What to Expect During Rehab After Hip Replacement

You’ve braved the journey of arthritis and emerged stronger with a new hip. Hip replacement surgery is a transformative step towards a life free from chronic pain and limited mobility, but remember that rehabilitation afterward takes time. It’ll also take coordinated planning between yourself, your care team and your family and caregivers, says Dr. Savya Thakkar, an orthopedic surgeon and expert in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted total joint replacements at Hopkins. Hospital discharge Hospital stays after a hip gets replaced are not long, Thakkar says. “Most patients can start walking and can go home the day of the surgery,” Thakkar said in a Hopkins news release. “Most people don’t need bed rest. In fact, moving your new joint keeps it from becoming stiff.” Post-surgical overnight hospital stays are typically only mandated for folks with underlying medical conditions (for example heart or lung issues that might need monitoring). Or, if you do not have someone who can take you home and then help you out there, an extra night in the hospital might be warranted. Inpatient rehab at the hospital could also be advised for patients who’ve had particularly complex hip replacement surgeries, Thakkar adds. RELATED: Having a Hip, Knee Replacement?...