Hip replacement surgery is a highly invasive surgical procedure done by orthopedic surgeons, but it is also necessary because it can change your life for the better. Here is everything you need to know about the things to expect from hip replacement surgery.

You Will Be In Pain

This is to be expected. After you’ve gone through an invasive hip replacement surgery, you will be in pain as soon as the Anesthesia wears off. It is temporary and some people can deal with it, but for others, it might be intolerable and they will need something to lessen the pain like painkillers, NSAIDs, etc.

This hip pain usually occurs right after the surgery, when you are able to feel things. It occurs in the hip and pelvic area mostly and sitting for too long might be a problem.

No Movement For Some Time

After getting a hip replacement surgery, you will be sore and your legs might not feel the best. This is why you shouldn’t push your body too much if it is unable to move. Your lower body will be numb and swollen and this is primarily because of the surgery because this can cause fluid retention.

It’s not the best idea to start moving immediately until you get the go-ahead from the doctor. You don’t want to make your condition worse than it already is, so try to take it slow for a couple of days.

You Will Need Physical Therapy

Because of water retention and being in bed for longer periods, your legs can get swollen, and while it’s not a good idea to walk around, physical therapy is a must. These are light exercises that will get your body moving without having to do a lot of strenuous activities.

A physical therapist will help you get your movement back and the swelling will also decrease over time. You will be advised to continue these light maneuvers and exercises even after getting discharged from the hospital. These exercises are a good warm-up to get your body back to normalcy.

You Will Feel Tired

Lethargy is a common symptom with any surgery and with hip replacement surgery, it’s no different either. You will feel extremely weak and will not have the energy to do anything for some time and that’s completely okay. This is nothing to worry about, but you want to get out of this funk as soon as you can.

Try to get adequate rest and then balance the rest with some physical therapy. Try to have a routine while you are in the hospital because you will see a difference in how your day goes and how your body feels.

Healing Time Varies

The healing time is different for different patients. There are a lot of people who go through this surgery. Young and old people, alike, have to get this surgery done, either because of some injury or just old age.

People who are young and fit will heal faster from the surgery aftereffects and they will also feel less pain after the surgery. Whereas older and more feeble people will have a harder time getting back to normal life and they will also feel a lot more pain and difficulty in moving around. So, this really comes down to the patient and their general well-being.

How Long Until Normalcy?

This is a question a lot of patients ask. You can’t go to work until you’re fully healed. You can’t lift a lot of weight and you can’t put a lot of stress on your back or pelvic area. There is no general rule of thumb on how much time there is until you’re back to normal life.

Some people will resume normal life activities after a few weeks, while some can take a month or more. It all comes down to the patient and how willing they are to heal and get normal.

Conclusion

There you have it! Hip replacement surgery is very common among older people or people who have fractured their hip bone, so it’s important to know the things which are likely to occur. Set your appointment with a hip replacement surgery surgeon Woodbridge to know your eligibility and other details.