After any surgery, life is altered for a while. Your body has to have time to recover from even minor surgeries, because even the minor ones are perceived by the body as an invasion and it reacts accordingly. Hip replacement surgery recovery can be especially intense.
Temporary changes in bodily function may include a poor appetite. It's important to consume plenty of liquids – water, juice, milk, and light soups – to prevent dehydration. Don't worry, you'll want solid food again soon enough.
You might experience some insomnia as well. This is normal. Try not to take too many naps during the day so that you'll be sufficiently sleepy at night.
Pain medicine contains narcotics, which can cause constipation. Eating lots of fruit, particularly prunes, can help. Use stool softeners or laxatives such as milk of magnesia only as a last resort.
Ways of controlling the normal discomfort that occurs after hip replacement surgery include taking your pain medicine at least half an hour prior to your physical therapy sessions and gradually weaning yourself from your prescription medication to an over-the-counter drug such as Tylenol. Two extra-strength Tylenol, for example, can be substituted for the prescription drug up to four times a day.
Make sure to change your position at least every 45 minutes. Also, use ice packs on the affected joint for up to 20 minutes at a time each hour. Ice can be used before and after you exercise. An ice pack can be as simple as a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. However, you might want to designate that bag of peas as your ice pack rather than actually consuming them.
Physical therapy will begin a day or two after your surgery. Physical therapy includes both occupational therapy and an exercise program. The occupational therapy includes activities of daily living (ADLs) such as getting in to and out of bed, bathing, and getting dressed.
You will probably need special equipment in order to achieve total independence.
This equipment includes adaptive bathing and dressing aids. Other common ADL tools are reachers, sock aids, long shoehorns, long sponges, and elastic shoelaces. You should obtain these items prior to surgery; they can be found at most medical supply stores.
As your physical therapy becomes less supervised, your home exercise program will become even more essential to you. Your goals for that first four to six weeks after surgery include:
- walking with a cane or a single crutch as your physician advises
- walking a quarter to a half mile or as much as you can
- moving from climbing stairs one foot at a time to normal stair climbing
- straightening your hip completely
- driving a car with your physician's permission
- and, of utmost importance, continuing with your home exercise program three times daily!
Time heals all wounds – you just have to allow for time. Be patient. Your body may be permanently altered, but it will heal itself and adapt to the changes if only given the chance and the proper resources.
When it comes to hip replacement surgery recovery, getting the right information can be a daunting task. That's why we put together this confidential report for you at our hip replacement surgery recovery website.
