Hip replacement surgery in Australia is one of the most common procedures, and as a result, one of the safest surgeries to perform. Nevertheless, discomfort following your procedure, especially at the initial stage, is still an inescapable aspect of your recovery. So, what is normal pain after hip replacement surgery? This differs for every patient, often depending on external factors such as age and pre-existing medical conditions. Following the operation, it is helpful to create a ‘pain goal’ or scale rating of the pain you experience from 1-10. This is a great way to assess discomfort during therapy activities, as well as your progression over time. You should expect your rating to go down as the weeks go on, but if this does not occur, you should seek advice from your doctor.
How to Relieve Discomfort After Hip Replacement
There are many options available post-procedure to relieve the pain following a hip replacement. Immediately after the operation, you will be prescribed oral pain relief, and you will also have local anaesthetic injected around your hip which helps with pain control. Once discharged, most patients can manage their pain from over-the-counter medications and should find that this significantly reduces by around 3 to 4 weeks. If something stronger should be required, a discussion will have to be had with your doctor to provide the most appropriate medication. Additionally, patients can find release in various, non-medicated treatments, such as ice packs, leg elevation, gentle massages, and warm showers to ease the muscles. Not to mention completion of daily exercises recommended by your physical therapist. When asking yourself, ‘Will I be pain-free after a hip replacement?’ Most patients have no pain, or a substantial reduction in pain after a hip replacement.
Factors That Will Influence Pain and Healing Following Hip Replacement
Not all patients recover over the same timeline, which also means the level of pain they are experiencing will differ, too. What is normal pain after hip replacement surgery? Well, that depends on a multitude of factors. A quicker recovery is predicted for patients without other health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure. Research also suggests that women have greater outcomes when it comes to recovery after a hip replacement performed by a hip surgeon. If you are not seeing the results you expected, it’s critical to seek advice to prevent further damage. There are many additional treatments to assist chronic hip pain, and these should be considered if you are still experiencing acute pain months after surgery.
What Is Normal Pain After Hip Replacement Surgery
So, will I be pain-free after hip replacement? The answer is that the experience of some discomfort will be unavoidable. Most patients are pain free after hip replacement surgery.