Steps to Take After a Hip Fracture

If you experience a hip fracture, it’s important that you take the right course of action.

So, let’s take a look at the steps you should take.

Seek Medical Attention 

The first thing you need to do after suffering a hip fracture is to seek medical attention straight away. Get to a hospital so that a medical professional can examine you thoroughly.

Get Treatment

Almost everybody who fractures their hips will need to have surgery to treat the problem.

The exact treatment will depend on the location of the fractured bone and any other health problems you may have.

The fractured bone could be repaired or it may be necessary to replace all or part of the hip. The surgery you’ll require will depend on the specific break of your bone. Sometimes, a combination of hip repair and replacement could be necessary.

While there are nonsurgical options available, they are rarely recommended. Nonsurgical treatment should typically only be used for very specific types of fractures, such as when the break is only on the side of the pelvis.

If the Hip Fracture Occurred Due to Negligence, Contact a Lawyer

If your hip fracture occurs due to someone’s negligence, you should contact an experienced lawyer who can assist you in gaining compensation to cover things like medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

For example, sadly, many nursing home residents have falls that can result in injuries like fractured hips. If those falls are due to a member of staff’s negligence, the residents have the opportunity to file a lawsuit on the nursing home.

In fact, if you should experience a hip fracture due to an accident on another’s property, such as having a slip and fall accident on store premises, you could also pursue compensation from the negligent party for your personal injury.

Follow the Advice You’re Given Post-surgery

Once you have had surgery for your hip fracture, you need to ensure you follow the medical advice you’re given in order to recover in the right manner and as soon as possible.

Typically, you will engage in a recovery or rehabilitation program so that you can regain your mobility and independence quickly. 

Physical Therapy

Part of the recovery program after surgery will typically include seeing physical and occupational therapists. They can assist you in regaining movement as soon as possible.

It’s important you regain mobility quickly not only to help you recover but also to avoid the risk of complications, such as pneumonia and blood clots.

Pain Management

You’ll usually take some type of medication for pain management after hip fracture surgery, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen.

Rehabilitation

Once you have been discharged from the hospital, make sure you follow the doctor’s advice regarding your rehabilitation period.

You could go home straight after your stay at the hospital or you may need to enter a rehabilitation center to receive care in the short term, which would involve working with physical and occupational therapists.

You may require in-home care and rehabilitation too.

Nutrition

Don’t overlook the importance of eating the right food after your operation.

It’s vital that your body gets the right nutrition after hip fracture surgery so that you can recover quickly.

Follow your doctor’s advice about nutrition. You may need to consult a dietician.

How long does recovery take?

By ensuring you stick to the medical advice post-surgery, you can heal more quickly.

Most hip fractures take between ten and twelve weeks for recovery, but regaining mobility and muscle strength can take a lot longer. Typically, full recovery takes up to six months. Sometimes, it can take up to a year to recover.