When you’re ready to have hip surgery, you’re embracing a major life change that’s going to help you function more easily with less chronic pain. It only makes sense, then, that you’d want to keep your body healthy and prepared in the weeks and days before the surgery in order to give your body the best chance to heal quickly and take to the surgery easily. That’s why hip surgery preparation is so important. If you have a surgery appointment with Dr. David Miller at Ortho Virginia, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can taking care of your body before your surgery date so you can look forward to getting back on your feet in record time. Even if you only prepare by asking questions and keeping a healthy diet, you’ll be doing a lot to restore and maintain your long-term health. Before you head in for hip surgery, here are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for the big day.
Read Up
The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you have to become an expert on hip surgery before undergoing the procedure. However, if you take the time to read up on what’s actually going to happen, you’ll be way better prepared for what comes next. Learning about the procedure will also help empower you to come to your doctor with questions about recovery and treatment. Search online for sites that go into detail about what you can expect after the procedure, and learn from people who have already undergone hip surgery to create a more realistic set of expectations for yourself.
Ask Questions
The more questions you ask your doctor, the better. Remember: Your doctor is here for you. If you’re concerned or curious about any aspect of the procedure, there’s no need to feel shy about asking. Before consulting with your doctor before the surgery, write down a list of questions to ask so you don’t forget. Better yet, bring a friend, family member, or helper along to make sure you’re actually taking in what the doctor is saying rather than focusing on getting all your questions out there. Don’t feel like you’re prodding too much. It’s way better to come to your surgeon with questions and concerns rather than spending late nights obsessively googling on the Internet and finding a huge range of questions and answers.
Ask for the Right Exercises
If you have the time, schedule a visit with a physical therapist before your surgery. This won’t just help you get firsthand information on how you can prepare for your procedure, it will give you time to figure out if this PT is right for you. You’ll be able to get a customized plan for your recovery, featuring exercises to do and possibly even meal plans to follow. Don’t forget that recovery is a hugely important part of your surgery. How your body reacts during the first few days or even weeks following your surgery will have a lingering effect on how your body heals in the long term. The better prepared you are with specific physical therapy exercises and a support system on the outside, the better you’ll do during recovery.
Have Help in Place
Even if you feel amazing after your surgery, there are going to be a few rough days where you don’t end up feeling so hot. In the days and weeks after your procedure, you’re going to need all the help you can get even when it comes to doing little things around the house. You might not be in a position to cook for yourself, clean, or keep up with basic household maintenance. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a friend, family member, or partner stay with you while you’re recovering to pick up the slack. Having a live-in helper is great, but if you have an even wider support network of friends and family coming to check in on you in the next few weeks, you’ll be even better off. Don’t cut yourself off socially during this time, even if you’re tempted. Remember to keep engaged and try to talk about what you’re feeling as openly as possible with your support network and your physical therapist.
Make Your Home Accessible
Even after your caretaker leaves, you might have some trouble getting back to business as usual. After your hip surgery, you’ll find that certain smaller tasks will be harder to do. Even when it comes to getting in and out of bed, cooking, and taking a bath or shower, you might find yourself straining to do things on your own. That’s why using tools like grab bars and lower-to-the-ground sleeping surfaces to make your home more accessible is a great way to rehabilitate safely and quickly.