You’ve picked an orthopaedic surgeon and scheduled a surgery date for your total hip replacement. Now all that’s left is to show up at the hospital, meet up with your implant in the operating room, and head home to rest and wait for your new joint to heal up on its own, right? Wrong! There are a variety of things that you can do before and after your surgery to help accelerate your recovery and return to activity.
1. Stop smoking. Smoking can have a huge impact of your body’s healing process. If you can’t quit entirely at least try not to smoke for two weeks before your surgery and for the time you are recovering. Even a few weeks of smoking cessation can improve your circulation and promote better healing.
2. Eat well. A diet rich in healthy foods will help ensure your body has all the nutrients necessary for quick repair of your surgical incision. Ask your surgeon for a list of good pre- and post-surgical foods, and don’t forget plenty of fiber while recovering to help to keep your bowels moving regularly.
3. Get active. Medical literature tells us that the more active a person is before their surgery the more likely they are to have good outcomes. Strengthening the muscles around the hip joint will help provide support for the new implant and minimize your pain. If you’re in so much pain you find moving difficult, look into some physical therapy sessions with a trained physical therapist. Even a few weeks of exercise before the replacement can make a huge difference.
4. Move the joint. Exercise? Yes, Exercise! Have you heard the old addage “use it or lose it”? After having a hip replacement surgery, the last thing on most people’s mind is getting up and putting weight on the joint or exercising, but by following the right exercises, strength and flexibility can be restored. The most important exercises to follow are those that are provided by hip replacement surgeons.
Most importantly, listen to your discharge instructions, ask questions if you have any, and follow them as best you can. If your physician says not to drive for six weeks, don’t push your body to try. Attempting activities that are not recommended by your surgeon can risk straining the hip and stretching the healing tissues – delaying your healing.
When you’ve been cleared for a return to regular activities, a primary care sports medicine specialist can help you use your new joint to return to your original level of activity – then surpass it.