How to Recover From Hip Surgery for a Broken Hip

Breaking a hip can be a serious event for an older person. The loss of mobility and independence can be a frightening experience. About 350,000 people fracture a hip each year in the United States, and the vast majority older than 60. Fixing a broken hip can entail placing pins or screws in the bone to hold pieces together, or replacing all or part of the hip socket with prosthetic parts. Physical therapy is an important part of getting the patient back on her feet quickly and completely after surgery.

Things You'll Need

• Crutches
• Walker
• Physical therapy equipment

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Instructions

Recovering From Surgery for a Broken Hip

• 1

  Prepare for surgery. Chances are, the broken hip is an emergency situation, and there will be little time to consider post-surgery arrangements. You will need to have a caretaker with you for some time after surgery to help with care and household chores. You may need to be driven to physical therapy sessions and follow-up doctor appointments. If you do not have someone available to do this, the hospital may be able to refer a home care agency to help you, or you might consider entering a rehab nursing facility for the duration of your recovery.

• 2

  Rely on the skills of an experienced surgeon. Get references from your family doctor or others who have used this surgeon. Ask how many of these surgeries he or she has done. Discuss any possible complications that might occur, like anesthesia reactions, infection or blood clots.

• 3

  Follow your surgeon's instructions carefully after surgery.There are sound medical reasons why certain instructions are given. You may be encouraged to get out of bed or move from bed to chair as soon as the day after surgery. Walking with crutches or walker will be implemented very quickly after surgery. Your physical therapist may have you do a number of stretching and range-of-motion exercises to make sure you can get back to your normal activities.

• 4

  Keep the dressing on the site of surgery until you return to see your surgeon. Avoid getting the dressing wet. Stitches will be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. Support your hip with a pillow when seated or in bed.

• 5

  Attend physical therapy sessions after you return home. Your physical therapist may come to your home to help with exercises and to make sure you can resume your normal activities. You may also go to a pool or gym environment for strengthening and range-of-motion exercises. The more diligently you attend to your physical therapy exercises, the faster you will be back on your feet and back to your favorite activities.

• 6

  Take the minimum amount of pain medication you need and take it for the least amount of time you need it. Pain medication is a great aid to healing, but once you are on your way back to health, too much medication can keep you from resuming your normal life.