Life After Hip Replacement

Finally getting that hip replaced means dealing with the recovery period that comes immediately afterward. But the long-term outlook gives you plenty of reasons to go through with the surgery. Five years after getting surgery, roughly 90% of people report that they have mild to no hip pain. If you’re hobbling around now, this surgery can quite literally change your life. 

Still, you might be wondering what to expect after the surgery is behind you. Because Karl Siebuhr, MD, and our team specialize in hip replacements, we can give you a good idea of what life after hip replacement looks like. You can always visit us at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida, to learn more about this procedure. Here’s a quick overview: 

Immediately after surgery

Plan to spend a couple of weeks resting at home after your surgery. It’s important to have someone who can help you with your medication and your mobility in the early days.

That said, you won’t be bedridden. In fact, we want you to get up and walk around as soon as possible after your procedure. We might help you get set up with a cane or walker to support you as you get those steps in. Staying mobile right after your hip replacement is key in helping the area heal properly. 

In fact, activity is so important that we’ll also help you get started with physical therapy right away, too. You can generally expect to have these sessions two or three times a week for about a month immediately after your surgery. 

You’ll need to keep the area around your incision clean. We want your incision to heal fully before you get submerged in water, so that usually means skipping swimming and baths for about six weeks. We can show you how to wrap it so you can protect it while you shower. 

Scaling activities up as you heal

You’ll start with walking and physical activity right after your hip replacement. 

Our team then monitors your progress to help you safely add in more activities. Most patients can resume working, driving, and sexual activity within a few weeks. 

You can also ease back into most sports and other forms of exercise. If you prefer low-impact activities, you should have no limitations once Dr. Siebuhr says it’s safe to pick them back up. That means that after hip replacement, you should be able to enjoy all of the following pain-free:

• Walking 
• Hiking
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Golf
• Yoga

The only change you may need to make after hip replacement pertains to high-impact activity. Dr. Siebuhr works with you to make a plan that lets you do what you love while protecting your joint. 

Some people can still run, for example, but might take on shorter distances or add in more alternative activity like cycling. Or if you like tennis, Dr. Siebuhr might recommend doubles rather than singles because it minimizes the stress on your hip joint as you run back and forth across the court. 

Ultimately, the outlook is good for life after hip replacement. If you want to explore what this procedure could do to improve your quality of life, call our office or request your appointment online.