HIP TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTHRITIS OF THE HIP JOINT

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOU GET HOME

You will be able to go home in a regular sized car. It is better if someone can be at home with you for at least portions of each day to assist you with shopping, meal preparation, etc. Constant nursing care is rarely needed at home. We will arrange for a physical therapist as well as a visiting nurse to see you at home, if your insurance will cover these services (Medicare does). The visiting nurse may draw your blood three times a week so that the internist can monitor the dose of Coumadin you should take, unless a fixed daily dose is prescribed. After you run out of Coumadin at home, you should take a single regular Aspirin daily for a further 14 days.

You must call our office after you get home to set a date for your first office visit, which is usually 6 weeks following the day of surgery. Call and come in at ANY TIME sooner, if any problem develops. Until then, continue all the restrictions which you were taught in the hospital. But get off your crutches or walker as soon as you can, as mentioned above.

After you leave the hospital you are not expected to be an invalid. You will be completely independent when you get home. You will be able to get in and out of bed by yourself, go to the bathroom by yourself and dress yourself. You should change into comfortable regular clothing each morning, and go places, and do things. You can walk as much as you are comfortable doing (up to 2 miles a day). Get off the walker and onto a cane as soon as you feel safe doing so, and get off the cane as soon as you can. If your surgery was on the left hip you can drive an “automatic” once you get home if you are not taking strong pain medications.

The precautions to prevent dislocation must be strictly observed until Dr. Huddleston tells you it is safe to discontinue them.

It is not uncommon to develop some swelling of the knee, foot and ankle in the weeks after surgery. If this occurs, you should elevate your leg on pillows when you are not up and about.

Wound sutures or staples are usually removed on the fourteenth day after surgery. If you are discharged before that time, they may be removed by a visiting nurse at your home, or you may be asked to come to the office for removal. One day after staple removal you may take a shower. Up to that point the wound should be kept dry. It is best to shower rather than get into a tub. We recommend avoiding a tub for at least two months after surgery. A shower stool is helpful so as to avoid slipping while taking a shower.

You should also do the exercises illustrated in Home Exercises for the First Eight Weeks After Surgery. You may lie on the operated side when it is comfortable. However, for at least the first 12 weeks after surgery, you should put one or two fluffy pillows between your knees when you lie on either side. This is to make you more comfortable and also to prevent dislocation of the hip joint. We prefer that you do not attempt to sleep on your side because the pillows will dislodge once you are asleep and you may then dislocate your hip. You should not cross your legs for the first 12 weeks after surgery. You should not bend your thighs up to a greater than 80 degree angle (see Restrictions to Prevent Dislocations). It will therefore be difficult for you to pick up objects from the floor, and also for you to put on your shoes and socks. A reacher is helpful for this purpose. You should strictly avoid low chairs, low stools, low toilet seats, and stuffed chairs, since they may cause the hip to dislocate.

Aqua-therapy, also known as pool rehabilitation may be prescribed by Dr. Huddleston. He will direct you to a rehabilitation center with a trained and qualified pool therapist.

DRIVING AFTER HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

You could drive an automatic as soon as you get home if your left hip has been replaced. However,driving is best avoided until about 6 weeks after the surgery, especially if it is your right hip that has been operated upon. Some patients, however, may need to drive sooner, and this can be discussed with Dr. Huddleston. We can only advise you about the effects of driving on your hip, and not on driving safety, or legal issues. If you have a car accident, you are on your own! After Anterior Hip Replacement there are no restrictions and you may physically drive as soon as you get home without fear of harming the hip. If you are still on pain medications, driving is inadvisable. Only YOU can decide when you are legally and safely fit to drive.

RETURNING TO WORK AFTER HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

How soon you will return to work depends on what you do, and on how motivated you are to get back to work. People who work at a desk could be back by one week after surgery, provided they have the means to get to work, but most people take off at least six weeks. If you do heavy manual work you may be off for as long as twelve weeks.

On to the Next Section of the Manual:
First Office Visit After Surgery

How to Become an Orthopedic Surgeon

Dr. H.D. Huddleston
The Hip and Knee Institute
5525 Etiwanda Ave., #324
Tarzana, CA 91356
Tel: 818.708.9090

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