Question
Hello.  My husband will be having a hip replacement surgery in December.  He seems to think that he will recovered enough at the 2 1/2 week mark to make the 45 min. drive (each way) to his job.  Do you think that is a realistic expectation?  

Answer
Dear Donna

In my opinion, I highly doubt that any surgeon will give someone the OK to return to work after only two and a half weeks.  Normally the recovery time to return to a "DESK JOB" if that is what your husband has, is 5-6 weeks.  

Please tell your husband the absolute worst thing he can do is push his recovery.  If he does not listen to the doctor and let himself heal he will place himself at risk for dislocation.  Once a person dislocates, they are at risk for further dislocations so he will have to be very careful of what he does and how fast he moves.  Normally a hip patient has physical therapy at home for several weeks and then goes from walker to crutches to a cane then finally to nothing.  That can take up to 3 months.

As far as driving, you don't mention which hip will be operated on, and I can tell you that if they are doing the right hip, he will not be allowed to drive for several months.  In order to drive, he has to make sure the muscle tone has returned to his hip or he will not be able to move his foot from gas to brake fast enough.  

He has to be very careful of how he gets into his car and how he moves from position to position while in the car.  The physical therapist will teach him to do everything.  If you have a low car, like a Camry, he will have to be extra careful since he will need to bend in order to get in the car.

Understand also, that he will not be able to cross his legs, he will not be able to bend over a 90 degree angle, and he cannot rotate his knees inwards.  He will have to think about every move he makes while healing.  The main thing is not to rush.  I truly understand his wanting to return to work quickly but if he rushes it he can put himself at risk for problems.  My best advice to him would be listen to the doctor, and the physical therapist.  It will take him time to get his strength back, it will take him time to build muscle tissue and once he does that, the doctor will give him permission to return to work.  Recover is frustrating and sometimes he will feel as if he is taking two steps forward and one step backward, but he will heal and he will be fine.

Best of luck to him.

Sharon Davis.