Special Surgery Rehabilitation Following Joint Replacement

If you have had major joint replacement surgery such as a total hip replacement, then your physician may recommend that you transfer to a hospital for special surgery rehabilitation. There, you will undergo intensive rehabilitation and restorative therapies to help speed the healing process so that you can get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. Here are some therapeutic treatments you might participate in during your stay at the hospital for special surgery rehabilitation. 

Occupational Therapy and Physical Rehab

Your joint replacement surgery may leave you weak and unable to optimally perform your job once you return to work. Occupational therapy can help promote circulation and improve grip strength and fine motor skills in your upper body. Even if your joint replacement surgery was performed on your lower body such as your hips or knees, you still might experience weakness, decreased range of motion, and diminished strength in your upper body as a result of your surgery.

Physical therapy and physical rehab will also help promote mobility, strength, flexibility, and range of motion in your lower body. If you have undergone surgery to replace a hip or a knee then your physical therapist may recommend exercises such as walking up and down stairs, gait training, and riding a stationary bicycle. While both occupational and physical therapy help promote healing and pain relief, you may not notice any difference in the way you feel until later on in your treatment. As time goes by, however, you will become stronger, more mobile, and more pain-free.

Speech Therapy

If you had a lengthy joint replacement surgery or if you experienced complications during your procedure, you may have been intubated for a long period of time. Intubation refers to when a tube is placed down your throat to promote breathing while you are under general anesthesia.

After the tube is removed, also known as extubation, some patients have difficulty swallowing and speaking. While these symptoms are typically temporary and short-lived, some people may experience long-term effects of extubation. Because of this, your physician may recommend that you work with a speech therapist at the hospital for special surgery rehabilitation.

The speech therapist or speech pathologist can administer a swallowing evaluation test to determine if you might benefit from vocal or swallowing exercises or a mechanically altered diet while your throat recovers. Examples of mechanically altered diets include chopped food meals and pureed food meals. 

If you are facing joint replacement surgery, talk to your healthcare provider to determine if a hospital for special surgery rehabilitation is the right choice for you. After discussing your options with your physician you will be better prepared to make an informed decision.  

For more information, contact a local hospital for special surgery rehab.