Total Hip Replacement Guide

Detailed contents of the Hip replacement guide include:

Your Hip replacement guide

This section provides an overview of the guide including important time frames to be aware of and directs you the correct pages you may be looking for.

The Hip

Here you will be educated on the hip joint, what the hip joint is, what the function of the hip is, how the hip is damaged and information regarding osteoarthritis.

About your hip replacement

This section illustrates what a hip replacement is and includes important information on:

• What happens on the day of surgery: Before the hip replacement

• How long does a hip replacement take?

• What does the surgeon do?

• What happens on the day of surgery: After the hip replacement

Before your hip replacement

This section provides guidance on what to do prior to your hip replacement including:

• Information on potential joint schools you may attend.

• The process of preoperative assessment at your hospital

• Preoperative exercise programme

  • Split into 6x recommended exercises.

  • Information on how often and how long to complete for

Pre – Hip replacement FAQs

Here you will see answers to common questions such as:

• Will I need to organise care for my return home?

• What activities will I need help with?

• Will I need to inform my employer?

• How should I prepare my home?

• Will I need any adaptive equipment?

• How should I prepare for my hospital stay?

  • Including a checklist of items to remind you for your admission.

Immediately after your hip replacement

Following your return to the ward, this section includes:

1. Answers common questions such as:

• How long will I be in hospital for?

• How will my hip look after my hip replacement?

• Will I be in pain?

• When will I re-gain my sensation?

• How will I feel?

• How much should I be doing immediately?

2. Post operative exercise programme

• Split into 4x exercises to allow you to mobilse and complete the stairs during your admission.

 3. Information on hip precautions including what this means and how to adapt your daily activities to adhere to these and avoid dislocation

4. Further information regarding what’s commonly planned from the hospital team for the remainder of your admission.

How to mobilise after your Hip Replacement

This section aims to allow you to understand your weight bearing status and using pictures goes through how to:

• Sit on the edge of the bed

• Walk from the edge of the bed to the chair using either a walking frame or elbow crutches

• Sit down in a chair with the appropriate aid

How to Complete the Stairs

Here using pictures you will be taught how to safely complete stairs using elbow crutches

Recovering from a hip replacement

This section gives an overview of what to expect following discharge from hospital including:

• Appointments to be aware of during this period:

• Pain and Swelling Management:

• Dos and Don’ts for the next 12 weeks

• Complications of a hip replacement

Hip Replacement rehabilitation:

This section forms the bulk of the guide split into:

Phase one

• To be completed in the first two weeks following your return home

• Split into 8x exercises.

• Tick off each day as you’ve completed the recommended amount.

• Milestones to complete prior to moving onto phase two

Phase two

• To be completed between week three and week six following your return home

• Split into 8x exercises.

• Tick off each day as you’ve completed the recommended amount.

• Milestones to complete prior to moving onto phase three

Phase three

• To be completed between week seven and week twelve following your return home

• Split into 8x exercises.

• Tick off each day as you’ve completed the recommended amount.

• Milestones to complete prior to completing the programme.

Maintenance exercise

This penultimate section goes over important information regarding:

• Gym joining

• Return to sports and hobbies.

• Recommended exercises to complete long term.

Frequently asked questions after your hip replacement

This final section answers common questions once recovery is near completion including:

• How long will my hip replacement last?

• When can I return to driving?

• When can I return to housework?

• When can I return to work?

• When can I stop taking painkillers and other medications?

• When can I travel abroad?