Dr. Arnan Sisson, PT| October 13, 2022

After a life-changing operation, and what can be a painful and difficult time afterwards, many people are looking for the fastest way to recover from hip replacement surgery.

However, if you are currently waiting for a hip replacement surgery, and worried about how well you will recover…

Or if you have already had hip replacement surgery and you are struggling to regain your strength, mobility and get back on your feet…

You can learn about the most successful strategies our physical therapy team have used, to help our patients across the Northern Neck achieve the fastest recovery possible.

“What Should I Do Before Hip Replacement Surgery?”

There are two recommendations that can improve your recovery before you have your hip replacement surgery:

• Prepare your home, and get support arranged for after the operation

After a hip replacement, you are likely to be in some discomfort, have limited mobility and feel very tired.

To make this time as easy as possible, rearrange your home so everything you will need is easily accessible by placing things at waist level, and within easy reach.

If possible, ask friends or family to help out with household chores like cleaning, cooking and shopping during your recovery to ensure you don’t do too much, too soon.

By doing this before your operation, this can help reduce some anxiety.

• Prehab exercises for strength

You may be aware of the importance of rehabilitation exercises after surgery, and how much these can speed up recovery.

But prehabilitation is equally as important and can make a huge difference to your recovery time.

Depending on your situation, certain exercises may be more beneficial than others, and therefore we would recommend arranging a free physical therapy discover visit with a member of the team to find out about how we could help you before your hip replacement surgery.

“Will I Be In Pain After Hip Replacement Surgery?”

It is normal to experience discomfort after hip replacement surgery, and in the short term using medication to relieve pain may be required.

However, we understand that people are reluctant to rely too much on painkillers, due to the potential side effects.

That’s a big reason our PT patients come to us because we can offer natural, drug-free pain relief and speed up the recovery process.

“How Long Will It Take To Recover From Hip Replacement Surgery?”

We understand that after surgery, you are desperate to get back to doing what you love – that’s probably one of the main reasons that you chose to risk having surgery in the first place – and it can be a frustrating time when you are uncomfortable and unable to move freely.

Recovery times do vary from person to person, based on a large number of factors, such as age, general fitness and the activities you do.

Everyone responds differently, but for a general estimate, you can usually return to light activities or office-based work within approximately 6-8 weeks. If you do more strenuous activities, this will take a few more weeks.

Thankfully, there are things that you can do to give yourself the best chance of recovering from hip replacement surgery as fast as possible, and regain your independence, interests and hobbies.

If you enjoy any extreme activities or sports where there is a risk of falling or impact, such as contact sports, skiing or horse riding, it is recommended to get advice from a medical professional beforehand.

“What Is The Fastest Way To Recover From Hip Replacement Surgery?”

To maximize the speed of your recovery, physical therapy is recommended and extremely beneficial.

Initially, you should receive home health physical therapy after your hip replacement surgery however this is usually for a very short time, and its main focus is to get you well enough to get out of your home for outpatient treatment.

Seeking outpatient physical therapy from a specialist is a way to ensure you recovery quickly.

We can deliver hands on treatment to reduce stiffness and pain, so you aren’t relying heavily on painkillers to get through the day.

In addition, our team are able to spend time with you tailoring a personalized exercise plan that will get you back to doing the things you love as soon as possible.

A common concern for people post-surgery is doing exercises alone and the fear of doing them wrong.

As a result, people tend to avoid their exercises, and don’t move often enough which delays recovery and makes the pain last much longer.

Alongside exercises, and hands on treatment, our team can guide you towards walking without the need for a walking aid, or crutches.

The next step would be moving onto light exercise such as swimming and progressively increasing your walking.

The most important part of this is monitoring your progress carefully, and our team are able to give you guidance on when it’s safe for you to take things to the next level of movement – which is a very difficult and confusing thing for you to determine on your own.

At Sisson & Associates, we have our practice in the heart of the Northern Neck (Montross) and we offer free physical therapy consultations, where you can speak to a member of our team, ask any questions that you have, and find out what can be done to recover from your hip replacement as quickly as possible.

Arrange your free PT consultations in 30 seconds with our simple webpage, or if you prefer to talk over the telephone, you can call us on (804) 493-3256.

Other Free Resources To Help You Live A Pain-Free, Active Life

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Click Here To Read – How to Get Lasting Results Instead Of Bandaid Solutions For Pain

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