Recovery with Momentum
How We Get You Home
Getting through surgery is only half the story. What happens in the hours and days right after matters just as much, and it's a part of your care we've deliberately built around getting you moving again, not just getting you out the door. Here’s how that works:
Less Pain, Less Reliance on Narcotics
A big part of recovering quickly starts before you even wake up. Our physician anesthesiologists use nerve block and regional anesthesia techniques designed to numb the surgical area for hours after your procedure, which meaningfully reduces how much narcotic pain medication you need in that first critical window. Less narcotic medication generally means less grogginess, less nausea, and a patient who's genuinely able to participate in their own recovery sooner, not just one who's told to.
Standing and Walking, Often the Same Day
For many joint replacement and orthopedic procedures, physical therapy starts within hours of surgery, not days. A physical therapist works with you in recovery to help you safely sit up, stand, and often take your first steps before you ever leave our facility. Early movement isn't just a nice milestone. It supports circulation, helps prevent blood clots, and tends to build real confidence at a moment when patients often feel most uncertain.
Not every procedure allows for walking the same day; your surgical team will tell you what's realistic for your specific surgery. But whenever it's safely possible, getting you upright and moving sooner is the goal.
Joint Coaching & In-House Physical Therapy
Physical therapy after surgery is available in the same building, through the team at Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists(opens in a new tab), so your surgeon and your therapist are coordinating your recovery directly rather than working from two separate charts at two separate companies. For joint replacement patients specifically, that relationship often includes joint coaching, guided support through the exercises, milestones, and precautions specific to your new joint, from your first days home through your return to normal activity.
What Recovery Typically Looks Like
Day of Surgery. Depending on your procedure, you may begin gentle movement or physical therapy the same day, and many patients go home within hours of finishing in recovery.
The First Week. This is when early mobility matters most: short, frequent walks, basic exercises specific to your procedure, and close attention to pain control as you taper away from narcotic medication.
The Following Weeks. Formal physical therapy typically ramps up during this stretch, building strength and range of motion at a pace your surgeon and therapist set together based on how you're healing.
Every procedure has its own specific timeline and precautions; for the details relevant to yours, visit that procedure's own page, or see our What to Expect guide for the broader picture of your visit here.
Questions About Your Recovery?