Does your doctor tell you that your hip has seen better days? If you need a hip replacement, many questions may come to mind. Do I need to get a walker? How long is the recovery? Will I be able to play sports afterward?
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine perform hip replacements. Hip replacement today is considered a routine surgery. We’ve learned that getting you moving right away helps hasten recovery.
We provide complete pre- and post-operative written instructions for hip replacement surgery. Following is an outline of what to expect in the days and weeks after your hip replacement.
If you have surgery at an outpatient center, you’ll go home the same day. Before discharge, you’ll work with a physical therapist who teaches you the following skills:
You’ll practice these skills and be able to perform them before you go home. If you’re not able to do so safely, you’ll move to a rehab center for a short period.
We provide complete post-operation written instructions that you should follow exactly. You’ll keep the area around the incision clean and dry.
You’ll use your walker or cane to stabilize yourself as you walk. You’ll normally begin physical therapy at home three times per week. Your therapist teaches you gentle exercises and tells you how many repetitions to do for each.
You’ll see some swelling in the surgical area as well as in your leg, ankle, and possibly your foot. This is normal. You’ll likely need pain relievers for the first few days. Most people don’t need them from that point onward.
At this stage of your recovery, you’ll likely graduate from walking with a walker to using a cane. Approximately three weeks after your surgery, your physical therapy continues in an office setting.
Your work focuses on rebuilding muscle strength, range of motion, and endurance. You may be able to drive by week four after surgery.
Your incision should be fully healed. You’re able to return to your desk job at this point in your recovery. Your doctor clears you for low-impact exercise. You can begin swimming as soon as your incision is healed.
You will complete physical therapy during this period. Your graduation from physical therapy depends on:
The length of recovery can be very different for a 60-year-old active person versus an 80-year-old who doesn’t exercise.
At the end of three months, you should be able to return to your normal activities, including vigorous physical activity. Low-impact exercise, such as golf, cycling, and swimming, is easier on your hip joints after a hip replacement.
If you’re a senior and an athlete, we advise you on how and whether to continue high-impact sports activity. For example, if you’re a skier, we may tell you to wait at least six months after your operation to get on the slopes.
Call Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine or request an appointment through our online portal today if you’re considering a hip replacement.
