Recovering Safely From a Hip Replacement Operation

Hip replacement surgery, like any operation, may leave you tired, weak and not feeling like yourself. It's important to take the time to recover properly, not doing too much too quickly, and trying to remain patient while you get better.

As long as you're careful, you should make a relatively fast recovery, with little risk of complications or any further problems. Follow these tips to make your recovery a success and to maximise your chances of returning to normal as quickly as possible.

Ask for help

When you first arrive home from the hospital, you will probably find it difficult to do a lot of things you're used to managing for yourself. This will improve fairly quickly, but you should make sure you have someone on hand to help you for at least the first week.

If you don't have any friends or family available who would be able to help you, you may be eligible for outside assistance, so make sure your doctor or the hospital staff are aware of this.

Get your home ready

If there's anything you can move or change around the house before you arrive home, let someone know so that they can arrange for it to be done. This may be as simple as moving things to lower shelves to help you reach or as complicated as getting a temporary bed that's easier for you to use. Whatever it is, it's worth doing to make life easier as you recover.

No driving

It's recommended that you don't get behind the wheel for at least six weeks, but your surgeon may have a different opinion on this, depending on your personal circumstances. Whatever you're advised to do, it's not worth the risk to disobey. Arrange in advance for someone to take you places you need to go so you won't need to drive.

Wait to have sex

You shouldn't attempt sex until six to eight weeks after the operation, and you should be careful for a while after that. On the plus side, many people who found sex painful before a hip replacement find the difficulty has gone afterwards.

Don't lie on the wound

Be careful not to put any pressure at all on the site of the operation until it's fully healed. Make sure you're not lying on it while you sleep.

Be aware of your hip

Move carefully while you get used to the new hip. Take note of any movements that cause pain and avoid moving in that way. You may need to take particular care when twisting or swivelling; trust your body to warn you when you're doing something wrong.

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