A hip replacement procedure can help to relieve your pain and get you back to doing a number of physical activities, but it isn’t a completely perfect solution to your hip issues. Some movements and actions will be restricted so that you don’t dislocate your hip or put excess stress on the artificial joint while it’s recovering. The new hip will be much preferred to your degenerative hip, but you still need to be mindful about protecting the area. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the common restrictions that are put in place after a hip replacement procedure.
Common Hip Replacement Restrictions
It’s important to remember that every surgery is different, and your restrictions may be slightly different than someone else’s restrictions. Also, keep in mind that this is just general advice, and your best move is to follow the specific instructions of your surgeon and your rehabilitation team. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the restrictions that are commonly put in place for patients who have undergone a hip replacement operation.
- Avoid bending forward past 90 degrees.
- Don’t cross your legs when seated, standing or lying down.
- Get dressed in a seated position.
- Avoid squatting and other movements that put your hips below your knees.
- Avoid laying on your surgically replaced hip.
- When going down stairs, lead with the foot on your non-surgically replaced side.
- When going up stairs, lead with the foot on your surgically replaced side.
- Avoid sitting for more than 40 minutes at a time.
Odds are you’ll have some more restrictions put in place by your treating physician, and it’s important that you take these restrictions seriously. Medical data suggests that between 3-5 percent of hip replacement patients suffer at least one hip dislocation episode, which makes a dislocation the single most common complication after a hip replacement procedure. Dislocating your hip is not only painful, but it can lead to the need to undergo another operation, so be very mindful of your restrictions and follow them closely during your recovery and beyond.
If you have questions about any maneuvers or what activities to pursue or avoid following your hip replacement procedure, please be sure to ask questions of your surgical care team. They will be more than happy to provide you with advice so that you don’t accidentally suffer a setback.
Hip replacement can help you remain independent and active, so long as you follow a few simple restrictions with your new hip. For more information, or to talk to a specialist about any discomfort you’re dealing with in your hip or knee region, reach out to Dr. Botero and his team today at (865) 558-4444.
