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How can you care for yourself at home?
Activity
- Your doctor may not want your affected leg to cross the center of your body toward the other leg. If so, your therapist may suggest these ideas:
- Do not cross your legs.
- Be very careful as you get in or out of bed or a car so your leg does not cross the imaginary line in the middle of your body.
- Go slowly when you climb stairs. Make sure the lights are on. Have someone watch you, if you can. When you climb stairs:
- Step up first with your unaffected leg. Then bring the affected leg up to the same step. Bring your crutches or cane up.
- To go down stairs, reverse the order. First, put your crutches or cane on the lower step. Then bring the affected leg down to that step. Finally, step down with the unaffected leg.
- You can ride in a car, but stop at least once every hour to get out and walk around.
- You may want to sleep on your back. Don't reach down too far to pull up blankets when you lie in bed.
- If your doctor recommends exercises, do them as directed. You can cut back on your exercises if your muscles start to ache, but don't stop doing them.
- Rest when you feel tired. You may take a nap, but don't stay in bed all day.
- Work with your physical therapist to learn the best way to exercise. You will probably have to use a walker, crutches, or a cane for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
- Your doctor may advise you to stay away from activities that put stress on the joint. This includes sports such as tennis, football, and jogging.
- Try not to sit for too long at one time. You will feel less stiff if you take a short walk about every hour. When you sit, use chairs with arms, and don't sit in low chairs.
- Do not bend over more than 90 degrees (like the angle in a letter "L").
- Sleep on your back with your legs slightly apart or on your side with a pillow between your knees for about 6 weeks or as your doctor tells you. Do not sleep on your stomach or affected leg.
- Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
- Most people are able to return to work 4 weeks to 4 months after surgery.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex.
Diet
- By the time you leave the hospital, you will probably be eating your normal diet. Your doctor may recommend that you take iron and vitamin supplements.
- Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
- Eat healthy foods, and watch your portion sizes. Try to stay at your ideal weight. Too much weight puts more stress on your new hip joint.
- You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.
Medicines
- Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also get instructions about taking any new medicines.
- If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
- Your doctor may give you a blood-thinning medicine to prevent blood clots. If you take a blood thinner, be sure you get instructions about how to take your medicine safely. Blood thinners can cause serious bleeding problems. This medicine could be in pill form or as a shot (injection). If a shot is necessary, your doctor will tell you how to do this.
- Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
- If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
- Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
- Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
- If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
Incision care
- If your doctor told you how to care for your cut (incision), follow your doctor's instructions. You will have a dressing over the cut. A dressing helps the incision heal and protects it. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of this.
- If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
- If you have strips of tape on the cut the doctor made, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.
- If you have stitches or staples, your doctor will tell you when to come back to have them removed.
- If you have skin glue on the cut, leave it on until it falls off. Skin glue is also called skin adhesive or liquid stitches.
- Change the bandage every day.
- Wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.
- You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it oozes fluid or rubs against clothing.
- You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Pat the incision dry. Don't swim or take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
Exercise
- Your physical therapist will teach you exercises to do at home. Always do them as your therapist tells you.
- Avoid activities where you might fall.
Ice and elevation
- For pain, put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. If your doctor recommended cold therapy using a portable machine, follow the instructions that came with the machine.
- Your ankle may swell for about 3 months. Prop up your ankle when you ice it or anytime you sit or lie down. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling.
Other instructions
- Wear compression stockings if your doctor told you to. These may help to prevent blood clots. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to keep wearing the compression stockings.
- Try to prevent falls. To avoid falling:
- Arrange furniture so that you will not trip on it.
- Get rid of throw rugs, and move electrical cords out of the way.
- Walk only in areas with plenty of light.
- Put grab bars in showers and bathtubs.
- Try to avoid icy or snowy sidewalks. Choose shoes with good traction, or consider using traction devices that attach to your shoes.
- Wear shoes with sturdy, flat soles.
When should you call for help?
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
- You have severe trouble breathing.
- You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have signs that your hip may be dislocated, including:
- Severe pain and not being able to stand.
- A crooked leg that looks like your hip is out of position.
- Not being able to bend or straighten your leg.
- Your leg or foot is cool or pale or changes color.
- You cannot feel or move your leg.
- You have signs of a blood clot, such as:
- Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
- Redness and swelling in your leg or groin.
- Your incision comes open and begins to bleed, or the bleeding increases.
- You feel like your heart is racing or beating irregularly.
- You have signs of infection, such as:
- Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
- Red streaks leading from the incision.
- Pus draining from the incision.
- A fever.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You do not have a bowel movement after taking a laxative.
- You do not get better as expected.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
