The annual number of hip and knee replacement procedures has grown dramatically in recent years and continues to rise as more and more people opt for surgery to relieve joint pain, restore mobility and improve their quality of life.
Recovery from joint replacement surgery is not always a walk in the park, even as these orthopaedic surgeries have become more efficient and provide the opportunity to return to active and healthy lifestyles.
Endeavor Health orthopaedic surgeons Alex Gordon, MD, and Ryan Sullivan, MD, offer six strategies and suggestions to enhance recovery following joint replacement.
Get healthy before surgery. “The number one way to achieve good recovery and optimize outcomes is to be in the best health possible going into surgery, which means quitting smoking or any nicotine products and following a healthy, nutritious diet,” said Dr. Gordon. Maintaining good nutrition, a balanced diet and limiting sugars for at least five months after surgery will help the body’s healing, he added.
While exercise can be challenging for many mature patients who are candidates for joint replacement, it is important to keep moving as you are able before surgery, said Dr. Gordon. Low impact exercises like cycling and swimming can improve cardiovascular and overall health as well as help maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage pain and inflammation. Controlling pain and inflammation, which are normal following major surgery like joint replacement, is, very important in the first few weeks post-operative, said Dr. Sullivan. “We advise patients to ice and elevate, which helps with pain and swelling and to follow their physician’s pain medication protocols,” he added.
- Try physical therapy. Physical therapy, which typically begins a few weeks after surgery, but varies from individual to individual, is the big key to regaining strength and mobility, said both joint replacement specialists.
- Don’t overdo it. “Joint replacement is a controlled fracture and the body needs time to heal,” added Dr. Sullivan who said it is not uncommon for patients who are feeling so good several weeks after surgery that they overdo it in activity and may suffer a temporary setback. “Doing more is not always better,” added Dr. Gordon.
- Avoid certain activities. High-impact exercises like running are definitely a no-no in the first six months after surgery, and most physicians recommend against regular high-impact exercise for joint replacement patients even after full recovery. Activities that include a lot of twisting and torquing, like surfing, are also not recommended in the initial months after surgery.
Be patient. Some people may have trouble sleeping or have less good sleep than they did before surgery for a few months. “We reassure patients that it’s normal, and it will get better in time so don’t stress over it,” said Dr. Sullivan.
“The acute recovery phase can be two to three months, but it can take up to a full year to realize a full recovery and optimized strength and gait,” said Dr. Sullivan, who points out that setting realistic expectations before surgery also leads to optimal recovery.
Joint replacement procedures are among the most common and studied operations, allowing experts like Dr. Gordon and Dr. Sullivan to follow data-driven, evidence-based best practices from pre-op to intraoperative and post-operative procedures ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.
