This guide will take you through the dos and don’ts of recovery. If you need advice on respite care or general post-surgery advice, we have two other articles below that you might find helpful:
If you are caring for someone and would like to talk through your options for getting professional support, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Cavendish Homecare.
When mobility is reduced, or the hip joint is worn or damaged, it may be necessary to replace it with a prosthesis (artificial joint), known as hip replacement surgery. The new joint will last for around 15 years, and often greatly reduces pain as well as increases mobility. Hip replacement surgery is considered major surgery and therefore can have a longer recovery time. It is carried out under either general anesthetic (you’re asleep during the procedure) or an epidural when your lower body is numbed but you remain awake.
An artificial hip joint is made of a metal alloy or, in some cases, ceramic. The surgery to replace your hip joint with an artificial one usually takes around 60-90 minutes to complete. To read more about the materials and process of this operation, the NHS has a guide.
According to the NHS, most hip replacements are provided to people between the ages of 60 and 80. There can be conditions that affect the hip joint, including:
Other reasons a person may require a hip replacement include:
Before the surgery, you can do a few things to help aid your recovery. These include:
It will be around 6 weeks before you can return to light activity or go back to work (depending on your occupation). After surgery, you will be given specific instructions on how to care for your hip. This might include:
Following the advice of your doctor and a well-planned recovery, the document is key to a full recovery. Make sure to rest when you are tired and not rush to recover any quicker than you have been told it will take.
You must follow the advice from your doctor. An individual care plan will be provided to help you tailor rehabilitation to your specific needs and mobility. It will cover everything from the medications you can and can’t take, to exercises to help strengthen your new hip joint. You may also be enrolled in a physiotherapy course.
Some things you should not do after hip replacement surgery:
It is also advisable to not sit for long periods, getting up and moving gently in between periods of sitting. You should try to get plenty of rest and maintain a healthy, balanced diet to help your body to heal.
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