Hip replacement surgery can be a life-changing event, especially for older adults. What happens in the hours and days after surgery surrounding care is essential for a successful recovery. Most patients stay in the hospital for a short period, typically 24-48 hours, but recovery happens after leaving.
Many patients prefer to remain in the comfort of their homes to recuperate, surrounded by loved ones, rather than in a rehab facility. Whether you are recovering from hip surgery or the loved one of someone recovering, knowing what to expect before the surgery and during the recovery process is crucial to a smooth recovery.
Caregiver Preparation: Supporting Basic Needs
Whether you take on that role or hire a professional, a caregiver will be invaluable during this period. During these first few days, your loved one may require more assistance than usual for everyday tasks, such as meal prepping, ambulating around the house, and using the restroom. You may be thinking about how long a caregiver is needed after hip surgery. This answer truly depends on your loved one’s recovery speed and needs, but most patients require at least a few weeks of assistance as they regain strength.
The caregiver should manage household tasks like cooking, cleaning, and running errands to ensure the patient focuses on recovery. Emotional support is vital to successful recovery outside of the physical support before and after the surgery as well. Family members are essential in offering emotional and physical support during this crucial phase.
Preparing the Home for a Smooth Recovery
The home environment plays a crucial role in your loved one’s recovery. Ensuring their home is safe, accessible, and comfortable can significantly affect how quickly they will regain independence. Follow these tips to make your loved one’s home more supportive during recovery:
- Prevent falls by removing tripping hazards, such as rugs or loose items.
- Use assistive devices to ensure safety during ambulation.
- Install grab bars in the shower or bath, and obtain items to help with bathing, such as a long-handled sponge and shower hose.
- Obtain a dressing stick, a sock aid, and a long-handled shoehorn to put on shoes without bending the new hip excessively.
- Use raised toilet seats to ensure comfort.
- Secure handrails along all stairways.
- Ensure that a walker or cane is easily accessible.
- Arrange for comfortable seating by obtaining a chair that is tall enough to allow the knees to remain lower than the hips.
- If the home has multiple levels, set up a bedroom on the first floor to reduce the need for climbing stairs.
- Prepare meals in advance or arrange for meal delivery services to make life easier for your loved one.
- Arrange for additional support, like a dog walker if your loved one has pets and a temporary disabled parking permit for easier access to doctor appointments.
Preparing for Surgery: Pain & Mobility
Pain is to be expected immediately following hip surgery, making pain management crucial during these first 24-48 hours. Your loved one may be prescribed pain medications, such as non-opioid pain relievers or stronger medications like opioids, depending on their needs. Absorbable sutures or staples are usually used to close the incision, which must be monitored. Also, paying attention to your loved one’s pain and its different levels is very important. Very high levels of pain that do not go away with time and therapy can be a sign of infection.
In addition to managing pain, the medical team will work on getting your loved one out of bed and moving around as soon as possible to prevent complications like blood clots. Using assistive devices such as walkers, crutches, or canes is essential for mobility and preventing falls during this period. Your loved one will also most likely begin working with a physical therapist within 24 hours of surgery to start on simple physical therapy exercises that promote blood flow and prevent stiffness.
Physical Therapy & Movement: Essential Elements of the Recovery Process
Regular physical therapy will be a core part of the recovery process. Home health physical therapy will provide your loved one with safe, slow movements to strengthen the muscles around the new joint and improve flexibility. These early physical therapy sessions are essential to regain muscle strength, reduce hip pain, and restore mobility to the new artificial hip. After surgery, the physical therapist may advise your loved one not to bend their new hip more than 90° or bend forward more than 90°, cross their leg with their new hip over the other leg, or turn the leg with the new hip inward.
During the acute-care recovery time, also known as the first 3 to 5 days after surgery, the physical therapist will work with your loved one to help them safely turn in bed and get up to a sitting position, get out of bed to stand and move to a chair, walk with the assistive device for short distances, and perform gentle range-of-motion and strengthening exercises in bed.
Therapists may also establish a home exercise program, teaching patients exercises they can perform independently to recover faster. These exercises include light stretching, standing up from a seated position, and balancing exercises to promote stability. During these sessions, be mindful of the movements and at-home exercises so that you can help your loved one keep up with them outside of sessions and encourage recovery.
As your loved one’s recovery evolves, it’s important to continue watching for complications such as blood clots or infections. The care team can provide instructions on how to help your loved one perform gentle exercises to keep blood flowing, such as ankle pumps or leg raises. Short walks will also be encouraged around their home, as well as beginning light activities like preparing meals or household tasks. Following a gradual return to activity will help ensure an easier recovery in the long run.
Most patients will experience reduced pain and improved movement, but they are expected to have limited mobility during this time. The physical therapist will work closely with the patient to ensure they’re progressing appropriately and following their treatment plan.
Regaining Independence & Strength
In the weeks following surgery, your loved one’s recovery will focus on increasing independence and mobility. By about six weeks post-op, they may be able to resume normal mobility, requiring minimal assistance.
As their recovery progresses, at-home physical therapy will guide strength-building exercises, helping your loved one rebuild muscle around the hip and regain confidence in their movement. Thanks to the progress, your loved one should be able to start walking longer distances, standing for extended periods, and incorporating more complex physical therapy exercises. While they may still need assistive devices like walkers, the goal is to reduce reliance on these tools as their strength improves gradually.
Beyond Physical Help: Emotional Support & Motivation
Recovery from any surgery, especially a hip replacement, can be emotionally and physically challenging, particularly for older adults. You and other family members should provide emotional support and encouragement to stay motivated with home exercises and therapy.
Frustration is a common feeling your loved one may experience during recovery, as they might have expected faster progress. It is important to remember that hip surgery recovery times vary from person to person. A strong support system can play a significant role in ensuring your loved one remains optimistic and engaged in their recovery.
Returning to Everyday Life
After six weeks or so, your loved one may be on their way to full recovery. Remember that this does not mean they will have regained all their strength and mobility. However, they will be in a much better place where help is optional or barely required.
Physical therapy sessions may continue beyond the six weeks if your loved one needs additional help, especially in cases of prior chronic pain or other health issues. However, as they return to their daily routines and activities, your loved one will be able to walk without significant pain and may even start driving again.
Strenuous activities like heavy lifting, high-impact exercise, or sports are generally discouraged for a few more months until the new joint is fully healed. Physical activity will remain crucial for maintaining progress during therapy sessions and keeping the muscles around the hip strong.
During the post-op period, maintaining regular check-ins with the healthcare providers will also be critical to understanding the level of success of the surgery and keeping the right approach to care. The surgical team will assess the healing process and ensure there are no complications. At the same time, physical therapists may continue to adjust the treatment plan to meet your loved one’s ongoing needs.
Need Support with Home Health Care Therapy?
Recovering from hip replacement surgery requires time, patience, and plenty of support. By combining effective home health care solutions, a solid physical therapy plan, and a safe home environment, your loved one can experience a smooth and successful recovery. Whether assisting with daily tasks, managing pain, or motivating them during their therapy sessions, providing the right support will help them regain their independence and enjoy life with their new hip.
As you help your loved one prepare for their hip surgery, let our home healthcare specialists help with their physical therapy needs. At Boost Home Healthcare, our physical therapists provide you with the undivided attention and encouragement you deserve. Learn more about our therapy services here.
Boost Home Healthcare offers more convenient – and often more affordable – care compared to hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. As an added benefit, our approach is entirely personalized.
Are you ready to learn how home health services can support your or your loved one’s at-home care needs? Start your assessment today by connecting to a Boost Home Healthcare location near you.
Helpful Resources:
- Home Health Services (Medicare.gov)
- Who Qualifies for Home Health Care Services
- Hip Replacement Surgery: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take (NIH – National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Hip Replacement (Mayo Clinic)
- Total Hip Replacement (OrthoInfo – American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)
