Your mother’s condition depends on her underlying medical conditions, the reason for the surgery, as well as the type of surgery. Older patients who are bed bound are especially at risk for losing muscle mass. The phenomenon known as “disuse atrophy” results in a loss of 10-20% of a muscle’s strength with each week of inactivity. Therefore, patients who have not been rehabilitating their legs during a hospital stay will need extensive strength training to be able to walk again.
In addition, if your mother’s surgery or medical condition was either due to or resulted in nerve damage, then the muscle loss, weakness, or paralysis may be permanent.