Hip Surgery Recovery Timeline

Even with a healthy diet and exercise, arthritis can still cause increasing pain and limitations as you age. Your treatment plan may begin with non-surgical options such as medication and walking aids, but surgery can become necessary if these methods fail.

From minimally invasive surgeries such as hip arthroscopies, to large-scale hip replacement surgeries, several types of hip surgeries exist to help ease hip pain and discomfort. Each hip surgery has its own recovery time and healing process. In this post, we’ll go into detail about hip replacement surgeries, a common procedure with a longer hip surgery recovery timeline.

Hip Replacement Surgery Recovery Timeline

Hip replacement surgeries are a common type of hip surgery and are relatively risk-free when performed on patients of all ages. The surgery involves replacing the weak or arthritic hip joint with a prosthetic joint composed of metal and plastic. The prosthetic joint will last about twenty years, after which a revision surgery and further hip surgery recovery time will be required. Unfortunately, revision hip surgeries are more difficult and have a lower success rate than first-time hip replacement surgeries. With advances in modern medicine, prosthetic hip joints may eventually last far longer than twenty years, helping limit the time needed for hip replacement recovery.

If you’re planning on undergoing hip replacement surgery or revision surgery, it’s important to note that your recovery period is as important for success as the procedure itself. Don’t expect to get back to your regular life right away, or for several weeks afterward. The following hip replacement recovery timeline will give you an idea of what to expect from your hip surgery recovery time.

After Your Procedure: It will take you a few hours to recover from the anesthesia of the surgery. Afterward, you will be taken to your hospital room where you may be fed a liquid post-surgery diet for the rest of the day. You may also be given pain medication and other post-op medications.

• The Next Three Days: Within the first few days of your hip replacement surgery recovery timeline, you should be able to walk with the help of walking aids such as a walker, but you will still need help with daily tasks including going to the restroom. Your physician will also most likely assign you to a physical therapist and occupational therapist, who will instruct you on proper ways of using your new hip and how to set up your home to accommodate your limited mobility during your hip surgery recovery time. You will be able to shift back to eating solid foods. At the end of the three days, you will go home or to your scheduled postoperative care facility.
• The First Two Weeks: At this point in your hip surgery recovery timeline, you will have left the hospital, and it will be up to you to care for your surgery site by keeping it dry and following your surgeon’s instructions on replacing bandages (or leaving them alone). You should definitely watch out for signs of infection at this time. In the meantime, though there may still be some soreness at your surgery site, you should try to move around some each day to promote healing and prevent blood clots.
• 10-14 Days after Surgery: At this phase in your hip surgery recovery time, your doctor will help you remove the stitches or staples used to close the surgery incision site. After they are removed, you can start taking baths and showers.
• Three to Six Weeks after Surgery: You may be able to go back to light daily activities, such as walking, without assistance or crutches. You may also be able to drive again at this time.
• Three Months after Surgery: At this point in your hip replacement surgery recovery timeline you will start feeling a lot more comfortable. You will be able to resume most of your usual activities, with the exception of some strenuous activities or sports that are demanding on the legs.
• The First Year: You will return to your doctor and physical therapist regularly throughout the first year of your hip surgery recovery time to check on your new hip and get instructions on what activities and movements you should and should not do. Your care team will help you work on improving strength while preventing dislocation and wear and tear of your new hip joint. Your final hip surgery recovery timeline will ultimately be unique to you, your body, and your experience.

Get Assistance as You Recover

The hip replacement surgery recovery process can be strenuous on both the body and mind. Whether you are undergoing this kind of surgery or another hip surgery, your range of movement will be severely impacted for the first few weeks of hip surgery recovery time. You should even expect to have trouble with daily tasks that you once thought simple, including grooming, getting dressed, going to the bathroom, preparing food, and sitting at your desk.

We highly recommend surrounding yourself with helpful hands during your first weeks or months of recovery so that you can focus on healing and following your surgeon’s hip surgery recovery tips. Hip surgeries are taxing, and you wouldn’t want to have to undergo revision surgery after dislocating your hip.

5-Star Care at Pearl Recovery Retreat

Pearl Recovery Retreat is more than just a professional post-op care center. To ease your hip surgery recovery time, we offer the best of Beverly Hills hospitality with our retreat-style healing space. Lush views, luxurious hotel rooms, nutritious in-room meals, and dedicated concierge service combine to provide a luxury recovery center that removes you from the frustrations of daily life and calms you in preparation for your long-term hip replacement surgery recovery timeline. You will have plenty of room not just for personal rest but also to receive visitors. For an additional fee, your small pet may also come along. Companionship is a necessary part of the healing process!

There are many more reasons why Pearl Wellness is the top Beverly Hills plastic surgery recovery retreat recommended by Los Angeles doctors. Contact us today to learn more, or schedule your restorative stay with us during your hip surgery recovery time.