Total Hip Replacement Rehabilitation If the prosthesis is not cemented into place, it is necessary to allow four to six weeks (for the femur bone to "grow into" the implant) before the hip joint is able to bear full weight and walking without crutches is possible.
Bone will grow on to the surface of metal implant if it has certain special “topography”, called porous ingrowth or osseointegration.
Around three months after your hip operation, most things will go back to normal, and the pain goes away for most people. You need to look out for signs of complications and continue being careful with how you move your hip. After 6 to 12 months, the recovery is considered complete.
Press-fit prostheses require healthy bones. Patients with low bone density due to osteoporosis may not be eligible for these components. It can take up to three months for bone material to grow into a new joint component.
“On average, hip replacement recovery can take around two to four weeks, but everyone is different,” says Thakkar. It depends on a few factors, including how active you were before your surgery, your age, nutrition, preexisting conditions, and other health and lifestyle factors.
Proper walking is the best way to help your hip recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg. Early on, walking will help you regain movement in your hip.
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.
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.
Uncemented prosthesis attaches with a porous surface, which allows bone to grow over time and hold it in place. Cemented prosthesis attaches with bone cement.
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.
Everyone recovers differently, but it's often possible to return to light activities or office-based work within around 6 weeks. It may take a few more weeks if your job involves heavy lifting. It's best to avoid extreme movements or sports where there's a risk of falling, such as skiing or riding.
Sometimes limping in children and adults continues for months or even years after their surgery. It's not always easy to tell if someone has limped after hip replacement surgery because it can be difficult to determine if the limp is caused by the prosthetic joint or another problem.
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.
Surgical Procedure
The surgeon makes one incision to the front of the hip, about 4 inches long. The surgeon then pushes the muscles aside to access the hip joint to begin the replacement. At no time during the surgery are any muscles cut.
No Leg Crossing
For at least two months after hip replacement surgery, avoid crossing your legs. This is particularly a risk if you bring your knee across your body. Putting a pillow between your legs while sleeping can prevent inadvertent leg crossing during sleep.
How much do hip replacement implants weigh? The implants we use in most cases are typically made of titanium, with a ceramic head and a polyethylene liner. Their combined weight is very close to the weight of the bone removed. This example weighs just under 300g – that's just over 10oz.
In the non-obese group, 60% of patients gained a mean of 4.2 kg (p<0.001) and 31% of patients lost an average of 4.7 kg (p<0.001). The mean Harris hip score was 90 in non-obese patients and 85 in obese patients three years post-operatively (p<0.01).
Sometimes, it's an obvious cause such as a dislocation or a fracture around the implant from a trauma or fall, but late hip pain could be from other causes: recurring tendonitis, bursitis and low back pain, or a pinched nerve need to be ruled out by the physician before any imaging or testing is performed.
How long does hip replacement pain last? Every patient's recovery time is unique based on several personal factors. Most people, though, experience surgical pain for approximately two to four weeks following hip replacement surgery.
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.
Walker is used for ambulation for the first week. You can start using a cane the second week and you should use it for at least one week. You can come off the cane when you can walk without the cane and without a limp. Stairs should be done using the non-operative leg and a cane.
You have a window of time immediately after your surgery in which you can restore the range of motion in your new joint. If you don't move and engage in physical therapy, however, scar tissue develops that restricts movement and your muscles weaken.
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.
Normally, driving should be avoided for the first 6 weeks and even travelling as a passenger is best avoided for the first three weeks (except for essential journeys), as getting in and out of a car can risk straining the hip and stretching the healing tissues.