What Happens During Total Hip Replacement?
Before your procedure begins, you will be asked to put on a gown. Then, depending on your personal preferences and general health, either a general anesthetic or spinal block will be administered. Occasionally, a nerve block is used. Once you are numb, Dr. Miers Johnson will strategically place an incision through the tissues above your hip bone to remove damaged bone and cartilage. He will implant a prosthetic socket into your pelvic bone and a prosthetic ball on the top of your femur to connect your hip and thigh. Finally, the incision will be closed.
What is the Recovery Like for Total Hip Replacement?
You will be observed for a few hours if you receive general anesthesia. Most patients stay overnight. Younger, healthy patients have the option of same-day surgery. After that, you are free to return home and rest. You may need to take a week or two off from work, and you should avoid strenuous activity for roughly six weeks.
Approximately 1.5 to three months after your procedure, you should come in for a follow-up appointment to evaluate your recovery. It can take anywhere from six months to a year of PT to restore your lost strength. That said, you may not be able to enjoy high-impact activities, like playing football or lacrosse.