How to Speed Up Your Hip Replacement Recovery

If your hip pain and stiffness are keeping you from the activities that you love, it may be time for a hip replacement surgery in Dallas. Though hip replacements are one of the most common joint replacement surgeries with over 300,000 successful procedures performed each year, there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding the recovery process. How quickly will I be back on my feet? Will I be in pain?

Much like any major surgery, the recovery process following a hip replacement can involve some pain, stiffness, and grogginess. However, most hip replacement recipients are up and walking the day after surgery, though taking it slow at first is extremely important.

Hip Replacement Surgery in Dallas: How Can I Speed Up My Recovery?

No one likes to be stuck in bed after a surgery, and in fact, getting up and moving around is extremely important for joint replacement surgery recovery. Here are a few simple strategies to improve your recovery time after a hip replacement.

Follow the recommendations of your physical therapist. During the days immediately following your surgery, a physical therapist will be working with you to rebuild muscle strength and improve blood flow as you recover.
Once you return home from the hospital, your physical therapy will most likely continue at home for a period of time, and it’s extremely important to complete the exercises your physical therapist assigns for you between sessions. Neglecting crucial strength-building exercises can greatly hinder the success and timeliness of your recovery process.

Hydrate and fuel your body properly. Though drinking enough water and maintaining a healthy diet is always important, these things play an especially crucial role during the surgery recovery process. The general recommendation for water intake is half your body weight in ounces, and incorporating more vitamin and mineral-rich foods like fruits, leafy greens, legumes, and lean meats can increase your rate of recovery.

Remove any tripping or injury hazards from your home. Once you’re home from the hospital, it’s important that your space is optimized for recovery. Since your normal gait will be closer to a shuffle for a while as your hip recovers, make sure there are no wires or furniture items you could potentially trip on while moving throughout your home. Installing a comfort height toilet and a shower chair can also prevent potential injury in the slipperiest room of any house, the bathroom.

To find your perfect orthopedic surgeon in Dallas, contact Dallas Orthopedic Associates today.

4 Signs That You Need Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery is an extremely common procedure performed on over 600,000 patients around the world every year. This surgery has an incredibly high rate of success at over 90% of recipients experiencing dramatic improvements in knee function and reductions in knee pain.

Though this surgery is common, many people aren’t sure whether or not it’s the right surgery for them and their knee issues.Knee replacement surgery in Dallas is best suited for those with chronic knee pain or knee osteoarthritis, which can develop over time and often only show symptoms once it’s done significant damage.

Knee Replacement Surgery in Dallas: How to Know When It’s Time

Not sure whether your knee issues are serious enough to warrant knee replacement surgery?
Here are the top 4 signs to look out for:

1. Serious or chronic pain. Though it may seem obvious that extreme knee pain over time may mean it’s time for a knee replacement, many people learn to live with their pain or do their best to ignore it. Serious, long-lasting pain should never be ignored, and there are a few specific
   types of pain that point directly to knee replacement:
   • Delayed pain. Also known as “payback pain,” this sets in after rigorous or even basic activities, depending on the severity of your knee injuries.
   • Pain during activity. This is the pain you experience while performing everyday activities and it limits your mobility and range of motion.
   • Pain that prevents quality sleep. If your knee pain is keeping you up at night or even waking you up from sleep, it may be time.
2. Reduced mobility. Often, limited range of motion in the knees is accompanied by pain. However, whether or not the loss of mobility is painful, injured or deteriorated joints can struggle to perform basic tasks like helping you to stand from sitting or vice versa.
3. Visual signs of injury. Visual changes can be just as significant as physical sensations when it comes to diagnosing a knee for replacement. Swelling or other obvious changes in appearance are important signs of injury or deterioration to look out for.
4. Limitations to lifestyle and enjoyment. If constant pain, reduced range of motion, or visual changes in your knees are affecting your way of life, that alone can be a great reason to seek knee replacement surgery.

To find your perfect orthopedic surgeon in Dallas, contact Dallas Orthopedic Associates today.

Why You Shouldn’t Delay Your Orthopedic Surgery During COVID-19

Facilities with certain specializations, such as orthopedics, are still open for business and serving their communities as normal (with protective practices put in place, of course). Did you make the choice to postpone your orthopedic surgeryin Dallas because of the coronavirus pandemic? Here are some of the primary reasons why putting off your procedure may not be a wise choice.

Your condition could worsen. Many people consider orthopedic surgery for chronic joint pain or decreased mobility and decide to forego surgery because they don’t think their issue is serious enough. Your pain and reduced range of motion may be manageable now, but neglecting treatment will often lead to a worsened condition over time. This could also mean a longer recovery period and more physical therapy needed once you do finally get surgery.

Quality of life matters. Human beings are extremely adaptive, even to pain and reduced mobility. Many people simply learn to live with their discomfort and acquiesce to the fact that they won’t be able to participate in certain physical activities anymore. If you’ve put off a knee replacement, hip replacement, or similar procedure simply because you’ve gotten used to the pain or are using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to avoid surgery, now is the time to make a change. Being able to live a life free of joint pain and limitation is worth the surgery and recovery time it takes.

You might end up spending more than necessary. As stated above, waiting too long to receive surgery on an injured jointor ligament can end up taking more of your time for recovery and physical therapy sessions. However, more physical therapy will also mean more money spent on your injury than you would have spent had you dealt with it early on. Plus, you may require a more complex surgery that costs more, and you may be unable to work for a longer period due to extended recovery.

Staying safe during the coronavirus pandemic is extremely important. However, so is your joint health and overall quality of life. Call Dallas Orthopedic Associates today to find your perfect orthopedic surgeon in Dallas.

Precautions to Take After Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery in Dallas can completely change the lives of those who receive it. Living with constant knee pain and poor mobility can be extremely difficult, and a knee replacement can be the difference that allows you to live your life to the fullest again. As life changing as knee replacement surgery can be, however, it is still an invasive procedure that requires special care during the recovery process.

Knee Replacement Surgery in Dallas: Keeping Your Recovery Process Smooth

Do you or a loved one have a knee replacement surgery coming up? Here are a few tips concerning the care of your knee during the weeks following your surgery:

Don’t tough out the pain—treat it. Some surgery recipients prefer to avoid painkillers as much as possible due to the risk of addiction or side effects. However, living with the pain can make post-surgery physical therapy extremely difficult, leading to decreased results and even persisting chronic pain after the recovery process.

Avoid sitting in one position for excessive amounts of time. Your physical therapist will clarify proper sitting, laying, and walking practices as your knee heals. However, knee replacement recipients across the board can experience painful stiffness after sitting in the same position for too long. Additionally, make sure that your knees and feet are pointed straight ahead when sitting.

Use a cane or walker. After knee replacement surgery, one of the most damaging accidents that can occur is a fall, and readjusting to walking properly after a knee replacement can take some time. Therefore, utilizing walking aids like walkers and canes can help to ensure that the knee heals properly by reducing the risk of falls.

Tread carefully on the stairs. Avoiding stair climbing may seem like an obvious piece of advice after a knee replacement, but not every home allows for complete avoidance. Therefore, you can ease the pressure on your recovering knee by stepping first with the leg that didn’t receive surgery when going up the stairs and stepping first with the leg that did receive surgery when going down. Also, make sure to take it slow for the sake of your recovering muscles, especially in the first few weeks.

Avoid heavy lifting. In order for your knee to make a full recovery, it’s important to avoid lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds for the first few weeks after surgery. This could include garbage bags, groceries, and even pets.

Looking for the best orthopedic surgeon in Dallas? Contact Dallas Orthopedic Associates today.