Planning for Hip Surgery Recovery
Physical Therapy in Loudoun County VA
If your loved one has suffered for a long time from hip pain due to an injury or a health condition, the doctor has probably discussed with her the option of hip replacement surgery. During hip replacement surgery, the surgeon will take out the damaged areas of the hip joint and replace them with an artificial joint that can be made out of metal, ceramic, or hard plastic. The goal is to reduce the pain your loved one feels and improve her ability to use her hip and function better in her day-to-day life.
Going Home After Hip Replacement Surgery
Most patients return home to recover within 24 hours of hip replacement surgery, but this is not something they can do on their own. Your loved one will not only need transportation home but will probably need help around the home and getting out of the home for 2-4 weeks. For this reason, many caregivers have their loved ones come home with them for that healing period so that someone can always be there to help them recover. If you can have your loved one come to stay with you, or if you can stay with them during recovery, it will ensure that she not only gets the rest she needs but also has the help she needs during the recovery period.
Having Help Come to the Home
There may be reasons why your loved one cannot stay with a family member or a family member cannot stay with them. There might not be enough room in either home or there may be too great of a distance. For that reason, arranging to have other health care professionals and in-home providers come directly to your loved one’s home may be the best option for your loved one.
In-Home Care for Hip Replacement Surgery
Your loved one will be encouraged to start moving right away, but she may not be able to do a lot of strenuous physical activity for several weeks. An in-home care provider can help her manage her household safely while she takes the needed precautions in her healing process. Her in-home care provider may help her complete chores such as laundry and vacuuming, prepare meals, and even help with walking the dog or getting the mail.
Hip Replacement Physical Therapy at Home
Your loved one’s care team will provide a detailed itinerary of what her physical therapy should entail for her to fully recover and receive full function of her hip again. For some elderly, traveling to a clinic to receive physical therapy is not an option. Your loved one shouldn’t be driving and if she doesn’t have someone to help bring her to and from the clinic, at-home physical therapy might be an option that works best for her.
An at-home physical therapist will come to the home several times a week based on what your loved one needs to relearn and how long it takes until she can do it on her own. They can help her learn how to move safely with her new hip as she’s getting out of bed, getting into the tub, and navigating the stairs. An in-home physical therapy provider has the added benefit of seeing exactly where your loved one lives and making adjustments to fit her current living situation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering physical therapy in Loudoun County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities – call us today at (703) 369-6677.
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