Hip replacement surgery can be a great solution if you notice that it starts to fail or you are experiencing constant pain caused by a problem with this joint. You can choose to replace it to go back to your old life and practice those activities that you have been forced to give up. However, before undergoing the surgery, you must prepare yourself for the actual surgical procedure. If you and your doctor have agreed that hip replacement is the best and most logical step to take, be prepared for the months, weeks, and days leading up to surgery.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare a few months ahead
Step 1. Strengthens the body to help it heal faster and better
Although hip pain can make you significantly reduce the physical activity you carry out regularly, you must make sure that the muscles of the lower body are in good condition before undergoing the surgery.
- If you are not exercising, your leg and glute muscles have probably become much weaker.
- Ask your doctor (or physical therapist) for the correct exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back, legs and buttocks.
- In this way, the body is able to support the muscles in the pelvic area that need to recover after surgery.
- Some people are able to do some specific exercises that are difficult for others. Be very cautious and listen to your body's signals.
Step 2. Do a series of exercises to strengthen the glutes
They are very easy and require no special equipment.
- Lie on your back and squeeze your glute muscles for a few seconds.
- With this movement your hips should rise a little.
- Repeat the exercise 10 - 20 times.
Step 3. Try lifting your legs to strengthen your quads and hips
This is a very easy movement to perform and can be done on any flat surface, such as the floor or a mattress.
- From the same starting position, as for the exercise for the buttocks, you can move on to lifting the legs.
- First lift your knees.
- Then, straighten your legs as much as possible, until your toes are pointing towards the ceiling.
- Hold this position for a few seconds and then slowly lower your legs.
Step 4. Do ankle rotations
You can use your hands to support your legs or you can simply lift your legs as if you were doing the previous exercise.
- Rotate an ankle five times to the right and five times to the left.
- Repeat with the other leg.
Step 5. Take iron and avoid taking blood-thinning supplements
Ask your doctor to indicate suitable supplements to take before surgery and follow his advice on which ones you should take or avoid.
- Iron is often recommended because it helps prevent excessive bleeding after or during surgery.
- Your doctor may advise you to stop taking certain supplements and medications that can interfere with surgical and recovery processes, such as: vitamin E, gingko biloba, glucosamine / chondroitin, fish oil, turmeric, Chinese angelica, or any other natural herb or supplement with blood thinning properties.
Step 6. Contact your healthcare facility or call your insurance company (if you have one) to make sure your treatment and postoperative care are regularly scheduled
Sometimes it is advisable, during the months preceding the surgery, to contact the competent hospital to confirm the intervention schedule or, in the case of a private insurance policy, to let them know that the procedure is imminent.
Find out if, following the surgery, rehabilitation therapy is also included in the program (in the case of health insurance, if any expenses are included)
Part 2 of 3: Prepare A Few Weeks Ahead
Step 1. Prepare the house in order to facilitate your limited mobility once you return from the hospital
A few weeks before the surgery he organizes the house.
- Make sure everything you need on a daily basis is within easy reach.
- This way, you won't be forced to bend your pelvic muscles or strain other painful parts of your body.
- Rearrange the wardrobe so that items such as stockings or underwear are close to hip level so as not to have any difficulty in reaching them.
- If your home is two-story, have a ground floor space to sleep for at least a couple of weeks after surgery, as you will have a hard time climbing stairs.
- Make sure you have a comfortable bed that you can lie down on and get up on easily with minimal support.
- Get a chair that has adequate support, such as sturdy armrests, to support you when you want to sit or stand up.
Step 2. Organize your home so that it is easy to move around with a walker
After surgery, you will likely have a walker to help you in your normal activities.
- Make sure that the house is organized to allow you to move without obstacles or constraints.
- Move or relocate any items that are not essential and that may prevent you from moving easily.
Step 3. Install new bathroom fixtures to make showering easier
If the bathroom still doesn't have grab handles, now is the time to install them so you won't have any problems when you need to bathe or use the toilet.
Arrange for aids to help you take a bath, such as a chair and low shelves that you can easily access for storing detergents and shampoo
Step 4. Do all the housework and errands on time
Make a large preventative expense to stock the home with everything you will need after the surgery.
- Stock up on easy-to-prepare meals, such as frozen or canned foods.
- Make sure you have all the basic necessary items, such as water, milk, snacks, juices and other food items.
- Don't forget to stock up on health products like toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and other products you use regularly.
Step 5. Ask a family member or friend for assistance after surgery
Ask him to help you with the shopping, to come for you to pay the bills, and to do other essential work that you will not be able to do.
- If that's not possible, you can try paying your bills online.
- If you have a friend or family member who is good at cooking, you can have them cook delicious but healthy meals for you when they can.
Step 6. Under your doctor's supervision, stop taking all blood-thinning medications to prevent excessive bleeding during surgery
Your doctor may instruct you to stop taking NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs a few weeks before surgery.
- This is because NSAIDs are blood thinners and can aggravate bleeding during surgery.
- Some medications that are taken for rheumatoid arthritis, such as Humira, Enbrel, Methotrexate, and Plaquenil, could compromise the immune system, so you should avoid taking them during this time if possible.
- In addition, you must avoid anticoagulants such as heparin and Plavix, because they thin the blood and can increase bleeding during the surgery.
Step 7. Inform your family, friends and colleagues of your intervention
Personal and professional life is about to be conditioned by the surgery and you will need some time to rest and recover.
- When you know how long it will take to get back to work, you need to plan your schedule to minimize the impact of your absence.
- Try asking your co-workers to help you with work until you can come back.
Step 8. Eat right to help your body heal and recover efficiently
Talk to your doctor and ask for a useful diet to make surgery and recovery as easy as possible.
- Follow a balanced diet that gives you the energy you need to recover.
- Your doctor may advise you to increase your protein intake to speed up bone and muscle recovery.
- Here are some tips to help you plan your diet:
- Increase your protein intake by eating foods like milk, eggs, fish, peanut butter, nuts, and beans.
- Eat foods rich in calcium to strengthen bones, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and canned salmon.
Part 3 of 3: Preparing for the Surgery Day
Step 1. Find someone who can accompany you to the hospital
If there is someone available, they can contribute in various ways.
- First, it can help you to fill out the necessary forms for you and remind you of the surgeon's instructions before and after surgery.
- It can also help you make your hospital stay as comfortable as possible and assist you when there is no nurse nearby, providing you with everything you need and making it easier for you to get around when you need to go home.
Step 2. Focus on staying calm and peaceful
Do not think about the potential problems now that you are about to undergo the surgery.
- Even if you are about to have surgery and your normal life may be limited for a few weeks, you will eventually find that it will be improved in quality.
- By remembering this, you can shift your focus to a better future.
