If you’re contemplating a joint replacement, one of your biggest concerns may be when you’ll be able to live actively and fully again after your surgery. We understand. No one loves the idea of facing post-surgery pain, limited mobility, and other issues — and not knowing how long they’ll last.
There’s good news when it comes to recovery after joint replacement, fortunately.
Knee and hip replacements are the most frequently performed joint replacement surgeries in the United States, and what accomplished orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vasilios Mathews primarily focuses on, so we’ll cover what you should expect in recovery for each of them here. His experience, deep knowledge of research and advanced procedures, and caring attitude toward his patients make him the best choice if you need a joint replaced.
With approximately 790,000 total knee replacements and 544,000 hip replacements performed in the United States annually, nearly 1.3 million people are also experiencing recovery from these procedures.
If Dr. Vasilios has recommended that you undergo a hip or knee replacement to be able to move freely once again — with ease and without pain — he realizes that you’ll probably have as many questions about what happens after surgery as what happens before and during your procedure.
Hip injuries and osteoarthritis are just two conditions that may lead to replacement, where Dr. Mathews removes the head of your thigh bone (the ball part of the ball and socket joint), swapping it out for a high-tech prosthesis.
The same basic tasks are performed for knee replacement, except that it’s a hinge joint and is often needed as a solution for degradation caused by osteoarthritis and wear and tear.
If you’re due for a joint replacement, more conservative treatments, like physical therapy (typically done for at least two months post-surgery), medications, and altering your activities, have likely been unsuccessful in truly relieving your pain and movement limitations.
Often, for both hip and knee replacements, he performs minimally invasive surgery, where only small incisions are necessary. These procedures are associated with faster, less painful recovery than traditional open surgery, and result in less bleeding and scarring, and it’s less likely that you’ll develop a postsurgical infection.
Joint replacement surgery now often requires a short hospital stay or may be performed as outpatient surgery, with you going home the day of surgery. Before you’re released to go home, however, you’ll need to be able to get in and out of bed independently, feel that your pain is well-managed, and be able to walk (and go up and down a few stairs) with the help of an assistive device, such as a cane, crutches, or walker.
Dr. Mathews advises patients on a case-by-case basis on when to return to physical activity after surgery, depending on their healing progress.
It’s also important to understand what not to do as you recover. You’ll need to move safely to lower your injury risk and support your healing.
The main things to know about joint replacement recovery include:
Some swelling during the first several weeks after surgery is normal, as is mild swelling for up to 3-6 months post-surgery. Icing, elevation, and compression can all help.
Dr. Mathews will have specific instructions on when you can put your weight on your hip or knee as you move about, and that will depend on several factors, including specific methods he used during surgery.
He will also advise you when it will be safe to resume driving, when your reflexes have normalized and you’re no longer taking opioid pain medication. Aim for engaging in low-impact sports that are easier on your joints, like swimming and cycling.
In terms of timelines, you can expect to start walking without assistive devices at about 4-6 weeks after knee replacement. After six weeks to three months, you can reintroduce light exercise, and between 3 and 12 months, you can resume more strenuous activities. Full recovery takes about a year.
With a hip replacement, you can resume light activities after 3-6 weeks and most regular activities at the 10-12-week mark.
The advances that have been made with knee and hip replacement are remarkable, so rest assured that your recovery can be speedy and full after these procedures — you just have to follow the protocol Dr. Mathews outlines for you.
Learn more about joint replacement surgery by scheduling an appointment with Dr. Mathews. Simply call his Houston office at 713-794-3548 or book one online.
