Total Hip Replacement

Each individual has his/her own set of expectations. Our advice is designed to answer the most frequently asked questions of concern and each individual is different. Each patient is treated as an individual with general health, age and attitude considered.

An important thing to remember, you are not sick.
You simply have a problem with your hip that needs to be fixed.
So getting back on your feet after surgery is the most important goal.
'Motion is Lotion.'

• In the first week you may experience,
  1. Swelling: from your thigh down into your foot is common.
  2. Bruising: marked bruising can be found in some patients. This can be found from your thigh down into your foot.
  3. Muscle soreness, your muscles can feel stiff and sore to touch.
• For the first 2 weeks after surgery, your activity level is usually limited, however, you will be able to walk independently, use the bathroom and perform normal activities of daily living.
• After 6 weeks you will be able to engage in moderate activities, i.e. driving a car and climbing stairs.
• Within 8 weeks you will have resumed most of your normal activities. Complete surgical healing takes 6 - 8 weeks. During this time some swelling and discomfort is normal, and should be manageable with the prescribed medication.
• The most important thing is to have a positive attitude.

Resurfacing the bones in your hip can relieve your pain and stiffness and return you to most of your activities you enjoy.

Physiotherapy

• Gentle exercises helps strengthen the muscles around your new hip and regain your hip's range of motion.
• As soon as possible, your physiotherapist helps you start walking, a few steps at a time, to promote healing.
• As you progress from a walker to crutches, and then a cane, you may feel somewhat off balance at first. Gait training helps you regain confidence and your normal walking motion before going home.

Results

• Results of a hip replacement are classified as excellent, if activities of daily living can be performed without pain or restrictions. (This does not include running sports).
• Results are classified as good if occasional mild pain occurs, and only slight restrictions of movement are present.

For the past 5 years, studies have usually recorded 95% good to excellent results.

Limited Hip Bending

With your new hip, your safe maximum hip bend is 90 degrees. Four rules of thumb to remember to keep your hip in position are:

• when sitting; keep your knees below your hips. Sitting on a small pillow helps.
• Avoid crossing your legs while lying down or sitting.
• Avoid bending over the waist.
• Sit with your knees 10 - 20cms apart.

Some Helpful Hints

• Follow our advice on using crutches or a cane to keep weight off your hip as it heals.
• To limit hip bending, you may want to buy a raised toilet seat, a bath bench, long handled grippers to reach things on the floor, or other self-help devices.
• Playing golf with a cart, swimming, upper body exercises, and other moderate activities are fine. More active sports such as tennis and skiing are not recommended.
• Since your balance may be off, use handrails and wear low shoes for safety.
• Before minor surgery or dental work, remind your doctor that you have prosthesis. Antibiotics are usually needed to prevent infection.

Your prosthetic hip can wear out or loosen and may require replacement if necessary. On the other hand, people live longer now, and you may outlive your new hip. Regular review is recommended.

Caring for your Hip

Your hip prosthesis is the result of use of research. Like any other device, your new hip's life span depends on how you care for it. In your follow-up visits, after surgery, we will follow your progress and answer any question you may have about caring for your new hip.

A Positive Approach

We are fortunate to live in an age when joints that have been worn out or used up can be replaced. It was not many years ago that all age groups had to accept a drastically restricted lifestyle with the failure of just one major joint.

Although it is difficult sometimes for us to accept replacement surgery, because of the thought of losing our body part, a more positive approach is to realize that we are only losing a part that has been completely used up.

The improved lifestyle after joint replacement is well worth the risk and stress of surgery. The uphill battle that is necessary to come out ahead after surgery, is definitely preferable to the downhill struggle to maintain function that is the normal course of untreated arthritis.

We wish you the best and make the commitment to do our utmost to provide you with whatever you need to be the best you can be.