What to Do after Hip Surgery

Your surgeon may provide you with instructions about what you need to do at home in the first few weeks following surgery.

Wound

• Your doctor will remove your stitches or staples sometime between one and two weeks, unless dissolving stitches were used
• Avoid getting the wound area wet until it has properly healed on the surface. Wearing a large bandage can help protect your wound from clothing irritation and moisture

Diet

• You may experience loss of appetite in the beginning of your recovery
• Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids
• An iron supplement may be recommended

Activity

• Your doctor and/or physical therapist will provide you with an activity program to follow
• Performing daily exercises is a highly important aspect of early recovery
• Normal everyday activities, such as walking, will likely resume between three and six weeks

Pain

• Some discomfort while doing activities and at night is normal for the first few weeks
• Physical therapy may feel uncomfortable or sometimes painful

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