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| How Long Does it Take to Recover from Total Hip Replacement Surgery? |
Most patients undergoing total hip replacement surgery want to know
when they'll be able to return to their normal life. "Recovery time"
is a common question posed to specialists and non-specialists alike. There
are many factors that can contribute to recovery time, but typically
patients can return to normal life activities within 1 to 6 months. To be more specific, however, we can examine the difference between "short-term recovery" and "long-term recovery".
Short-term
recovery involves the early stages of recovery, such as the ability to
get out of the hospital bed and be discharged from the hospital. On
days 1 or 2, most total hip replacement patients are given a walker to
stabilize them. By the third day after the surgery, most patients can
go home. Short-term recovery also involves getting off major pain
killers and having a full night's sleep without pills. Once a patient
no longer needs walking aids and can walk around the house without
pain--in addition to being able to walk two blocks around the house
without pain or resting--all of these are considered signs of
short-term recovery. The average short-term recovery time for a total hip replacement is 4 to 6 weeks.
Long-term
recovery involves the complete healing of surgical wounds and internal
soft tissues. When a patient can return to work and the activities of
daily living, they are on the way to achieving the full term of
recovery. Another indicator is when the patient finally feels
normal again. The average long-term recovery for total hip replacement
patients is approximately 6 months. Dr. Ian C. Clarke, medical
researcher and founder of Peterson Tribology Laboratory for joint
replacement at Loma Linda University, writes, "Our surgeons consider
that patients have 'recovered' when their current status has improved
much beyond their arthritic pre-op pain level and dysfunction."
There
are a number of contributing factors that influence recovery time.
Josephine Fox, a moderator at the BoneSmart.org hip replacement forums
and nurse of over fifty years, says that a positive attitude
is everything. Patients should be prepared for hard work, some pain
and an expectation that the future is going to be bright. Having access to information about hip replacement surgery and a strong support network is also important to recovery.
Adequate
preparation for the recovery period after surgery will increase the
chances of a smoother, quicker recovery. Josephine suggests preparing
the home for recovery by removing slip mats and items that the patient
can trip on. In addition, she recommends organizing medical supplies
and aids. If the patient plans to have a person to assist them during
the day, it is better to make arrangements ahead of time.
Medical support relating to pain management is also recommended. Josephine writes, "So
many patients have phobias about getting addicted to pain meds. They
can ruin their recovery by not taking the medication when they should.
The impact of pain management on recovery cannot be emphasized
enough." Hip replacement
patients should know that they can reach out to Pain Control Physicians
as well as their orthopedic surgeon for help in pain management.
Physical
therapy within the first six weeks is also very important. Most of the
exercises for hip replacement patients can be done at home. Patients
are encouraged to see physical therapy as an integral part of their
recovery and the more serious patients are about their daily exercises,
the quicker they tend to return to their normal activities.
Generally
speaking, hip replacement patients do recover sooner than knee
replacement patients, for example. It should be noted, however, that
recovery time for a total hip replacement can differ vastly from
patient to patient. Some patients may take 6 months to recover; while
others may recover in just 4 weeks.
About BoneSmart.org
BoneSmart.org is a National Public-Awareness Campaign for Candidates of Hip Replacement Surgery
and Knee Replacement Surgery. The BoneSmart® National Consumer
Awareness Campaign’s mission is to raise patient awareness of the
options available to persons diagnosed as a hip replacement or knee
replacement candidates by providing an Internet portal for awareness of
the latest advances in joint replacement materials, their longevity and
suitability for various applications. With this information the
potential patient may be better informed when discussing options with
his or her surgeon.
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| Category
Diseases |
Author
Jeremy Reither
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