Medical Sciences have made Hip Surgery easy and quick. Replacement of hip is not tough, it is the recovery. Hip surgery recovery depends on various factors. Each patient is different so recoveries are different. The most common timeline for hip surgery recovery is:
Day of Surgery
Check in to the hospital at least 4 hours before your surgery. Come prepared with your bags packed to stay for 2-3 days. Surgery shall take 2-3 hours. After your operative procedure, you’ll spend time in a recovery room as you wake up from anesthesia. The effect of anesthesia leaves your system in 2 hours. When you gained full consciousness, you shall be moved to your hospital room.
Post-Surgery
Post operation you will be put in your hospital room for recovery. As the anesthetics fade and your body awakes you will probably feel some pain. Avail medicines from the nurse or attendant. Pain medications and blood clot preventive doses shall be administrated to you intravenously. Because of the medicines and lying on your bed you will be taking short and shallow breaths. Keep in mind to cough and take deep breaths to clear your lungs.
Day after Surgery
After the surgery, within 24 hours it’s time to get that new hip joint moving. You will be helped out to sit up on the edge of the bed, stand, and start walking. If your surgery was early in the day and went well, there is a chance to start physical therapy the afternoon of your operation. A physical therapist will teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles around your hip. The therapy is the start of the journey to recovery.
1-2 Days After
In 1-2 Days of your hip surgery, pain shall be now reduce. You will be given regular food as compared to the liquid diet after surgery. Medications will now be oral doses. Your time will be invested in more exercises and walking with the help of crutches or a walker. Movement with assistance is required for your hip to settle.
2-3 Days After
2-3 Days after your surgery, getting around, moving and pain will be easier now. If you are doing well, it’s time to take leave from hospital and go home. By this time you can walk around independently with a walker or cane. If you need more help, you might check into a rehab facility for a few days or have plans for a home health aide to come to your house. Get help lined up, to drive you home and asset you with shopping and daily chores. You won’t be able to drive for 3-6 weeks
4+ Days After
As you are recovering, take care of the area around your incision according to the doctor’s instructions. The surgery incision should be kept dry. Any skip creams, lotions or ointments should be advised by the doctor. In case it pains, use an icepack on the area for 10-15 minutes at a time. Mild doses of medications will also be prescribed. Keep the new hip joint moving, continue doing the exercises you were taught. Assistance can be availed by a home health nurse or a physical therapist.
10-14 Days
As you recover from the surgery, you are in much less pain now and may no longer need any pain medication. In 10-14 Days it’s time to get the stitches removed if they are the ones that don’t dissolve, it’s time to have them removed. Your doctor might suggest you wait another day or 2 before getting the wound site wet.
3-6 Weeks
In 3-6 weeks you will have made steady recovery. Now you must be able to do most normal light activities again. A little bit of discomfort or soreness afterward, especially by the end of the day is common though. Six weeks after the surgery you should be able to drive again.
10-12 weeks
After 10-12 weeks, your body is back to normal. You should start feeling like yourself again. Most of the pain is likely gone. The surgery site should have no swelling. Moving will be easier. It’s time to be back to do most of your regular day-to-day activities. Even after your complete recovery, Doctors will advise follow-up visits for the first year after surgery.
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