Receiving artificial joints is a life-changing procedure. You feel different, move differently, and learn new ways of living. Joint replacement takes place in a person’s life for any number of reasons…perhaps due to injury, or illness, or even long-term disability. The procedure itself may offer welcome relief to long-standing pain, or the reality of needing joint replacement might fill you with sadness, frustration, and even anger. I felt shock, fear, and confusion after learning that I needed a hip replacement at age 45. I had plenty of questions, wondered what to expect, and thought, “Why me?”
Feeling my best and learning to live with my artificial hips began while recovering from surgery. I required replacement on both the left and right side, the surgeries were over a year apart, and shortly after the second surgery I required a revision surgery due to fracture. Time spent with my physical therapist was crucial to help me understand my limitations and also how to challenge myself into doing things I was unsure of. As I wrote the content for my website and resource guide for hip replacement recipients I thought about three aspects of self-care that have helped me, they are:
Soothe - This included ways I managed stress, processed grief, and managed pain.
Nourish - Healing and thriving is improved with nutrition. Plus, my surgeon urged me to maintain a lean weight since excess weight places pressure on our joints. To put this in context…5 lbs of extra weight places up to 25 lbs of weight on a joint!
Rest - Sleep hadn’t come easy before joint replacement and getting used to my new bionic parts was an adjustment. Thankfully I have found a number of tools and resources that support slumber.
Learning how to manage pain was invaluable, and one that I had mastered prior to joint replacement…acupuncture treatments continue to be my go-to method for reducing and managing pain. I modified my home to reduce fall hazards, got rid of all those pretty high-heeled shoes, and learned that since each of my surgeries left me with posterior placement that I would never again bend past 90 degrees. So, I said goodbye to touching my toes, knowing that movement was worth avoiding to protect the integrity of my new joints. I had heard the cries of a fellow patient who dislocated his hip shortly after surgery because he was being too ambitious in his movements. Dislocation is something I NEVER want to experience.
It wasn’t that long ago that joint replacement recipients would require revisions and need ‘new parts’ since the equipment wasn’t always designed for long term use. That has thankfully changed. My surgeon assured me that with good care I could expect 25 to 30 years of use. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and practicing my 3 Key Concepts to Living Well are what I believe will enable me to avoid future surgeries. Visit Anderson Therapeutics where you’ll find a variety of FREE wellness resources, tips, and tools to help you and your family feel your best.
Be Well. ~Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES
Author, Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide to Hip Replacement Surgery
