Life With Your New Knee or Hip

Your surgery is done, and you’ve got a new knee or hip…and HCM is still by your side

Once you’ve gone through knee or hip replacement surgery at HCM, your recovery begins in the hours after your surgery. In fact, with our program chances are very high that you’ll be up and walking within a day of your surgery and that you’ll have a shorter hospital stay.

You’ve got options for where your post-surgery recovery will take place, and HCM will help you decide which one is best for you. Following your surgery, a hospital case manager will visit with you to discuss your discharge plans. You may opt to go home and receive physical therapy there or at a physical therapy office. You might also opt to go to a skilled nursing facility or an acute rehabilitation unit at a hospital. The path you choose will depend on what is best for you, your family, and your coach.

It’s likely that you’ll do most of your recovery at home, with the support of HCM Home Care specialists and HCM outpatient physical therapists who understand the importance of increasing mobility and pain management. With their help, you’ll learn how to use assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers and how to avoid falls and move safely among the areas of your home and beyond. As well, you’ll receive ongoing physical therapy, typically every day for your first week home and three times per week after that first week. The goal is to get you back to active living as quickly as possible.

Regardless of where you choose to recover, you’ll need to manage your pain, exercise regularly, and take care of your incision site to prevent infection. Applying an ice pack after exercising or after extended time on your feet is recommended, and it’s important that you remain active. Low-impact activity, such as swimming, water aerobics, cycling, walking, and yoga, is best at this time. Your surgeon or your physical therapist will recommend activities and classes for you.

It’s been a long road, but HCM has partnered with you every step of the way. In just a few months, you’ll be back to living your best life and participating in your favorite activities.

For more information on our Restore Joint Replacement program, contact one of our Orthopedic Specialists today.