A hip replacement operation is a big undertaking for your body, and even if everything goes as planned with your surgery, odds are you’re going to have a certain degree of pain for the next few days and weeks. Pain control isn’t always easy after surgery, but there are some ways to help decrease pain and make your recovery more manageable. We share some tips for how to best manage pain after a hip replacement in today’s blog.
How To Control Pain After A Hip Replacement
Here are some things you can do to help decrease pain as you recover after a hip replacement operation.
- Choose Dr. Botero – Who you choose to perform your hip replacement operation goes a long way in determining your pain levels and rehab success after your operation. Dr. Botero uses a minimally invasive hip replacement technique that requires a smaller opening than traditional surgery, and this approach allows him to navigate past certain soft tissues that need to be cut during the old technique, leaving less healing that needs to take place. Both of these things can greatly reduce your pain levels post-op.
- Medication Management – We also work closely with our patients to ensure they have the right pain medications and know how to take them properly and safely. Some patients require stronger medications, while others can get by with a smaller dose. We don’t want to rely on painkillers to completely eliminate your pain because that can cause other issues with your body, but we want to use them to help make activities like physical therapy more bearable. We’ll gauge your pain levels and find a medication regimen that suits your need, and this can always be adjusted as time goes on.
- Elevation and Ice – Elevating your leg can help to reduce swelling in the area, which in turn can help with pain relief. Some people also use cold packs to help decrease swelling and drown out the pain sensations. Elevating your legs and icing a few times throughout the day can help reduce your pain as you recover.
- Partake In Physical Therapy – There’s a good chance that physical therapy will be uncomfortable and even a little painful at the outset, but building and strengthening these muscle groups can really help to speed up your recovery and decrease your pain in the long run. In the short term physical therapy may lead to more pain, but when it all goes as planned, you’ll have fewer painful days in the long term. You may not want to participate, but trust us when we say that it will be worth it.
- Ask Questions – Finally, while asking questions of your care team won’t directly reduce your pain, it can help give you the tools you need to reduce your pain once you’re back at home. Even if questions come up after discharge, don’t be afraid to give us a call and ask. Education and understanding which movements help and hinder your recovery can help keep your pain under wraps. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about your new hip or your pain levels.
For more tips, or to talk to a specialist about your hip, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
