Total Hip Replacement Post Operative Instructions
- Diet: You may resume your normal diet. It is important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Include plenty of fluids and fiber, as pain medication and iron tablets tend to cause constipation.
- Medications
- Pain medications: A prescription for pain medication, and any other medication your surgeon has prescribed, will be provided when you leave the hospital. Your goal should be to decrease the use of pain medication daily.
- Iron: We may recommend that you continue taking an iron supplement after surgery until your first visit with your surgeon. You may use the same supplement you were taking prior to surgery or a multivitamin with iron. Iron is a non-prescription item, available at any pharmacy.
- Activity
- Rest Periods: Gradually increase your activity on a daily basis. The amount of time you spend out of bed and the number and distance of walks should gradually increase each day. Between activities such as walking, meals, and exercises, etc., take a rest period for approximately 1 hour in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
- Hip Dislocation Precautions: The following precautions should be followed for at least 6 weeks and up to 3 months to prevent hip joint dislocations:
- No pointing toes inward (internal rotation)
- No bending beyond 90 degrees at the hip joint (flexion)
- No crossing of the legs (adduction)
- Weight bearing: You may put as much weight on your operative leg as comfortable, unless told otherwise by your surgeon. Use a walker or other assistive device as needed until you are stable.
- Home Physical Therapy (P.T.): A physical therapist from an assigned home health care agency may contact you either the day you leave the hospital or the following day to set up your in home therapy appointment, if it is felt necessary. You will do physical therapy the following day and continue it for approximately 3 weeks, 3 times a week.
- Impact loading: Low-impact activities such as golf, stationary bicycling, swimming, and slow dancing may begin after surgery as your body allows. All activities involving quick starts and stops, or impact loading, such as singles tennis, should be avoided to lower your risk of early loosening of the prosthesis.
- Bathing: Because it is difficult to get in and out of the bathtub, we recommend using a shower for bathing. A shower stall with low entry step is recommended. You may use a high stool in the shower if there is space.
- Driving: You should not drive until your surgeon gives you permission. While you are traveling as a passenger for the first 6 weeks following surgery, it is advised that you get out of the car at least hourly and take a short walk.
- Returning to work: The decision to return to work will be based on the type of work you do, your physical stamina, and whether you have other medical conditions. We recommend that you avoid making any major changes in your work or retirement plans until your recovery is complete.
- Wound Care: Your incision may be warm, itchy, and slightly red for several weeks after surgery. Excessive redness, soreness, or drainage from the incision area should be reported to our office. Closing your incision, you may allow water to run over your incision and pat it dry. Steristrips may be applied to the incision for added protection and will fall off on their own in approximately 10 days.
- Common Problems
- Leg and ankle swelling: You may have some swelling in your operative leg that should gradually decrease. If swelling occurs, lay down, elevate your legs above your heart, and rest.
- Pain: Pain may be a result of over-activity. When you are in pain, lay or sit down, elevate your legs, and rest. If the pain does not subside, take the pain medication prescribed for you. Pain is a protective mechanism that helps to prevent over-use and should not be ignored.
- Return Appointment
- You should be scheduled to see your surgeon approximately two weeks after surgery, if you are not sure about your appointment please contact our office at (810) 733-1200.
- Call the office if you experience any of the following:
- Temperature of 101.5 degrees or higher
- Drainage from your incision
- Increasing pain around your incision that is not relieved by pain medication
- Excessive calf or thigh pain and swelling that does not go away with elevation and rest.
- Your family doctor should be called for all problems that are not related to your orthopedic condition (Diabetes, heart, blood pressure, lung conditions, etc.)
*Please call our office or visit our OrthoMichigan NOW walk-in clinic if you have any post surgical questions or concerns.*
