Is your hip pain keeping you housebound? For some people with arthritis or other significant hip pain, a total hip replacement is the only intervention to help them find long-term relief. But this procedure is a major surgery with a lengthy rehabilitation process. However, understanding hip replacement rehab milestones can let you know what to expect.
The physical therapists at First State Rehab at Home have extensive experience helping people rehabilitate after hip replacement surgery. We have a good understanding of the phases of healing and recovery and, along with your surgeon, can provide you with a rough timeline of when you can return to your favorite activities.
Of course, knowing the timeline is only half the battle. The early stages of rehabilitation can be challenging. Your body will have not yet fully healed, and you’ll likely need to use a mobility aid such as a cane or a walker–making it much harder to get to an outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
However, these early stages are also the most crucial. Appropriate exercise in the first few weeks helps your hip heal properly. Skipping physical therapy early on can lead to the development of scar tissue, which will restrict your hip’s range of motion after the site itself has healed.
At First State Rehab at Home, we don’t want anyone to miss out on the benefits of post-surgical rehabilitation. That’s why we offer at-home services throughout (town). You don’t have to worry about finding a ride or working around multiple schedules when our experts will bring everything you need to your front door!
Think you might benefit from at-home rehabilitation? Keep reading to learn more about hip replacement rehab milestones–or call us to schedule an at-home, one-on-one appointment!
What is a Hip Replacement, and Why Would Someone Need One?
Your hip is a large ball-and-socket joint, which means the top part of your thigh bone (the femoral head) nestles into a socket in your pelvic bone (the acetabulum). The entire joint is covered with cartilage, a tissue that protects the bones from rubbing against each other.
However, some people will develop damage to the bone tissue and cartilage in their hip joint, leading to persistent pain. One of the most common causes of this damage is osteoarthritis, a condition where the cartilage wears away. Other forms of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis caused by a hip injury) are also common sources of hip pain.
Many people can manage these conditions through physical therapy and exercise alone. But for those who can’t, hip replacement surgery is a viable option. If you have to undergo a hip replacement, know that you aren’t alone: surgeons perform over 450,000 hip replacements annually in the United States.
During a hip replacement, the surgeon replaces the damaged bone or cartilage tissue with metal, ceramic, or plastic prostheses. There are two types of hip replacement procedures available.
A partial hip replacement only replaces the femoral head (the “ball” part of the hip’s ball and socket joint), using a metal ball and stem inserted into the remaining femur.
A total hip replacement replaces both the femoral head and the pelvic socket, using a prosthetic socket that fits into the hip bone.
As you might expect, a total hip replacement is a much more intense surgery, and complete rehabilitation can take up to a year. However, even a partial hip replacement can take up to six months to fully rehabilitate.
Rehab Milestones for Total Hip Replacement Surgery
A hip replacement’s lengthy rehabilitation can be worrying, but understanding the milestones can ease some of those anxieties. While rehabilitation can take up to a year, you’ll be up and about well before then!
Milestone 1: A Gentle Walk. You’ll likely hit your first milestone a day or two after you leave the hospital. At this point, the surgical site is still healing, and you’re still experiencing swelling and pain. But you can begin your rehabilitation as soon as possible. Standing up and briefly walking (with a mobility aid) indicates your rehabilitation is underway!
Milestone 2: Begin Outpatient Physical Therapy. Your next milestone will hit when you begin performing dedicated mobility and range of motion exercises with the First State Rehab at Home physical therapists, usually a week or so after surgery. The surgical site is still healing, but you’ll begin moving as much as you can–usually with the assistance of our therapists.
Milestone 3: No More Mobility Aids: Most people can forgo their mobility aids about 3 weeks after surgery, although some may take a little longer. At this point, you’ll begin a more active exercise program. Although still focusing on mobility and range of motion, exercises will be more intense, and you may start some gentle strengthening exercises, too.
Milestone 4: Back To Normal (More or Less): 2-3 months after your surgery, you’ll likely be able to resume day-to-day activities. However, physical therapy is still crucial, especially as we transition to exercises designed to restore hip muscle strength and function.
Milestone 5: Full Rehabilitation: While you’ve recovered from your hip replacement by the 3-month mark, rehabilitation takes longer. You’ll need time to rebuild your strength and overall functionality to safely return to more vigorous activities like sports. For most people, full rehabilitation happens about a year after surgery.
Learn More About Your Personal Hip Replacement Rehab Milestones
The hip replacement rehab milestones we explored here can give you a general idea of the recovery process, but remember that everyone is different. Some people may recover and rehabilitate faster than others–it all depends on your fitness level, overall health, and how much effort you put into physical therapy.
If you want to learn more about what your own rehabilitation might look like, call First State Rehab at Home Today . One of our therapists can guide you through the process and answer any questions!
Sources:
- https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/total-hip-replacement/
- https://www.physio-pedia.com/Rehabilitation_Phases
Tags: Physical Therapy, Physical therapist, Natural Treatment, Natural Pain Relief, Pain Relief, hip pain, hip replacement
