Call your surgeon or family doctor if:
- you develop a temperature higher than 38 C. (101 F.)
- you notice any change in the amount, colour or odour of drainage from your incision or a sudden increase in pain around the incision
- you notice increased pain, swelling or tenderness in the calf or thigh of either leg
- you notice that either leg appears pale or bluish in colour
- you notice that either leg feels unusually cool to the touch
- you suddenly have trouble walking
During the few weeks after surgery, you will need less and less pain medicine. For several weeks after surgery, you will probably take medicine to prevent blood clots.
You may need a walker, crutches, or a cane for a few weeks or months. As you get your energy back, work up to taking a short walk a few times each day. If you feel any soreness, try a cold pack on your hip.
Don't drive until your doctor says it is okay for you to drive.
Rehabilitation continues after you go home from the hospital. You will get rehabilitation until you are able to function on your own and you get back as much strength in your hip as you can. You will keep working on building strength and endurance. Rehabilitation after surgery will take several months and you may continue to improve (especially strength and endurance) for up to one or one and a half years after surgery. Early recovery may be faster after anterior hip surgery.
For most people, it is safe to have sex about 4 to 6 weeks after a hip replacement. Talk to your doctor about when it is okay to have sex and what positions are safe for your hip. Some positions could increase the risk of dislocating your hip. That means that your doctor may want you to avoid certain positions, especially for the first few months.