pain and limitations. This type of procedure will bring relief and very soon you will be able to get back to normal activities.

The rehabilitation period is very important for the wellbeing of a patient, so it is very important to know how one should behave and what exercises to complete in order to get back to normal life as soon as possible.

Hip replacement surgery, conducted in a modern facility and by a professional surgeon, is a surgery which doesn’t require a long stay in hospital and within less than a week you will be able to get back home.

Before being discharged from the hospital, the staff will make sure that you are able to:
· Have an acceptable pain control;
· Get in and out of bed without anyone’s help;
· Use the bathroom;
· Complete the home exercises;
· Follow the recommendations and precautions to make the healing process easier.

To make sure that everything will go as planned, the hospital team will give you advice on how to conduct your recovery at home. It is also important to know about the possible complications, like infection or a blood clot. If some of the symptoms occur, you should contact a doctor immediately.

What should be done to make the rehabilitation process easier?
· Ask someone to assist you during the first days after discharge;
· Minimize the use of stairs and move the furniture, so you can use crutches or a walker freely;
· Modify your bathroom, so you won’t need to bend too much : put in a shower chair and make the toilet seat higher;
· Make sure that you won’t slip on a rug. It is better to remove them temporarily;
· Place all the things you often use (phone, glasses, books) closer to you;
· Change the dressing regularly. Make sure that your wound area is clean. If you have some doubts, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor;
· The swelling can persist for 3 to 6 months. Use ice or compression stockings to reduce it;
· Include vitamins and iron in your diet, while avoiding vitamin K if you take blood thinners.

Reduce coffee and exclude alcohol. Make sure that you don’t gain weight, which might put extra pressure on the hip.

What activities can you do?

It is important to understand that you should stay active, but not too much. The best option is to complete simple exercises and pay attention to the everyday activities you do.

For example, the physical therapy should last no less than 2 months and you need to complete all the home exercises. When your doctor gives you a green light, you can go for long walks, swim and do any sort of lower impact activities. You should remember to control the pressure that you put on the hip.

Sleeping positions and sexual activity should also be discussed with the doctor. Depending on your personal indications, you may be asked to sleep on a certain side or have a couple of weeks break in your sexual life.

All these recommendations together with a positive attitude will make the healing process much quicker. Make sure you have direct contact with your doctor and consult him any time you have questions about the hip replacement and recovery process.