• What can you expect from hip replacement surgery? 

  • Treatments for hip pain focus on ways to manage discomfort and improve function. Most successful treatments involve a combination of methods tailored to individual needs, lifestyle, and health. The potential benefits from hip replacement are:

  • Pain relief

  • Improved mobility

  • More freedom to pursue everyday activities such as walking and climbing stairs

  • Each patient recovers differently. After surgery, you will work with a physical therapist to gradually increase your hip strength and mobility. Many people are able to go home soon after surgery. Others choose to recover at a rehabilitation center. This decision depends on the availability of family or friends to help you with daily activities; your home environment and safety considerations; and your overall evaluation after surgery. Your surgeon and you will decide together which course of treatment is best for you.

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• What to expect after hip replacement surgery

  • Hip replacement surgery in general is a successful operation. The success of your hip replacement is measured by whether or not you are satisfied with the decrease in your overall pain and the increase in your mobility, as well as the durability of your implant over time.

  • The hospital stay for hip replacement varies and full recovery typically takes 3 to 6 months. 

  • Typically, patients are able to drive again in about four to six weeks, so long as they can tolerate it and are not taking narcotic medications. Depending on the demands of your job, returning to work can happen in 2-8 weeks.

  • Hip replacements are designed for the normal activities of daily living. Avoiding trauma and high impact activities are helpful in caring for your new hip replacement.

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• How to Prepare for Hip Replacement Surgery    

  • In the weeks leading up to surgery, your orthopaedic surgeon may:

  • Restrict and/or supplement your diet

  • Ask you to stop taking certain medications

  • Refer you to a physical therapist and recommend if pre-surgical exercises are right for you

  • You and your caregiver should take this time to familiarize yourselves with the surgery and what to expect during your hospital stay. You should also find out what to bring to the hospital to make your time there more comfortable.

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• Preparing Your Home

  • There are several things to consider when preparing your home for your return from the hospital.

• Home Entrance

  • Choose the entrance with the shortest route- with the fewest steps – to the main living area. If you have steps into your house, consider installing a firm handrail on either or both sides.

  • Ensure that lighting is adequate

  • Clear a path from the passenger side of your vehicle to the entrance you’ve chosen

• Bathroom Needs

  • If you have a toilet seat with a low height, use a raised commode seat for comfort or to keep your hip from bending too far when sitting if instructed to avoid this bending by your surgical team.

  • Handrails or grab bars can make getting on and off the commode easier.​

  • Having a bedside commode may be a helpful choice

  • Grab bars can help with accessing your bathtub or shower

  • A tub or shower bench can offer additional safety and comfort 

• Shelves and Cupboards

  • You may have bending limitations placed on you after surgery. If you do, arrange your shelves and cupboards with frequently used items at waist to shoulder height. For lighter items that are on lower shelves, be sure to have help or special tools handy to keep you from bending over at the hips.

• Furniture Height

  • A good rule of thumb is to have a seat height that is at least 20 inches above the floor. If you have bending limitations placed on you, then you need to be careful sitting in your furniture at home. If you sit down and your knees are above your hips, the seat is too low. If that’s the case, consider using a platform under the seat or couch to raise it to the desired height. Using 4x4 blocks may be helpful, but ensure that the chair or couch is stable when placed on them. 

• Preparing Floors, Doors, and Hallways

  • Remove throw rugs

  • Consider re-routing any electrical cords that might be a hazard

  • Remove doors that are either too narrow for your walker to fit through or that are heavy and hard to swing open, especially if they separate a frequently used walkway

• Lighting

  • Finally, be sure you have good lighting. Overhead and night lighting will be helpful, especially if you need to be up and about at night or at other times of low light. ​​

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• From Hospital to Home

  • When your surgery is complete, it’s time to focus on your recovery and the rehabilitation you’ll need to get back to your normal activities. Everyone is different—be sure to listen to your body and ask your doctor whenever you’re in doubt.

  • Your hip rehabilitation begins right after surgery as ordered by your surgeon.

  • Your physical therapist will instruct you to:

  • Begin isometric exercises (tightening muscles without moving the joint) a number of times per day while you are still in bed

  • Move your ankle and other joints

  • Learn the safest methods for getting in and out of bed or a chair, and on and off the toilet

  • Understand the do’s and don’ts of joint replacement recovery

  • Walking and exercise will quickly follow

  • The physical therapist will check your progress daily and will keep your surgeon informed

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• Hospital Stay

  • Following an Anterior Approach hip replacement surgery, the typical hospital stay is a few days.1 During that time, your hip rehabilitation will begin as ordered by your surgeon. A physical therapist may instruct you to:

  • Begin isometric exercises (tighten muscles without moving the joint) a number of times per day while you are still in bed

  • Move your ankle and other joints

  • Understand the do’s and don’ts of joint replacement recovery

  • Depending on your individual recovery, your physical therapist will help teach you how to dress, how to start walking with the help of a walker or crutches and how to get out of bed without help. You will continue to work to strengthen yourself in preparation for your return home.

  • The hospital stay for hip replacement varies and full recovery typically takes 3 to 6 months. To protect your hip, you will often be asked not to sit past a 90-degree angle after surgery. If this is the case, you will be provided the necessary tools to assist during this process.

  • It is important that you follow your doctor’s directions and proper positioning techniques throughout your rehabilitation. By the time you leave the hospital, you should be progressing well in regaining your mobility and stability. If your sutures or clips have to be removed, you will be advised about who will remove them and where this will be done. It is not uncommon to still experience some pain.

  • Just before being discharged, you will receive instructions for your at-home recovery. You will likely need assistance with your daily activities for several days to a few weeks following your hip replacement surgery. The doctor will help you decide the best place to continue recovering after you leave the hospital. This may be at home or in a rehabilitation center. A rehab center is similar to a hospital—patients stay there day and night, and are cared for by doctors, nurses, and therapists until they become well enough to go home.

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• Follow Your Surgeon's Advice

  • After undergoing hip replacement surgery, it is important you have realistic expectations about the types of activities you may do. Driving, sexual activity, walking, and other everyday activities will all be impacted in some way.

  • Rehabilitation after your surgery plays an extremely important role in making your hip replacement a success. The goals of rehabilitation are to:

  • Improve your muscle strength

  • Increase the movement in your hip joint

  • Protect your new hip joint

  • Help you resume most of your normal activities

  • Rehabilitation and recovery takes time and commitment. Each person is different and the length of recovery is dependent on your particular situation, overall health and your rehabilitation. Many people achieve recovery in 3-6 months. When your surgeon feels you are ready, you should be able to resume some, if not most, of your normal daily activities.

  • After hip replacement surgery you must inform any doctors, including dentists, treating you that you have undergone hip replacement surgery. Antibiotics may be prescribed before a procedure to help avoid infection. Keep in mind: Most people who undergo hip replacement surgery enjoy life with less joint pain. However, it's important to avoid high-impact activities that may damage your new joint.