A hip replacement surgery will, in the long run, help you have more mobility as you age, especially if the replacement frees you from debilitating joint pain. However, directly after the surgery, there is a short recovery period in which you will need greater assistance. Here is what you need to know about recovering from a hip replacement surgery and what you can do to prepare for life after the procedure.
Lessened Mobility
Directly after the surgery, your surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for yourself, including restricting your activity until you are fully recovered. You should not do anything to aggravate the hip area, and should reduce your mobility until your body is healed. Usually, restoring full movement through the hips requires a gradual increase of activity with the guidance of a physical therapist. Because you won't be up and walking around, you need to take care of your other muscles:
Help With Everyday Tasks
Until you are up on your feet again, you'll need to enlist the help of friends, family members, or a home health aid as you recover. Your helper should take care of basic tasks, including driving you home from the hospital and taking you to subsequent physical therapy appointments, as you will not be able to drive yourself until you have regained hip movement. They should be prepared to shop for you, clean your home, do laundry, and help you wash and dress. Consider making things easier for yourself:
Caring For Your Wound
Post-surgery, you will also need to take care to watch for signs of infection and prevent infections by keeping the incision and stitches clean. You should change the dressing daily. You might not be permitted to shower or bathe until the wound has healed to the satisfaction of your doctor. Instead, you will need to wash with a sponge, carefully avoiding the incision. Signs of infection include redness, draining, pus, a bad smell, and fever. Notify your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms
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