Planning for Hip Replacement Recovery

After hip replacement, activity increases gradually as you heal and regain strength. Your surgeon and therapist guide how much weight you can place on the leg, which walking aid to use, and any movement precautions. The surgical approach and your health can affect those instructions.

Plan help with meals, transportation, and daily tasks. Remove tripping hazards and ask about equipment and stair use before returning home. Follow the care team's discharge plan for medication, wound care, and follow-up.

Ask when you can safely control a vehicle and whether medication affects driving. Returning to work depends on job demands. Walking and other lower-impact activities are commonly part of later recovery, but ask before resuming a sport or strenuous activity.

Ask your team which symptoms require a call and how to reach them after hours. New chest pain or difficulty breathing requires emergency medical care. Report increasing wound redness or drainage, fever, or new calf pain and swelling promptly.