17 January 2022
Written by Cahoot Care Marketing
Hip replacement recovery week by week
On the day of your hip replacement surgery
You will need to admit yourself into hospital several hours before your surgery. The surgery will take two to three hours and you will then be taken to a recovery room to closely monitor your vital signs (eg heart rate and blood pressure) and assist you if you develop any side effects from the anaesthesia, such as vomiting. You will not be fully alert for a further two hours after surgery while the general anaesthesia wears off.
Once the general anaesthesia wears off, you will be taken to your hospital room.
You will be given liquid meals for the rest of the day as well as several medications administered via a drip that is inserted into a vein in your arm. These medications will include pain relief, blood thinners and antibiotics to prevent infection. You may also be given compression stockings to wear on your legs — this helps reduce the chances of blood clots developing while you are less mobile.
Your care team will encourage you to sit up, get out of bed and try walking as soon as possible. You will be helped by a physiotherapist. The sooner you start moving, the better your recovery. During your stay in hospital, which will likely last one to three days, your care team will encourage you to move around more.
1–2 days after surgery
You should now be able to get out of bed with some help and be able to move around with the use of a walking aid eg crutches or a walker. Try to stay moving for 20 to 30 minutes at a time but stick to a slow pace. This will gradually help strengthen your muscles and improve your blood circulation to reduce the chances of blood clots developing. Your physiotherapist will also show you specific exercises to practice daily that will improve the strength and range of motion of your hip.
3–4 days after surgery
By day three, you may be able to walk to the bathroom by yourself and any pain will be manageable. If there are no complications from your surgery and your care team is confident that you can complete essential tasks independently, you will be discharged to go home on day three or four. This will be determined by an occupational therapist, who will help you practice modified ways to perform daily tasks, such as:
- Bathing and showering
- Bending down to put on your socks and shoes
- Carrying items (eg food and drink) while using a cane or walker
- Getting in and out of bed
- Getting on and off the toilet
- Getting in and out of a car
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for several days or weeks as you recover at home.
You will also be given a programme of exercises to perform daily by your physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist will advise you on how much weight the leg operated on can bear. They may also give you guidance on how to sleep, sit and/or bend comfortably and safely for the next few months or for the foreseeable future.
4–10 days after surgery
During this time there is a significant risk of infection if you don’t follow your care team’s instructions on how to take care of your wound. Stay alert for any signs of infection and inform your doctor if you notice any. Signs of infection include fever, redness or discharge from your wound.
As you won’t be able to shower or bathe until the staples holding your wound together are removed, you will need to have sponge baths to keep your body and your wound clean. Make sure your wound stays clean and dry for three weeks after surgery and following the instructions of your care team, change the dressing when needed.
10–14 days after surgery
A nurse will remove the staples from your wound and you can return to having baths or showers. You can also start walking without a walking aid.
3–6 weeks after hip replacement surgery
You may not need a walking aid anymore and can return to light activities. If you are no longer taking any pain medication, your doctor may clear you to drive again. If you find it difficult to get into your car, try easing yourself in backwards and then swinging your legs into the car.
After around six weeks, following the advice of your doctor, you may be able to have sex again. However, you should avoid strenuous sex or positions that will strain your hip. If you still need a walking aid, or have strength or balance problems, you may not have recovered enough to have sex.
After around six to 12 weeks, you may also be able to return to work depending on how physically demanding your work is.
You should continue walking often every day and avoid sitting for long periods of time. This will help reduce your hip pain and stiffness. Your physiotherapist will advise you on which exercises you can now practice daily to strengthen and stretch your muscles.
10 weeks to one year after surgery
After around 10 to 12 weeks, you should be able to return to most of your normal activities. However, a complete recovery will take six to 12 months. In most cases, any pain will have gone away after a year, although some people continue to experience some mild pain or discomfort after a year.
You will need to keep up with your daily physiotherapy exercises and regular walking. This will continue to strengthen your muscles and improve your range of motion, flexibility and balance. Your physiotherapist will advise you on which exercises to perform; these will likely focus on body mechanics, posture and weight-bearing.
