Five Recovery Tips after You Have a Hip Replacement Surgery
Are you preparing yourself for hip replacement surgery? Do you want to make sure that you have everything in line for your recovery? To prepare for the recovery, you will need to prepare yourself to experience pains and discomfort for a few days. You will want to trust the help of family, friends, and guidance of an orthopedic surgeon in Altamonte Springs.
Prepare Yourself for Medication Side Effects
On the first day, you may feel a little bit uncomfortable due to the systemic presence of the pain medications administered to you during the surgery. The second day may come with slight pain, but you can still walk around and perform tasks that require little stress to the joints. The third day comes with more pain. However, you do not need to panic, as this is the body’s normal healing mechanism. The pains are as a result of inflammation as the body sends a large number of inflammatory cells to the area with the injury to aid the healing process. Your orthopedic surgeon will recommend pain killers to relieve the pain.
Avoid Putting Extra Pressure on Yourself
After your surgery, ensure you do not put a lot of pressure on your hips trying to walk. Walking is a gradual process and being active would speed up your recovery process as it increases the circulation to your feet and legs thus lowering the chances of you having a blood clot. There are walking canes that can help you out till you have fully recovered.
Keep Your Legs Elevated
Swelling can limit your ability to perform your daily tasks and you need to get rid or reduce them as much as you can. Raising or elevating your legs would help. You can use a pillow or wedges or any other material recommended by your orthopedic surgeon in Altamonte Springs. You may also need to place a pillow in between your legs while you are sleeping.
Remove Hazards from Your Home
Slips and falls could be quite dangerous at this period, so you have to try as much as possible to avoid them. Of course, you need to avoid readmission or tearing any scars or incisions from your surgery. Ensure you get rid of objects that can make you trip and fall.
Follow Through with Physical Therapy
Start physical therapy after your surgery. The orthopedic surgeon will put together exercises that would be part of your daily routine for several months till you are fully recovered. These exercises are paramount to your recovery and you should ensure you do them regularly. Some of them include ankle rotations, ankle pumps and knee bends.
By following these post-surgery recovery tips after you have had a hip replacement surgery, you will be able to focus on doing the right things to make your recovery easier. Recovery is a gradual process and it needs patience and persistence. If you are having trouble with your recovery, contact our orthopedic surgeon in Altamonte Springs today.