Hip Surgery Recovery Timeline

Written By: Rachael Kaine

Even though every case is different, there is an expected time line for the recovery process after having hip surgery. This time line progresses very slowly and sequentially, and it can give you a lot of insight into the ins and outs of the recovery process.

The First Healing Steps After Hip Surgery

The day of the surgery, you’ll report to the hospital and go through a multi-hour surgery. After waking up, you’ll have to remain in the hospital for a few days, and during those, you’ll begin to see physical and occupational therapists. During this time, you’ll be taking pain medication to control what you’re feeling, and will begin to start moving around out of bed with the assistance of others as well as a walker or crutches.

The third day or so after your surgery, you may even be able to make it to and from the bathroom on your own, but you’ll probably still only be able to be up and around for a few minutes at a time. Once you have been discharged, you’ll need to ensure that you keep taking care of your hip surgery DC incision site. This includes keeping it clean and dry, and not taking baths or showers where it is exposed. Your physical therapy exercises will continue, and the need for pain medication will decrease. This is the best time for you to increase your mobility, moving around and regaining your strength.

Weekly Progression of Hip Surgery

Even though time will seem to progress very slowly for those who are recovering from hip replacement surgery DC, your recovery will often speed up a great deal as long as you follow instructions. Right around the two week mark, your incision’s staples will be removed, giving you the go-ahead to resume normal bathing activities. It will take at least three weeks - but sometimes as long as 10 - for you to be permitted to drive again, but before this is possible, you may be able to get back to your “routine”. This means that as soon as you can handle it, you can start doing housework, cooking, sleeping in a normal manner, and even walking sort - then longer - and then even longer distances.

Hip replacement surgery Washington DC recovery is a long and drawn out process, but “full” recovery occurs roughly three months after utilizing the expert services available from the doctors at http://www.medstarwashington.org/; this process may occur much more quickly if you are extremely healthy and fit before the surgery, or even slower if you’re not, but the important thing is to focus on what is right for you in order to get through it.

The Basics of ACL Repair

Written By: Rachael Kaine

ACL Repair: the Lead Up

An injury to your ACL an require a great deal of recovery time - and in some cases, the need for surgery in order to correct the issue. The time spent before surgery is just as necessary as the recovery process after it, making what you do in order to prepare just as important as the surgical procedure and the recovery process.

ACL repair surgery Washington DC can be scheduled for people with injuries of varied degrees, but typically, doctors will only recommend this procedure if your condition has the potential to worsen or impact your ability to take part in a sport you love. ACL repair is one of the most common surgeries done to the knee, and the injury to this ligament happens to people each and every day. Once an injury occurs, it is more likely to happen again with repetition of the same activity that caused the first injury. Seeing a professional as soon as you become injured is essential to getting proper care and treatment, allowing you to be back on your feet as soon as possible.

After ACL Repair

The recovery period after having this type of surgery can last months, making it a tedious and lengthy process that must be done with a plan for success in place. There are different stages to recovery, with the first being pain management, which leads up to rehabilitation. The surgery is an extensive one, and will result in some pain, both at the surgical site and all over the rest of your body. The first few days, you won’t be able to do much, which can result in soreness. You’ll have medication that will help you get through things for short term relief, including anti-inflammatory medications, opioids, and even local anesthetics. These will be used to get you through the days immediately following surgery, as well as helping you to manage when you begin the next steps of the recovery process: getting back to normal.

The first two weeks of ACL surgery DC recovery will be spent focusing on allowing the surgery site to heal on the outside, as well as re-learning to extend the knee fully. During this time, it will become sore and tired easily, requiring the use of ice and even a brace. This will keep you from overdoing things, and may even be paired with crutches and a range of motion device. The ultimate goals of the rehab on your knee are to get you back into optimal shape, using tried and true methods meant to help you progress little by little. Not only do you need to learn how to re-use the knee, you will have to rebuild the muscle, learn to balance and rebuild your endurance.

Some Knee Injuries Require ACL Repair

Written By: Sara Loch

When physical activity is an important part of your daily routine, it can be difficult to deal when you become sidelined with an injury.  For many people, especially women, those injuries are often to the knee.  If the pain is mild, it can be tempting to tough it out and continue with your activity, but pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong and you should take time to evaluate and care for your injury.  A mild knee injury may require only rest and ice, but more severe injuries may require surgery such as ACL repair.

About the knee

The knee joint is made up of 3 bones and 4 main ligaments.  These can be injured though overuse, a twisting motion, a blow, or other trauma.  Common knee injuries include:

• Sprains or strains: These usually affect the muscles or ligaments and if severe may require ACL repair surgery Washington DC.
• Torn cartilage: Cartilage acts as a shock absorber for your joints. A severe tear may require a knee surgery that is different from ACL repair Washington DC.
• Tendonitis: Tendons connect muscles to bones and overuse can result in pain and inflammation.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that often affects the knee. It results in the cartilage in the joints gradually wearing away.  Instead of ACL reconstruction surgery DC, severe cases sometimes require total knee replacement surgery.
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ACL surgery Washington DC and other treatments

If the pain in your knee is dull and mild, you may want to start with ice, elevation, and rest.  When the pain has gone away completely, consider wearing a knee brace when you get back to your activity.  If the pain comes back every time you do your activity, you may want to stop and visit a doctor.  Moderate pain and a knee that still supports your weight will not likely require ACL surgery Washington DC, but it could be that you have another problem that may get worse if not diagnosed and treated.  A knee injury with severe pain, obvious disfigurement, or that prevents the knee from holding your weight should always be looked at by a doctor.  It could mean that you have a torn ACL and that you need ACL surgery DC or that you have another severe injury.  Visit www.medstarwashington.org to learn more about ACL repair Washington DC.

Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery

Written By: Sara Loch

The thought of going under the knife for bariatric surgery can be scary.  If you are worried about the procedure, you may want to consider one of the least invasive types of bariatric surgery Washington DC, called laparoscopic gastric banding.

How does this bariatric surgery DC work?

Laparoscopic gastric banding helps with weight management Washington DC by drastically limiting the amount of food that you need to eat before you feel full.  An adjustable band is placed around the top of your stomach, creating a small pouch that holds only a small quantity of food.

One major difference between laparoscopic gastric banding and other types of weight loss surgery Washington DC is that it uses several small incisions instead of a large one.  This is important because the smaller incisions can mean less risk, less pain, and a shorter recovery time.  The weight loss surgery Washington DC is preformed using an instrument called a laparoscope, which is a tool with a tiny camera.  It is inserted into one of the incisions so the surgeon can see what he or she is doing, and the band is placed with special tools inserted into other incisions.

Another difference between this type of bariatric surgery Washington DC and others is that it is adjustable and reversible.  The band is connected to a device located just beneath your skin so your doctor can use it to adjust the size of the small stomach pouch.  Eventually, the band can be completely removed when you have achieved your desired weight loss goals.

Laparoscopic gastric banding is similar to other types of weight loss surgery DC in that you will have to try non-surgical weight loss methods first.  Your doctor will recommend that you try diet and exercise, but if these fail you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery Washington DC.  Another similarity is that for bariatrics and weight management DC to be successful you will need to make drastic, lifelong lifestyle changes.  You must be careful what you eat, and make sure that you still get all the necessary vitamins and minerals even though you are eating less food.  Visit http://www.medstarwashington.org to learn more about bariatrics and weight management DC.