Many people return to normal activities within 10 to 12 weeks after surgery, but full recovery can take six to 12 months. Pain usually goes away during this time, but some people feel some pain beyond the first year. Most hip replacements last 20 years, but a fraction of implants fail sooner.
As you continue physical therapy, your pain levels should slowly decrease to about 1 or 2 in 12 weeks after the hip replacement.
Most hip replacement patients are able to walk within the same day or next day of surgery; most can resume normal routine activities within the first 3 to 6 weeks of their total hip replacement recovery. Once light activity becomes possible, it's important to incorporate healthy exercise into your recovery program.
Studies show that nearly 90 percent of hip replacement patients feel better and resume normal activity within a few months, and sometimes even weeks, following the operation.
The second complication we try to avoid is loosening of the implants. This can happen when patients do too much walking and stress the implants prior to the ingrowth process. Generally, I advise patients to walk only a few hundred yards a day total until they get to around six weeks.
Your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes a day, or even 2 to 3 times daily during your early recovery.
Activity. It is important to gradually increase your out-of-home activity during the first few weeks after surgery. If you do too much activity, your hip may become more swollen and painful.
It is common for patients to be tired following a total hip replacement, which is due in part to anesthesia, blood loss, pain, and the necessity of prescription pain medications.
Typical symptoms that you may have failed total hip replacement are pain in the hip, groin, or thigh as well as limited mobility. Some people describe feeling that the hip joint might “give out.”
Several different culprits may be to blame. Low blood pressure, low blood sugar, or dehydration after surgery can cause lightheadedness, dizziness and nausea. Intravenous fluids can be given during and after the procedure to help decrease the risk of these problems.
You will walk without support when you feel you are safe and can walk comfortably without dropping your hip or limping. Some patients can do this within 2 weeks after surgery while others take 6-8 weeks or longer. Continue to use support as needed to minimize limping.
Gentle exercise is beneficial, such as short, gentle walks around your home and outside. Supervised physiotherapy, like rehabilitation programmes and hydrotherapy, can also help improve recovery in the weeks following surgery.
How long can I expect to be limping for after my operation? There are many reasons for a limp. This is expected for the first few months after your operation. The majority will have settled after 3 months, some may continue to limp up to 12 months after the operation.
However, even the most successful hip replacement is not immune to postoperative aches and pains, the most common of which are pains in or around the buttocks.
The Don'ts
Don't cross your legs at the knees for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Don't bring your knee up higher than your hip. Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down. Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting.
It is normal to experience some post-operative discomfort and swelling in the groin, thigh, lower back and buttock regions. Some degree of pain or ache can persist for up to three months following your surgery. This is all part of the healing process.
After having a hip replacement, contact your doctor if you get: hot, reddened, hard or painful areas in your leg in the first few weeks after your operation. Although this may just be bruising from the surgery, it could mean you have DVT (deep vein thrombosis) – a blood clot in the leg. chest pains or breathlessness.
Periprosthetic fractures involve bone breaks around the implant that can cause it to fail. These fractures are rare and usually occur years after a hip replacement, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A fall, direct blow to the hip or car crash can cause these fractures to occur.
It's best to avoid sleeping on your affected side for at least six weeks. After your doctor gives you the go-ahead, listen to your body, and only lie on your operative side when you feel comfortable.
Smaller meals are better than none at all. Some very gentle exercises can increase your strength and reduce fatigue. Take it slow and steady, doing small exercises a few times a day. A trained physical or occupational therapist can also help if needed until you're strong enough to do it on your own.
Possible causes include bone-prosthesis micromotion, excessive stress transfer to the femur, periosteal irritation, or a mismatch in Young's modulus of elasticity that increases the structural rigidity of the prosthetic stem relative to the femur.
Implants that are sized too large can cause your tendons to become overstretched and irritated. Conversely, implants that are sized too small can cause your tendons to be under-tensioned and lead to dislocation. Impingement can cause pain of the groin, front of your hip, and even into your thigh or buttock.
Is cycling good after a hip replacement? Unlike running, cycling is seen as a very good post-op activity because it's very low impact on your hips. In fact, your doctor may recommend cycling on a static bike as a way of building muscle strength around the affected hip.
Climbing Stairs During Physical Therapy
Learning to climb stairs with an artificial hip is an important part of your physical therapy program after surgery. Your physical therapist will focus on strengthening muscles that work against gravity to help you progress as quickly as possible.
The 3G Cardio Recumbent Bike offers arguably the best combination of comfort, performance and value on the market. It has been called, “the most comfortable recumbent bike ever built.” Recumbent bikes are usually an excellent way for people with hip pain, or those rehabbing after hip replacement surgery, to exercise.