Steps to Speed Up Recovery After Hip Surgery

Written by: Theanna Lynn

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure in which a doctor surgically removes a painful hip joint and replaces it with an artificial joint, often made from metal and plastic components. Hip surgery is often the last option for patients with severe arthritis. A full recovery from hip surgery will take many months, but there are ways to ease the recovery process.

Bank Your Own Blood

Prior to undergoing surgery that may require a transfusion, you can bank your own blood. The likelihood of receiving blood that is the wrong type or contaminated in some way is minimal, but it can still contain foreign pathogens that you have not been exposed to before. The more blood someone receives, the higher the risk of infection. In studies where individuals received transfusions of their own blood, they had the lowest rates of infection.

Reduce Swelling

Swelling is the body's natural response to inflammation and trauma. Lessen swelling through:

• Gentle movement
• Rest
• Icing
• Avoid heat packs on swollen areas
• Swelling will dissipate on its own over time as your body heals

Post Operative Exercises

Regular exercises to restore your normal hip motion and strength and a gradual return to everyday activities are important for your full recovery. Your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend that you exercise 20 to 30 minutes 2 or 3 times a day during your early recovery. Exercises are important because they:

• Increase circulation to your legs and feet to prevent blood clots (a risk after certain surgical procedures)
• Increase hip mobility and range of motion
• Strengthen muscles
• Speed recovery
• Reduce postoperative pain

You may begin these exercises in the recovery room shortly after surgery. Different exercises may be recommended at different phases of recovery. For example, you may not be able to stand on your own right away after surgery. As your strength and mobility increase, you will be able to graduate to standing with assistance, then without assistance. Over time your mobility will increase to include walking and other movement with increased demands on your replaced hip with less and less assistance. These exercises may push your limits at times but they are important to ensuring you make a full recovery. Please consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

Take Your Vitamins

Speak to your physician about adding vitamins or supplements to your routine (before or after surgery) that could improve your health or your recovery time. Research studies have shown that taking as little as 250 mg a day of vitamin C after surgery cuts the healing time in half.

Soak Up Some Rays

After your surgery, try to get a bed next to a window that lets in the most sunlight, aiming for at least 15-20 minutes of sun a day. Moderate exposure to sunlight improves health and boosts vitamin D levels, and research shows that exposure to sunlight after surgery can help make the recovery process less painful.

Recovering from surgery is never fun or pain free, but following these tips can help make the recovery process quicker and smoother.