Recovery after orthopedic surgery, week by week
Post Op Physio Recovery Avascular necrosis means part of the ball of your hip has lost its blood supply and can slowly collapse. Caught early, surgery such as core decompression can often save your own hip; after collapse, hip replacement is usually the answer and does well.
A high tibial osteotomy realigns a bowed leg to take weight off worn cartilage on the inner side of the knee. It suits younger, active people with one-sided arthritis, means crutches for several weeks, and full activity at around 3 to 6 months.
Shoulder pain is often worse at night because lying down presses on the sore spot and lets the arm sag. The usual causes, how to set up your pillows to sleep, and when night pain needs checking.
Hip resurfacing caps the ball of your hip instead of replacing it, and suits a narrow group best: younger, active men with a large hip and strong bone. For most other people a total hip replacement is the more predictable choice, and resurfacing needs lifelong follow-up for metal wear.
After a broken heel bone, most people keep weight off the heel for 6 weeks to 3 months. Simple breaks allow everyday activities in 3 to 4 months, but full recovery from a bad break can take 1 to 2 years.
After knee cartilage repair, most people spend about 6 to 8 weeks on crutches with little or no weight on the leg. Return to pivoting sport takes roughly 4 to 18 months, depending on whether you had microfracture, a graft or a cell-based repair.
Turf toe is a sprain of the big toe joint: a mild one settles in about a week, a partial tear in a few weeks, and a complete tear can take up to six months. Most heal without surgery if the toe is protected from bending back with taping, a stiff sole or a boot.
When hamstring tendons tear off the sitting bone, surgery is usually advised if two or three tendons have pulled well away, and repairs within about 4 weeks tend to do better. Smaller tears often heal with rehab; either way, expect several months before full sport.
Stem cell injections haven’t been shown to regrow cartilage or beat standard treatment, and the FDA hasn’t approved any for arthritis, tendon or back pain. Many contain few or no living stem cells, and they often cost thousands.
Prolotherapy injects an irritant, usually sugar water, into sore tendons, ligaments or joints, but the evidence is weak and mixed. It’s generally safe, rarely covered by insurance, and no substitute for exercise.