Your hip is designed to support almost the entire weight of your body. Any damage to this region can have a severe impact on your mobility. Serious damage to your hip may lead to hip replacement surgery.
Hip replacement surgery is a surgical procedure where your hip is (fully or partially) replaced with a manmade implant, also known as a prosthesis. Hip replacement is also known as hip arthroplasty and is commonly performed on older patients (above the age of 50).
The rehabilitation after the surgery is as important as hip replacement. If you approach an orthopedic surgeon in your city, make sure you or your loved one receives the right rehabilitation care. For example, if you are seeking hip replacement surgery in Gurgaon, ensure that the doctor gives the right importance to rehabilitation.
However, not everything regarding your post-surgical rehabilitation is under your surgeon’s control. You are equally responsible to look after your health while recovering after surgery. Effective rehabilitation will help you heal faster and prevent the issue from re-surfacing.
Once you return home after your hip replacement surgery, it is important to take the utmost care of your health. Here are a few major dos and don’ts to follow during the rehabilitation phase after hip replacement:
Dos
De-clutter Your House
This is the first thing you should make before you reach home after your hip replacement surgery. Make enough space in your house to move around without bumping into any furniture or article. Walking around is an important rehabilitation exercise that should be performed without any obstacles. Moreover, most patients walk with crutches, further increasing the need for enough space to move around.
Stay On The Ground Floor
As trivial as it sounds, it is important to stay on the ground floor for a few weeks after your surgery. Patients often end up delaying recovery or harming their hips again by climbing stairs. Even if your bedroom requires you to climb stairs, it is better to shift your belongings downstairs.
Get Yourself A Good Chair
You might want to invest in a good chair after hip replacement. Get yourself a firm and stable chair that is taller than most articles. Sitting on a firm chair instead of a soft one supports your body better and helps you heal faster.
Keep The Wound Dry
After surgery, your doctor will give you the instructions to follow to keep the wound dry. Especially while bathing, make sure you do not let the wound get wet.
Keep Your Legs Elevated
One of the most common and effective ways to deal with post-operative pain is to keep your legs elevated. Combine this with applying an ice pack to recover faster. If you are not comfortable applying the ice pack directly, use a towel between the ice pack and the affected region.
Seek Physiotherapy
It is never advisable to avoid physiotherapy during the post-surgical rehabilitation stage. Hip replacement surgeries require extensive physiotherapy sessions and exercises suggested by experts. From walking around to sleeping in the right positions, your physiotherapist will guide you every step of the way as you recover after the surgery.
Don’ts
Avoid Crossing Your Legs
No matter how tempting it feels, never cross your legs for a few weeks after your hip replacement surgery. It might affect your new prosthesis and end up ruining all your struggle and patience. Always ensure that your knee remains below your waist level at all times.
Avoid Leaning In Front
Even simple and seemingly inconsequential movements of your body affect your hip joint. Especially while sitting down or standing up, avoid leaning forward for a few weeks after your hip replacement. You can take support of your crutches or put your body’s pressure on an object nearby to sit or stand straight.
Do Not Bend While Sitting
During your post-surgical rehabilitation phase, make sure you do not bend down while sitting. It puts undue pressure on your hip joint and the new prosthesis added by your surgeon. During unavoidable circumstances, do not bend your waist more than 90 degrees.
Take No Medication Without Consultation
Once your surgery is done, do not take any medication before consulting your orthopedic surgeon. If you are already taking medication, inform the doctor about the same and follow their instructions while taking your medicines.
Stay Away From Alcohol And Smoking
Especially during the first few weeks after hip replacement, it is advisable to avoid smoking and drinking. Tobacco and alcohol tend to hamper your body’s healing process and reduce your immunity. Moreover, intoxication can make you lose balance and fall, undoing the surgery altogether.
Do Not Indulge In Sports
Until you are completely healed, do not make the mistake of indulging in sports activities that require strenuous physical activities. Even low-impact activities like swimming and jogging should begin after your doctor and physiotherapist approve. Especially if you are older than 50, it is not advisable to play physically demanding sports after hip replacement surgery.
Do Not Travel In Flights Without Asking Your Doctor
Making flight travels without consulting your orthopedic doctor is not advisable for a few weeks after hip replacement surgery. Make sure you make travel plans and get on an airplane only after your doctor confirms its safety.
Never Ignore Warning Signs
Never make the mistake of ignoring warning signs after hip replacement that requires immediate medical attention. These signs include high fever that doesn’t go away, pus formation at the affected site, chest pain, breathlessness, shivering, escalating inflammation or pain, and chronic pain in the leg not related to the surgical site.
The Final Word
These were some of the most important dos and don’ts you should keep in mind after getting hip replacement surgery done. Make sure you give the importance, time, and attention post-surgical rehabilitation deserves to heal faster and more effectively. In case of any emergency, reach out to your orthopedic surgeon and/or physiotherapist for the best advice. The moral of the story is to not take surgeries like hip replacement lightly to lead a long and healthy life!
