Recovering From Hip Replacement Surgery

Whether you need a hip replacement because of severe arthritis, osteonecrosis, or a major injury that just won’t fully heal, hip replacement surgery can be massively beneficial for your mobility and your day-to-day comfort. Yet, you won’t be able to use your hip to its full capacity within a day or even a week of your surgery. Reaping the benefits of hip replacement surgery requires your dedication to joint replacement rehabilitation with support from specialists and providers as well as your own ability to care for the joint at home. 

At our offices in Houston and Pearland, Texas, Elation Physical Therapy details your recovery plan and coaches you as you regain strength and mobility with your new hip. Physical therapists Roy Rivera, Jr., PT, PhD, DPT, and Jordan Boyd, PT, DPT, offer personalized physical therapy and rehabilitation for three months or more after hip replacement surgery, tracking your progress and helping you meet milestones along the way. 

Here’s what you can expect throughout recovery after a hip replacement:

Attainable goal setting

Our physical therapists help you understand what to expect throughout the recovery so you have a realistic outlook on what your progress may be at various points in time. Rather than jumping right into working toward peak athleticism, we help you work toward smaller goals as you keep your larger overall goals in mind. 

By setting smaller goals, you’re better able to recognize and appreciate the progress you make as you recover from hip replacement surgery.

Everyday visits

Your rehabilitation specialists expect to see you every day for some time after hip replacement surgery starting just 24 hours after your operation. With each visit, they support you through personalized care and teach you strategies to use at home. As long as you visit consistently, you won’t backtrack or hit an early plateau with physical therapy progress. 

Your physical therapists let you know when you can start tapering your visits to be less often and less of a hassle. You’ll make a faster recovery if you follow instructions and be sure to make every appointment.

A recovery plan prevents blood clots

Physical therapy and the medications you get during your recovery after hip replacement surgery work together to prevent blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or a blood clot inside a deep vein, is a risk with hip replacement surgery that you shouldn’t ignore and is also the reason why you’re prescribed certain medications like anticoagulants to thin your blood during your recovery.

Without management, a blood clot can break free from its original place, travel through the blood vessels, and reach your lungs to cause a pulmonary embolism. 

You won’t need bed rest

It’s reasonable to assume that you would need to rest up after such a large operation, but hip replacement surgery does not require a period of bed rest during its recovery. In fact, the majority of hip replacement recipients can walk and go home the same day. 

Moving your artificial hip joint helps it move with fluidity and prevents it from stiffening up. If you feel too unstable or hesitant to walk as you would normally right away, your providers may give you an assistive device, such as a cane or walker, for extra support. 

As long as you follow through with all medications and therapies within your recovery plan, you can expect to perform typical movements like standing up or sitting down with your new hip within a few months. Schedule an appointment over the phone or online with us at Elation Physical Therapy to find out more about hip replacement surgery recovery today.