How to prepare for a hip replacement surgery?

As the body wears down due to natural wear and tear, the joints are the most affected one. Amongst all the different joints, the hip joint is the most common joint that wears out the fastest, making movements such as walking and sitting, a painful process. Hip replacement surgery uses a procedure wherein the damaged hip joint is surgically replaced with an artificial joint, which is made from plastic or metal components.

The right preparation for your hip replacement surgery will make a huge difference in your recovery in terms of speed and smoothness. To prepare for this surgery, you can:

1. Learn about the procedure: Before you go about your surgery, you must find about everything about your hip replacement surgery such as the type of joints to choose from and what you can expect from the recovery. You can either research online or even approach a specialist for a second opinion.
2. Prepare a set of question for your surgeon: You will have plenty of questions to ask your surgeon. However, it will be hard to remember them all when you are sitting in the office. Preparing a set of questions will not only help ease your queries while providing you with the relevant information you need.
3. Get physically into shape pre-surgery: Preparing yourself physically before a hip replacement surgery will help speed up recovery. Depending on your physical requirements, you can either lose weight or build up your stamina. You can also prepare your upper body, to be supported by crutches or a walker.
4. Prepare for post-surgery preparation: Recovery time may take anywhere between to a month or more. During this time, your home life and your job will get affected. Preparing for this eventuality will not only make your life easy but also help you focus on a faster recovery.
5. Opt for physiotherapy sessions post-surgery: Your movement will be restricted post-surgery, which can impact the lower part of your body. A physical therapist will assist you with a certain set of exercises which will not only ease muscle and body stiffness but provide you with the mobility to aid your recovery process.
6. Get comfortable with your crutches or walker: Take time and effort to get comfortable with your crutch or walker, before your surgery. Post-surgery, you will not have the flexibility or mobility to change them. Additionally, the wrong crutch or walker can hamper your healing or even increase the risks of further injury.
7. Rearrange your home before your surgery: Furniture that comes in your way or even climbing stairs to your room will hamper your recovery from the hip replacement surgery. It also poses a risk of further risks and injuries. Therefore, make the necessary changes and preparation before you go for the surgery, so that, on returning home, you can focus on your recovery.
8. Request assistance from your family and friends: Recovery from a hip replacement surgery will take weeks or months. During this time, you will need all the assistance you can get from your family and friends. The best way to do so is to plan out your assistance right before you go about your surgery. Ensure that there is someone staying with you, or easily accessible.

Individuals who are undergoing a hip replacement surgery will have plenty of concerns. It is imperative that time must be taken to learn all about the surgery and its effects from the right medical source.