Home Safety | Hip
On average, most total hip replacement patients are in the hospital for approximately two to three days after their surgery.
The recovery period after surgery depends on you, your health, and the hip that has been replaced. You may see and feel immediate benefits; however, you must continue to follow your rehabilitation program for several months to get the total benefit of your new hip joint.
Home Safety Precautions
DO use nonskid rugs (no scatter or area rugs).
DO use nonskid mats on bathtub/shower floor.
DO use handrails in shower or bathtub.
DO keep stairs, walkways and hallways free of objects and clothes.
DO wear shoes or slippers with nonskid soles.
DO keep emergency numbers near your phone.
DO keep phone and lamp cords short or tucked away so you can't trip over them.
DO have someone clean up spills immediately.
Restrictions for the First Eight Weeks after Surgery
You must follow these movement restrictions during the next eight weeks:
DO NOT bring your chest toward your thigh or bring your thigh toward your chest farther than a right angle (90 degrees).
DO NOT cross the mid-line of your body with your operated leg. This includes sitting with your legs crossed.
DO NOT twist the operated leg inward.
Activities of Daily Living for the First Eight Weeks after Surgery
Your activity level should gradually increase on a daily basis over the next eight weeks, beginning at the same level as in the hospital. Be careful not to overtire or overdo. Good activities to ease into are simple meal preparation, dusting, or washing the dishes.
DO have someone help you with grocery shopping, family meal preparation, and laundry.
DO NOT vacuum, make your bed, mop your floors, or lift heavy laundry.
DO NOT do strenuous yard work such as lawn mowing, raking, or bending and stooping in the garden.
You may experience an increase in swelling when you go home and become more active. You may also experience changes in your appetite and sleep patterns that may last about eight weeks. Call your surgeon's office with any questions.
Bathing
Because bending your hip is restricted, use care when bathing for this eight-week period.
DO sponge bathe daily. After 14 days you may carefully remove and remaining steri-strips and begin to shower if the incision is clean and dry.
DO watch your balance. Have someone with you the first time you shower, if possible.
DO sit in a chair by the sink when you sponge bathe if you do not feel comfortable standing. Avoid twisting while sitting at the sink by facing head on.
DO have someone help you bather below the knees.
DO NOT sit in the bathtub.
Toileting
DO use an elevated toilet seat for the first eight weeks. You may use it after the restricted time to make transfers more comfortable.
DO NOT use a standard toilet seat; it is too low and therefore, unsafe. In public restrooms, always use the handicap toilet because of the raised toilet seat and grab bars.
Dressing
Because bending down is restricted, special precautions must be followed when dressing.
DO sit to dress.
DO use a reacher to bring your slacks up past your knees.
DO NOT put on your elastic hose, shoes or socks without assistance.
DO NOT twist your foot when putting your shoe on.
DO NOT use one foot to push a shoe off the other foot.
DO NOT wear high heels until it is approved at your eight-week evaluation.
Reaching
Picking up items in front of you or at your side can bend your hip too much. This includes objects on the floor, on a table out of reach, or even at the foot of your bed.
DO use a reacher.
DO ask someone to help.
DO NOT turn and reach behind you.
DO NOT reach for anything that is not within close distance.
DO NOT bend forward when sitting.
Sitting
When sitting, your hips should be higher than your knees.
DO sit in a firm, straight-backed chair with arm rests. You may sit in a recliner, but you may not recline in it because you would have to bend forward to return the recliner to its upright position.
DO sit on enough pillows so your hips are higher than your knees. The number of pillows needed may vary with the type of chair you are sitting in. Buttocks should be all the way to the back of the chair, and your fee should be flat on the floor. If your feet don't touch the floor or if you keep sliding off the pillows then you are too high.
DO sit with your knees six inches apart.
DO NOT cross your legs.
DO NOT sit on low chairs, sofas, stools, ottomans, toilet seats, low beds or waterbeds. Remember that your hips need to be higher than your knees when sitting. Avoid swivel and/or rocking chairs and chairs on rollers.
DO NOT bend forward or squat to pick up your objects on the floor. Use your reacher.
DO NOT sit for longer than 45-60 minutes at a time without standing and stretching.
Walking
In order to protect your new hip joint and allow for healing during this eight-week period, you must walk with crutches and/or a walker as you were instructed.
In order to protect your new hip joint and allow for healing during this eight-week period, you must walk with crutches and/or a walker as you were instructed.
DO stand tall with good posture. Walk with your head up, your feet pointing straight ahead, and with as little a limp as possible. Your knee should bend when swinging the leg through and straighten when your heel hits the floor.
DO sit up for meals and during the day.
DO walk frequently during the day. This is more important than walking long distances.
DO weight bear on the operated leg per doctor's orders.
DO NOT walk without crutches or a walker.
DO NOT stand or walk with your toes turned in.
Climbing Stairs
The therapists will show you how to go up and down stairs with your crutches or walker.
DO NOT go up long flights of stairs during this eight-week period.
DO have someone with you the first time you go up a long flight of stairs after the first eight weeks.
Sleeping/Resting
DO lie down flat on your back 5 times a day for short rest periods to prevent fatigue and to do your bed exercises.
DO use two pillows between your legs when you lie on your side, otherwise this position will cause pain or even a dislocation. One pillow should be between your thighs, and one should be between your lower legs.
DO sleep on a bed as tall as or taller than your knee. A second mattress or blocks under teach leg of the bed can raise your bed at home.
DO sleep on your back or side. You may lie on your operated hip but this may be uncomfortable. A partial side-lying position or "half roll" might be more comfortable. The nursing staff can show you this position.
DO NOT sleep on a waterbed.
DO NOT use a bed that is lower than your knee height.
Daily Exercises
The exercises the physical therapist taught you should be continued as instructed until you return for your eight-week evaluation. To get the total benefit of hip replacement and to regain the quality of life that was once yours, you need to make a serious commitment to exercise and you must stay active. Consistent exercise the key. You should continue your exercise program even on those days when it may seem difficult.
DO use an ice pack on your hip for soreness or pain for 20 minutes, several times a day.
Meals
DO eat a well-balanced diet so that your body has proper nutrition to help it heal and to restore strength. It is not unusual to have a decreased appetite following surgery. If you do not notice a change in your appetite, you might find food more appealing by eating five small meals spaced throughout the day.
Recreational Activities
We encourage you to go out to eat, visit friends, go to church and do those things that are part of your normal daily life as long as you are comfortable and not having pain. We ask that you wait until after your eight-week evaluation and your doctor's "ok" before your return to such activities as golfing, swimming, riding a bicycle, bowling, dancing, boating, or horseback riding.
DO NOT participate in any sports that require any jumping, jerking, pulling, twisting or running.
Sexual Activity
Sexuality is an important part of life. Illness, surgery, medications and stress can temporarily alter sexual function. We strongly advise against intercourse for six to eight weeks after surgery to allow your joint capsule and muscles to heal. When you resume sexual intercourse, those positions that were comfortable to you before surgery will probably be most comfortable to you now. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call your surgeon's office.
Riding in an Automobile
When getting INTO a car:
DO enter from the street level rather than from a curb.
DO have the front seat moved back as far as possible.
DO sit on at least two pillows so your hips are higher than your knees.
DO walk toward the seat then turn around so that your back is to the seat and your knee is touching the seat. Turn your body as someone helps you lift your legs into the car, with your operated leg straightened or slightly bent in front of you. Keep your knees moderately apart.
When riding in a car:
DO stop and rest. Stand up after 45 minutes to one hour of riding during the first car ride home.
DO take your pain medication before your first ride home.
DO NOT ride in a car for longer than 45 minutes without stopping and stretching for the first 8 weeks after surgery.
When getting OUT of a car:
DO turn your body as someone helps you lift your legs out of the car. Scott; do not lean forward toward the door. Stand up to get your walker or crutches.
Driving
We recommend not driving during this eight-week recovery period. Although the motions involved in driving are not harmful, twisting wile getting into the car, as well as the risk of getting in an accident with sudden stopping, could have harmful results.
Aspirin
DO take one coated or buffered aspirin (such as Ascriptin, Bufferin or Ecotrin) daily for the first eight weeks after your surgery. This will help prevent blood clots in your legs.
DO tell your surgeon if you cannot take buffered aspirin.