Living with your new hip

These important tips are to help you to a fast recovery after your total hip replacement.

Important tips:

  • Use pain or discomfort as your guide in moving your surgical hip. Avoid positions that give you pain or discomfort.
  • DO NOT use your hand, your strong leg, or anything else to force movement in your operated hip. When you exercise, let your leg move by itself.
  • Lie down and elevate your legs if they swell after walking.
  • DO NOT cross your legs or ankles.
  • DO NOT BEND forward or lift your knee higher than your hip.
  • Use firm chairs with arms. Avoid sofas and recliners.
  • Use the abductor pillow or 2 or more pillows between your legs at night for 6 weeks.

Call your doctor right away if any of the following things happen:

  • Redness, swelling, or drainage from around your incision.
  • An unexplained fever (temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Centigrade) or chills that last more than a day.
  • Severe hip pain that is not relieved by your pain medicine.
  • Any unusual shortening or rotation of your leg.
  • Any sudden swelling in your thigh or calf.

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