As we know a meal is incomplete without a dessert. Likewise, a surgery too is incomplete without a proper recovery. Hence, recovery from Hip replacement surgery is mandatory. It helps you in healing faster and greatly improve your chances of long term success.
Some guidelines for recovery after Total Hip Replacement surgery are –
- Physical Exercises
Recovery begins within 24 hours after the surgery. Within 24 hours, a physiotherapist will make you stand and walk with an assisting device like crutches or walker. The physiotherapist will provide you exercises to strengthen your muscles surrounding the hip. He will also provide circulation to your legs, helping to decrease the chance of developing a blood clot. The physical exercises will help your newly implanted joint heal properly & minimize scar tissue. After discharge, one can book an appointment with home healthcare physiotherapy provider.
Low-impact sports make great exercise choices like swimming, walking, and cycling, among others. They provide basic movements to your hips which help in speedy recovery.
- Prevention of Blood Clot
Patients undergoing Total Hip replacement surgery are at a risk of developing blood clot in their veins sometimes called Deep Vein Thrombosis. Blood clot formation risk is higher during and after surgery because you are immobile for some time. Under anesthesia when your legs are still, the blood flow through your veins slow down. When your blood doesn’t flow normally, the natural clot busters in your blood don’t work. Due to this risk, your surgeon may advise you to –
- Take blood thinner medications
- Perform early exercises
- Elevate your feet above certain height
- Stop Smoking – Smoking boosts the formation of blood clots which can further cause cardiac issues
- Wear compression stockings – Researchers have found that wearing compression stockings or compression device is as effective as taking blood thinner medications
- Some Do’s & Don’ts
Following these do’s & don’ts will help you in preventing your new hip joint from dislocation after Hip replacement surgery. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will guide you on the precautionary measures. One of them being ‘Don’t bend at the waist beyond 90o’. And to do so, remember this –
- Don’t sit in low chairs or soft couches
- Don’t lean forward as you sit down
- Don’t bring your knee up higher than hip
One can know about the Do’s & Don’ts more in detail by talking to an online medical consultant and also book surgery packages online.
Today, a person’s overall health and activity level is more important than age in predicting a hip replacement success. Total Hip replacement surgery/Hip arthroscopy may be problematic for people with some health problems, regardless of their age. For example, people who have chronic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, or conditions that result in severe muscle weakness, are more likely than people without chronic diseases to damage or dislocate an artificial hip. People who are at high risk for infections or are in poor health are less likely to recover fast.
Generally speaking, patients undergoing hip replacement surgery do recover sooner than the patients undergoing knee replacement surgery, for example. It should be noted, however, that recovery time for a total hip replacement surgery can differ vastly from patient to patient. Some patients may take 6 months to recover while others may recover in just 4 weeks.
