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Total Hip Replacement Recovery Guide

D. Hunter Hamilton, M.D., Fellowship Trained Surgeon, Knoxville, Oak Ridge, TN | Patient Info | Total Hip Replacement Recovery Guide

Total Hip Replacement Recovery Guide

DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS

Activity:

  1. You can bear as much weight as you tolerate on your hip unless specifically instructed by Dr. Hamilton otherwise. You may use the walking aid which you were discharged with. Please continue with the walker for at least one week before switching to a cane. You can switch to a cane once you feel safe doing so. If you feel you can ambulate without any assistive device, you are welcome to do so for limited distances indoors. We expect you to use an assistive device for outdoor walking for the first 4 weeks. Keep in mind that every patient moves at their own speed of recovery so take your time.
  2. Unless Dr. Hamilton or our office specifically instructed, you DO NOT have any movement precautions with regards to your hip. Although guarantees against a dislocation do not exist, the hip was noted to be sufficiently stable in surgery eliminating the need for precautions. You MAY therefore:
    1. Bend your hip past 90 degrees
    2. Sit on a regular chair, couch, and car seat.
    3. Cross your legs
    4. Use a regular toilet seat
    5. You may sleep on your stomach, back or on either side.
  3. High impact activity such as jumping, aerobics, tennis, and skiing are not permitted during the first 3 months after surgery.
  4. Driving: There is nothing your surgeon can sign, do, or say that will determine when you can resume driving. Typically the brake reaction time after hip or knee surgery returns approximately 2 weeks after full weight bearing has been resumed. You can resume driving when you are off all narcotic medication and are able to slam on the break like a kid ran out in front of the car.

Many patients experience significant swelling and bruising (black and blue marks) in the thigh, this may extend below the knee and sometimes to the ankle. The swelling and bruising generally occurs and progresses over the first week following your surgery, and will begin to resolve over the second week. It will largely resolve by your first post-operative visit. Provided you have been on a blood thinner since surgery (Aspirin or Lovenox), the risk of a blood clot is low and this swelling is an expected part of recovery. Swelling can be uncomfortable but generally not painful.

Signs and symptoms to report:

  • Check your temperature on a daily basis. Please note that a low-grade temp below 101 is not uncommon in the first 3 days after surgery. Notify the office if your temperature rises above 101.5.
  • Persistent nausea and vomiting
  • Increased drainage from incision
  • Swelling that does not respond to ice and elevation

**If you experience chest pain or shortness of breath report to an emergency room.**

Wound Management:

  1. YOU MAY REMOVE YOUR DRESSING 7 DAYS AFTER SURGERY (you may shower with your dressing).
  2. IF YOU HAVE A PICO DRESSING, PLEASE REMOVE AT 7 DAYS AFTER SURGERY (dressing with a battery pack).
  3. There are 2 dressings over your incision site. Remove the outermost dressing 7 days from day of surgery. Leave open to air. The second dressing over your incision is called “prineo”. It is a flexible, self-adhesive mesh tape in combination with the liquid adhesive provides excellent approximation and healing. Do not remove until office f/u. If the edges of the prineo become loose, you can trim the edges.
  4. If the wound is draining, simply tape a dry gauze pad on the wound until it stops. Please note that mild dark brown or yellow tinged drainage is considered normal for approximately 10 days following your surgery. If drainage persists past 10 days, please notify our office.
  5. If your wound is dry, and no drainage is noted, there is no need to apply a dressing. You may keep the wound exposed to air.
  6. Do not apply any creams or ointments (eg. Neosporin) to your surgical site.
  7. You should examine your wound regularly for any signs of infection which include:
    • Redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth surrounding the incision
    • Drainage of blood or pus from the wound, or any drainage that has a foul odor.
  8. You may notice some bruising and/or mild swelling surrounding the surgical site, this is normal. As you become more mobile, you may notice this bruising around your lower leg…this is normal.

Showering/Bathing:

  1. You may shower 24 hours after surgery, provided there is no wound drainage. Your dressing is waterproof. Once you have removed the bandage, you can allow the shower water to run down the incision. There is no need to cover the wound while in the shower.
  2. You should not scrub the incision. Be sure to pat the incision dry with a towel after showering.
  3. If wound drainage is noted, you should sponge bathe instead of showering until the drainage resolves.
  4. Any submersion in water, including a bath, jacuzzi, or swimming is NOT permitted during the first 6 weeks.

Post-operative medications:

  1. You will be discharged with pain medication(s) and a stool softener. Please follow the instructions regarding these medications as provided by your nurse at the hospital. Please note that most narcotic pain medications have side effects that may include nausea, vomiting, sedation, dizzy spells, and/or constipation. If you experience any of these side effects to a severe extent, you should contact our office.
  2. If you are suffering from constipation following your surgery, you may try taking both a stool softener and laxative together. A high fiber diet, as well as adequate hydration is also advised.
  3. You should stop taking your opiate pain medication whenever you feel you can. A good way to wean off the pain medication is to cut the doses in half, or increase the time between doses. For example, if you are taking 1 tablet every 4 hours extend that time to every 6 hours, then every 8 hours and so on.
  4. Unless instructed otherwise by our office, the use of any non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications besides Celebrex or Mobic including Aleve, Advil, Motrin, etc. should be avoided while taking your prescribed blood thinner to prevent bleeding. Unless otherwise instructed, you will take Mobic daily for 28 days.
  5. A major, yet preventable, complication of Orthopaedic Surgery is a blood clot (DVT). You have been provided with a prescription for ONE of the following to prevent a potential blood clot:
    1. Aspirin 81 mg, to be taken twice a day, with food, for 28 days. Please note that this medication make cause an upset stomach or acid reflux. Please take an antacid to help prevent and alleviate these symptoms. You have been prescribed one, but there are many different over the counter options you can choose from.

      2. OR:

    2. Eliquis 2.5 mg, to be taken twice a day or Xarelto 10 mg daily for 28 days. You were placed on one of these if you were taking one prior to surgery or are considered higher than normal risk for developing a blood clot.

      OR:

    3. Lovenox (a self-injectable blood thinner) 1 injection per day of 40mg for a total of 28 days. In the hospital you may receive 2 injections per day of 30mg. Please note that this is not the protocol while at home.
  6. You should restart all of your prescription medications once discharged unless specifically instructed otherwise.
  7. Herbal supplements may be restarted 2 weeks after surgery.
  8. If you have been given Coumadin as a blood thinner, please follow-up with your internist within the first 2 days after discharge so the medication can be appropriately dosed.

Diet:

Resume your regular home diet.

Be sure you have a well-rounded diet with plenty of protein to aid in wound healing.

Diabetics: Make sure you keep blood sugars below 140 to promote healing.

Pain Control:

Stay on top of your pain for the first 48 hours. Set your alarm throughout the day and night to keep on schedule. It can take 6-8 hours to get your pain under control if you get behind.

**It is important to take all non-narcotic pain medication prior to taking tramadol or oxycodone

Aspirin 81 mg:

  • For blood clot prevention and pain control
  • Take one tablet twice a day for 4 weeks
  • If you are currently taking a different anticoagulant (ex: Coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto) continue taking this.
  • These medications will act as your blood clot prevention, and you will not be prescribed aspirin.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg:

  • This is an analgesic medication for pain relief.
  • Take two tablets every six hours on a scheduled basis, not as needed.
  • Do not take more than 4000 mg a day

Celebrex 200 mg or Mobic 15 mg:

  • These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relief of moderate pain and swelling.
  • Discontinue all other anti-inflammatories.
  • Take these medications scheduled, not as needed.
  • Celebrex 200 mg: Take one tablet twice a day for 14 days, then take one tablet once a day for 14 days.
    • Or you can take Mobic if you have a sulfa allergy or insurance doesn’t cover Celebrex
  • Mobic 15 mg: Take one tablet once a day for 28 days

Tramadol 50 mg:

  • This is a mild opioid pain medication.
  • This should be taken after Tylenol and Celebrex/Mobic but before oxycodone.
  • Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for moderate to severe pain. The goal is to discontinue this medication by 2-4 weeks post op. Please alternate this with Tylenol as needed.

Oxycodone 5 mg:

  • This is an opioid pain medication for severe pain after surgery.
  • Take 1 tablet every 6 hours as needed for severe pain. The goal is to discontinue this medication by 2 weeks after surgery.

Lyrica (Pregablin) 75mg:

  • This is a nerve medicine that has been shown to decrease narcotic requirements.
  • Take one tablet at bedtime. It can cause drowsiness.
  • (This medicine is sometimes not covered by insurance or is too pricey. If this is the case, you can leave this prescription unfilled)

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) 10 mg:

  • This is a muscle relaxer used to treat muscle pain.
  • Take one tablet three times a day as needed for pain.

Pepcid or Famotidine 20 mg:

  • One tablet daily while taking aspirin and Celebrex/mobic

Docusate Sodium 100 mg:

  • This is a stool softener to use to prevent constipation
  • Take one tablet twice a day as needed for constipation

You may return to work when your orthopedic surgeon clears you. Follow up with Hunter Hamilton MD in 2 weeks for a wound check.

Total Hip Replacement Recovery Guide and Post Operative Medications

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