Hip Replacement Surgery (Posterior): What to Expect at Home

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1 Hip Replacement Surgery (Posterior): What to Expect at Home Your Recovery Hip replacement surgery replaces the worn parts of your hip joint. When you leave the hospital, you will probably be walking with crutches or a walker. You may be able to climb a few stairs and get in and out of bed and chairs. But you will need someone to help you at home for the next few weeks or until you have more energy and can move around better. If there is no one to help you at home, you may go to a rehabilitation center or long-term care center. You will go home with a bandage and stitches or staples. You can remove the bandage when your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will remove your stitches or staples 10 days to 3 weeks after your surgery. You may still have some mild pain, and the area may be swollen for 3 to 4 months after surgery. Your doctor will give you medicine for the pain. You will continue the rehabilitation program (rehab) you started in the hospital. The better you do with your rehab exercises, the sooner you will get your strength and movement back. Most people are able to return to work 4 weeks to 4 months after surgery. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible. How can you care for yourself at home? Activity Your doctor may not want your affected leg to cross the center of your body toward the other leg. If so, your therapist may suggest these ideas: Do not cross your legs. Be very careful as you get in or out of bed or a car, so your leg does not cross that imaginary line in the middle of your body. Rest when you feel tired. You may take a nap, but do not stay in bed all day. Work with your physical therapist to learn the best way to exercise. You may be able to take frequent, short walks using crutches or a walker. You will probably have to use crutches or a walker for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor may advise you to stay away from activities that put stress on the joint. This includes sports such as tennis, football, and jogging. Try not to sit for too long at one time. You will feel less stiff if you take a short walk about every hour. When you sit, use chairs with arms, and do not sit in low chairs.

2 Do not bend over more than 90 degrees (like the angle in a letter "L"). Sleep on your back with your legs slightly apart or on your side with a pillow between your knees for about 6 weeks or as your doctor tells you. Do not sleep on your stomach or affected leg. You may need to take sponge baths until your stitches or staples have been removed. You will probably be able to shower 24 hours after they are removed. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Most people are able to return to work 4 weeks to 4 months after surgery. Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex. Diet By the time you leave the hospital, you will probably be eating your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt. Your doctor may recommend that you take iron and vitamin supplements. Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to). Eat healthy foods, and watch your portion sizes. Try to stay at your ideal weight. Too much weight puts more stress on your new hip joint. You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative. Medicines Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines. If you take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin, be sure to talk to your doctor. He or she will tell you if and when to start taking those medicines again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. Your doctor may give you a blood-thinning medicine to prevent blood clots. If you take a blood thinner, be sure you get instructions about how to take your medicine safely. Blood thinners can cause serious bleeding problems. This medicine could be in pill form or as a shot (injection). If a shot is necessary, your doctor will tell you how to do this. Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.

3 If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach: Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to). Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine. If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics. Incision care You will have a bandage over the cut (incision) and staples or stitches. Follow your doctor's instructions on when to take the bandage off. Giving the incision air will help it heal. Your doctor will remove the staples or stitches 10 days to 3 weeks after the surgery and replace them with strips of tape. Leave the strips on for a week or until they fall off. Exercise Your rehab program will include a number of exercises to do. Always do them as your therapist tells you. Ice and elevation For pain, put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. Your ankle may swell for about 3 months. Prop up your ankle when you ice it or anytime you sit or lie down. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling. Other instructions Continue to wear your support stockings as your doctor says. These help to prevent blood clots. The length of time that you will have to wear them depends on your activity level and the amount of swelling you have. Most people wear these stockings for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Preventing falls is also very important. To prevent falls:

4 Arrange furniture so that you will not trip on it. Get rid of throw rugs, and move electrical cords out of the way. Walk only in areas with plenty of light. Put grab bars in showers and bathtubs. Avoid icy or snowy sidewalks. Wear shoes with sturdy, flat soles. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. When should you call for help? Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if: You passed out (lost consciousness). You have severe trouble breathing. You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood. Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if: You have signs that your hip may be dislocated, including: Severe pain and not being able to stand. A crooked leg that looks like your hip is out of position. Not being able to bend or straighten your leg. Your leg or foot is cool or pale or changes color. You cannot feel or move your leg. You have signs of a blood clot, such as: Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin. Redness and swelling in your leg or groin. Your incision comes open and begins to bleed, or the bleeding increases. You feel like your heart is racing or beating irregularly. You have signs of infection, such as: Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness. Red streaks leading from the incision. Pus draining from the incision. A fever. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if: You do not have a bowel movement after taking a laxative.

5 You do not get better as expected. Where can you learn more? Go to Enter Q746 in the search box to learn more about "Hip Replacement Surgery (Posterior): What to Expect at Home" Healthwise, Incorporated. Care instructions adapted under license by Michael Rotchford, Marketing, Healthwise. This care instruction is for use with your licensed healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.