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Getting Back to Normal
Surgery Message Board |
Additional Resources |
Fact Sheets from the AAOS |
Going Back to Work
- If your job isn’t physically demanding, you may return to it six weeks after surgery.
- If your job requires prolonged walking, standing or lifting, it may be three months before you are able to return.
- Some kinds of labor, such as construction work, may not be advisable following a joint replacement.
- Discuss your occupation in detail with your surgeon. You may want to also get advice from an occupational therapist.
Driving
- Most people are able to resume driving about six weeks after surgery.
- You must regain adequate muscle control for braking and accelerating before you try to drive.
- Contact your insurance company to see if they have any additional restrictions on driving after surgery.
Exercise
- Your doctor will want you to resume more vigorous activities such as walking or swimming to keep you healthy and your joint mobile.
- You may need to avoid certain high-impact activities for the rest of your life, such as jogging. These activities could put extra wear on your joint, causing it to become loose and painful. Ask your doctor what sports you should avoid.
Other Expectations
Most people who undergo joint replacement surgery are dramatically better after six weeks and continue to improve for several months. Most also experience a dramatic reduction in pain at the affected joint and significant improvement in ability to perform common activities.
Joint replacement surgery, however, will not enable you to do more than you could before you developed arthritis. Your doctor will be able to tell you what progress you can expect based on your special circumstances.
Here are a few other items to keep in mind:
- Components of your artificial joint may activate the metal detectors used for security in airports and other locations. Tell the security staff about your artificial joint if you trigger the alarm.
- Let your dentist and other health professionals know about your artificial joint. Dental work and other surgical procedures can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream, making the site of the joint replacement vulnerable to infection. You should always be given antibiotics before dental or invasive procedures to prevent a chance of infection.
