Total Hip: At Home After Total Hip Replacement Surgery
Diet
Resume the same diet that you had prior to the surgery unless specifically instructed
otherwise.
Medications
Take the medications as instructed upon discharge by the nurses. Your discharge
instruction sheet will give you a list of the medications that we recommend. Please try to
be sparing in the use of your pain medication. It is important that you discontinue the
use of these as soon as possible as you will feel much better and have less problems
with constipation. We think it is important for you to take multi-vitamins including vitamin
C and iron daily for about six weeks. This will help you to heal your wound and improve
your blood count. Otherwise you should take your medications as previously taken
before your hospital stay.
Activity
You will need to use a walker or crutches or a cane for the first six weeks. Your physical
therapist will instruct you as to the best use of each one of these devices. Typically
patients will progress from a walker to a cane. You will be given information regarding
exercises and precautions prior to leaving the hospital. It is important that you review
this information on a regular basis. A lot of times when patients are given this
information, they are on heavy doses of pain medication and it may not be clear, or they
may not remember it. You can walk unlimited distances as a general rule. We do not
recommend that you drive for at least six weeks, and we do not recommend airplane
travel for about three months. The reason for this is you may be at increased risk for
blood clots.
Wound Care
Your home health agency will take care of inspecting your wound, dressing it as
appropriate and removing your staples. Your staples can usually be removed on
postoperative day 12 to 14 and Steri-Strips will be applied to the wound. If, when you
come home, there is no drainage on your hip and this is usually the case, you may
shower and you do not need a dressing on your hip. Your staples will not rust.
Bathing
In general you can take a shower when you go home. Do not bathe for at least six
weeks after the surgery. Be aware that you may need additional support to lower
yourself into a bathtub. A shower stand will be provided to you upon discharged and this
is the best thing to use.
Bleeding
Some oozing of blood may occur for a few days after your discharge from the hospital.
Significant bleeding is rare. Also persistent drainage is rare and you should call us if you
have any concerns about bleeding or drainage from the wound.
Follow-up Appointment
You should see us approximately two weeks after the surgery. You should call our office
to confirm that we have made an appointment for you to do so.
