Quality of life following an operation
After the operation, the patient will be unfit for work for roughly eight to twelve weeks, depending on individual recovery and how much strain the body is subject to in the workplace. As a rule, patients who work in an office environment can partially resume work after two months, and often even sooner. This time period needs to be adjusted accordingly in the case of physically demanding work. After approx. three to four months, most patients are able to enjoy life without any restrictions and return their complete capacity. Resuming athletic activities is dependent on age, the original level of activity and the general state of the patient, and, of course, how long ago the surgery was performed. Sports that involve direct contact with the opponent (such as football or handball) should not be taken up again following a hip-joint operation. Even “stop-and-go” sports, such as tennis or badminton, are somewhat unsuitable, but not impossible. It must be borne in mind that in some cases, such sports can result in a more rapid wearing of the prosthesis or an increased risk of injury. Cycling, swimming, weight training, hiking, cross-country skiing or standard skiing are generally possible again. Most patients rate the increase in their quality of life resulting from a hip-prosthesis implantation as “very great” after the 3-month recovery period has expired. Many patients who put off an operation while suffering pain, would in retrospect have had an operation earlier. Statistics show that after approx. 10 years, 95% of patients are still satisfied with their new hip joint. Nowadays, a good hip prosthesis can be expected to function without problems for ten to twenty years. This period varies from one individual to the next and is dependent on a number of factors. After this, an exchange operation needs to be considered, which can be limited to individual components. Even these kinds of operation are routine for a clinic that is specialised in orthopaedics.
- Hip-joint patient
- When is the right time for an operation?
- Complications
- Hospital admission, preparation for the operation and surgery procedure
- The first days after the operation
- Hospital discharge and after-care
- Housekeeping and everyday life after the operation
- Movement and sport after the operation