Managing Pain and Discomfort After Hip Replacement: Tips and Techniques

Getting a hip replacement surgery is the hard part, so congratulations for going through with it. Now it is time for you to recover. You have a new prosthetic body part and it takes a while to get used to it. You don’t need to search for the “best orthopedic doctor near me” if you have some pain and discomfort after the surgery. It is an expected part of the recovery process. 

However, several hip replacement recovery tips can help you with pain management after hip replacement. So, let’s review the best exercises after hip surgery that help in reducing hip surgery discomfort. We’ll also be discussing the best pain relief techniques post-hip replacement to help you best recover from your surgery.

Best Tips For Pain Management After Hip Replacement Surgery

• Pain Medication

Pain medication is the most common way to manage pain after hip replacement surgery. These medicines are prescribed by your surgeons as a part of the recovery process. It is important to note that the medication is to be used regularly right from after the surgery. If you wait for the pain to show up before you start having your medicines, you will have to endure the pain unnecessarily. Similarly, for any side effects you may be experiencing from the medication, you should inform your doctors immediately and know if it is safe to continue using the medication for you or not.

• Using Compression Stockings

Compression stockings and other wearable medical devices are often recommended to patients after surgery by doctors. These wearable devices are used to reduce any inflammation that you might have on your legs and to also help them stop getting any blood clots. The compression stockings need to be prescribed and checked by your doctors before you use them because they need to fit you properly. These stockings can help reduce inflammation and manage pain, which makes them a great nonmedicinal way to manage pain after the surgery.

• Ice Therapy

Ice therapy is a common way to manage pain and it can be an effective method to manage post-surgical pain too. This technique is very useful right after the surgery, especially up to the first 48 hours. You should apply an ice pack on your surgery site for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours to help with the swelling after the surgery. This will also help you numb the area, which will keep away the pain right after your surgery.

• Elevating Your Legs While Lying Down

After the surgery, swelling in your legs is common during recovery. Elevating your legs while lying down can help with that. You can try it anyway by putting pillows under your legs or by using wedge pillows. It will not only help you reduce inflammation, but it will also improve blood circulation to your legs when you are lying down. After the surgery, you need to rest quite a bit, so this method can significantly help you manage inflammation and pain during the recovery process.

• Change Positions Regularly

Whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down, you need to be regularly changing positions. This will help you manage stiffness and stay nimble. The key is to not be sitting or standing for too long in a single position. It can cause stiffness in your joints and cause more pain in your recovery process. At first, it can be difficult to move regularly when you are just getting settled in and comfortable, but this is an important step to aid a healthy recovery. So, remember to keep it in mind.

• Exercises After Hip Surgery

Physical therapy and exercises after hip surgery are very important to improve the range of motion in your hips. These exercises will be recommended by your physiotherapist during the recovery process and they are designed to help you improve strength, flexibility, and mobility while minimizing pain. The key is to be regular with your exercise routine and stop when it starts to hurt. It takes a while to get back the full range of motion and in the meantime, it is important to understand your limitations and follow them. This helps in a stable recovery.

• Nutrition & Hydration

Having a balanced diet when you are recovering and hydrating yourself well is of the utmost importance during your recovery period. A balanced and nutritious meal will help your tissues repair themselves quicker and get through with the recovery process faster. This means less pain, less inflammation and more time for you to focus on your recovery. Similarly, hydration helps with the same thing and while it is general knowledge, people often forget the importance of eating and drinking well. So, remember to take care of yourself when you are recovering.

• Follow post-op Instructions

All the steps mentioned above are recommended by actual doctors and surgeons after your surgery. The best thing you can do to manage the pain after surgery is to follow your doctor’s orders. If you have any new symptoms or the pain doesn’t seem to go away, talk to your doctors and go through with them what you are doing daily. It will often show certain habits or activities that may be causing you more pain. Apart from that, just following the general doctor's orders is a great way to ensure a healthy recovery that’s pain-free and safe.

Conclusion

These are some of the best tips and techniques for pain management after hip replacement. Make sure you follow these tips and any other ones that your doctor recommends after the surgery. If you get a minimally invasive hip replacement surgery in Delhi, it takes around two to four weeks to recover fully. The tips mentioned here will help you go through the recovery period and more smoothly after your hip replacement. To learn more about hip replacement surgery, check out MASSH. We specialize in minimally invasive hip replacements that offer a quick and painless recovery process. Check out our website to learn more hip replacement at MASSH or visit us today to avail our world class medical services.