Aftercare

I will see you in Outpatients three weeks after surgery to make sure the wound is healing and to remove clips/sutures as appropriate.

Many folk find the first couple of weeks after a hip replacement to be quite stressful. The leg may be quite swollen, feel much heavier and also feel longer, a) due to the fact that it had been collapsed before and has been brought back to it’s correct length, and b) due to the tightness of the muscles. Usually over six to twelve weeks these feelings abate, but occasionally there may be a small leg length discrepancy with the operated leg being a shade longer, which may need a lift in the other shoe.

Although I strive to avoid this, there is always the possibility of slight lengthening of the operated leg, which is necessary to tighten the muscles (particularly if they are weak) in order to prevent the hip from dislocating.

Quite often you will walk differently after your hip is replaced, which can cause temporary low back problems. You may also experience pain in the side muscles of the hip and thigh. These problems are usually easy to resolve with osteopathy or physiotherapy, but may very occasionally require injections.

You will be given strict instructions how to sit and move after surgery by the physiotherapists , but effectively you shouldn’t move your knee significantly higher than your hip, nor should you cross your legs for the first three months after the operation. Whilst sleeping, you should try to remain on your back for the first four weeks after surgery. After this period you may sleep on either side. Sleeping on the operative side may be uncomfortable for the first few months, but this is perfectly normal.

I normally permit people to drive a car after four weeks or so and would allow short haul flights at six weeks and long haul flights at three months.

If your hip has been inserted with cement there would be no need for any further X-rays other than those taken after surgery. If it has been inserted without cement then there would be X-rays after surgery, at six weeks, three months and possibly later if there are any unresolved symptoms.

It is very common to feel very fatigued, to lose concentration and to feel very tired, resulting in napping in the afternoon or going to bed much earlier for several weeks after any major operation and a hip replacement is no exception to this. Please do not be alarmed if these symptoms occur, as they will pass off in time.

Although many folk are mildly anaemic afterwards, their bone marrow usually makes up for any discrepancy and we will give iron tablets where necessary. These do not need to be continued for more than two weeks after surgery. Iron tablets often stain your bowel motion a greeny black and cause an unpleasant odour, again please do not be alarmed as this is a normal reaction and will pass once the tablets stop.

I am most concerned that, should there be any complication or problems after surgery, they are drawn to my attention as soon as possible. Although it is completely normal for there to be swelling of the leg, tightness and occasional swelling of the calf and foot, any acute increase in swelling or marked tightness or tenderness of the calf or leg should be investigated for deep vein thrombosis. You should call me and I will organise an urgent ultrasound scan and/or blood tests.

Likewise, although the wound will sometimes weep up to a week or so after surgery any persisting weeping of the wound or significant redness around the wound needs to be brought to my attention to make sure there has been no stitch or deeper infection.

Although many folk feel a great deal of benefit at six to twelve weeks after the operation, it can take six months or longer to lose the limp and a year or two to forget the operation completely.