During the procedure
You will be asked to undress and put on a gown. You may be asked to sign a consent form. You will then be given an anesthetic that will either numb your body below the waist or make you fully unconscious.
The orthopedic surgeon will make an incision on the outside of your hip and remove the damaged bone and tissue. Once they are removed, the new prosthesis joint is inserted, and the surgeon will test it to make sure it moves well and is stable. The incision is then closed.
The procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours and generally requires you to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days.
After the procedure
You will need to lie in bed for several days after surgery. It is normal to feel these side effects after this procedure:
- pain or discomfort
- limited movement
- swelling in the legs
If you were given general anesthesia before the surgery, you will be assigned to a hospital recovery room immediately after the surgery. As the anesthesia wears off, you may feel sore, groggy, or nauseous. Nurses will be available to assist you.
After the anesthesia wears off, you will be required to stay in the hospital overnight, at which point you will be moved to a regular ward for the rest of your stay. Before you are discharged, the doctor or nurse will explain the steps you need to take to complete your recovery at home. You will be seen by a physical or occupational therapist who will show you exercises to help healing and ways to move to keep you safe.
Your surgeon will follow-up with you after the surgery to ensure that you are recovering well from the surgery. In general, many people are able to slowly resume some their activities after 6 to 8 weeks, but it can take up to 6 months to fully heal. Ask your doctor about the steps you can take (i.e., physical therapy) to speed up the recovery process.