Preparing for surgery is likely one of the first thoughts a patient has when waiting for their hip replacement surgery, but before the operation date, you should also prepare for recovery at home. It’s essential to healing and recovery to take steps to prepare your home to aid in your recovery and ensure your health isn’t threatened by everyday activities that could impede your hip healing.
Learn how to prepare your home for recovery after hip surgery by following these simple steps and points to keep in mind for preparing your home.
Hip Precautions and Recovery Timeline
It’s important to remember that every patient’s recovery varies following hip surgery, though for planning and preparing your house you can estimate around four to six weeks till your mobility is restored and fewer precautions can be taken. Depending on the discussion with your doctor and surgeon, plan for about a month or two before you can return to driving and about six months for total recovery.
Your healthcare provider may also restrict some of your movements depending on the type of hip surgery you had and how they performed it. For example, if the surgeon entered the hip from the front, you wouldn’t be able to rotate or extend your leg, but if it was from behind then the hips shouldn’t bend more than a 90-degree angle or cross your legs.
Help at Home
The first thing to consider when planning to recover from surgery at home is having help. As mentioned in the previous section, you won’t be able to drive for some time, and having to exclusively rely on a driving service can be expensive. Reach out to family and friends to help when a spouse isn’t at home or to stay with you to help. You’ll need assistance with basic care, such as dressing, and help with meals, as well as other things you may not think of needing help with till the situation arises.
Accessibility
It is easy for any patient to forget that stepping over things like cords or toys, pet bowls, and moving around items in the home can become hazards to recovery after surgery. It’s important to clear all walkways and make sure there is room to move with a walker or other device to assist in moving after a hip surgery. This applies to small rugs and cables, and to check railings are secure.
Grab Bars & Help in the Bathroom
The bathroom will likely need a few items that you should include in your recovery preparation plans, such as an elevated toilet seat that attaches to the top of your regular seat or a toilet chair, and grab bars if possible to install. Also, having a slip-resistant rubber mat in the tub and a shower chair with rubber feet. You’ll want to consider the placement of items in the shower as well, making sure your soaps, shampoos, and other bathing items are within hand’s reach to avoid bending over, which a sponge on a handle can also help with to avoid bending or twisting.
Avoid Hip Pain in Healing
Other notes to consider for in-home recovery following replacement hip surgery are arranging for pet care and moving items in your kitchen lower to avoid stretching and having meals prepped to avoid having to cook frequently. The more time you can rest and not strain your hip, the better.
We at Proliance Surgeons Everett Bone & Joint are dedicated to treating hip injuries and conditions, ensuring our patients have the knowledge to participate in the medical process. By delivering the highest quality of care and expertise, we better the community and keep our neighbors in good health for as long as they can and help them with a shorter recovery time. If you have questions regarding preparation for recovering at home or hip surgery itself, don’t hesitate to contact us using the button below.