Hip surgery can greatly improve quality of life by alleviating hip pain and restoring function. Typically, surgery is recommended when non-surgical options do not provide enough relief of symptoms. Here’s how to set yourself up for success following hip surgery:
- Prepare Your House: Before surgery, try to identify and remove tripping hazards.You might need to re-arrange furniture so there is enough space to navigate with a walker or crutches. It may also be necessary to install grab bars in the bathroom and consider raising your toilet seat. Additionally, frequently used items should be kept in places that can be reached easily.
- Use Assistive Devices: Long-handled shoehorns, handy grabbers, sock donners, and similar assistive devices may help make some of life’s simple tasks easier and safer during the days and weeks following your hip surgery.
- Ask for help from friends and family: Rather than attempting to do difficult chores or activities that can increase your risk of falling, get your loved ones to help you in the immediate postsurgical period.
- Exercise Regularly: This will help restore normal range of motion in the hip, build strength in the surrounding muscles, improve circulation, prevent blood clots, and ease swelling and pain as you return to routine activities of daily living.
- Maintain a healthy bodyweight: Pay attention to diet and ensure you do not put on excess weight. The added stress on your hip from can increase the risk of wear and tear on your hip joint.
In addition to these tips, following your doctor’s instructions during the postsurgical period with regards to activity restrictions, physical therapy, and follow-up appointments will help ensure a positive surgical outcome.
Dr. Benjamin Domb is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine and Hip Arthroscopy. He is the Founder and Medical Director at American Hip Institute, is rated amongst the Top Doctors in the USA by the NY Times, US News & World Report, and Castle Connelly. The doctors at the American Hip Institute® have been global leaders in Hip Arthroscopy and Robotic Surgery for over a decade. While some would call this excellence, we simply call it the American Hip Institute standard.
