Total Hip Replacement

At-Home Recovery

Post-operative care at home is especially important in measuring the success of your surgery. 

Wound Care - You will have stitches or staples running along your wound or a suture beneath your skin. The stitches or staples will be removed in days or weeks after surgery.

Avoid getting the wound wet until it has thoroughly sealed and dried.  A bandage may be placed over the wound to prevent irritation from clothing or support stockings.

Diet - Some loss of appetite is common for several weeks after surgery.  A balanced diet, often with an iron supplement, is important to promote proper tissue healing and restore muscle strength.  Be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

Activity - Exercise is a critical component of home care, particularly during the first few weeks after surgery.  You should be able to resume most normal light activities of daily living within three to six weeks following surgery.  Some discomfort with activity and at night is common for several weeks.

Your activity program should include:

• A graduated walking program, initially in your home and later outside
• Resuming other normal household activities
• Resuming sitting, standing, walking up and down stairs
• Specific exercises several times a day to restore movement
• Specific exercises several times a day to strengthen your hip joint as directed by your surgeon.

 

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteonecrosis Of The Hip
• Total Joint Replacement
• Total Knee Replacement
• Total Hip Replacement
• Physician Survey
• Meet Our Physicians
• Useful Links
• Glossary of Terms