7 things I wish I knew before a hip replacement

A hip replacement is a surprisingly common and highly successful operation that can relieve the pain of hip arthritis and help you get back to the activities you enjoy. But, while recovery is usually less intensive than a knee replacement, it’s still major surgery.

Everyone’s experience is different, but these 7 commonly held insights may help you on your journey.

A hip replacement may not be a walk in the park, but you may find that you’ll be back on your feet fairly quickly after surgery.¹

Physios typically want you out of bed, putting some weight on your new hip as soon as possible. Your physio may give you exercises to speed things along, too.

You might be on your feet quickly, but recovery takes time. Some people may be doing well after a few weeks, but it usually takes about 3 months before you’re back to your normal activities.²

That said, while most people may feel mobile and ready to move around with less pain after 3 months, it can take up to a year to feel the full benefit of the replacement.²

It’s important to keep moving after a hip replacement, not only during your recovery, but also in everyday life. However, you also don’t want to overdo it and wind up injured.

Make sure you follow the advice of your treating team and stick to the specific exercises they recommend.

High-impact activities might be too much for your new artificial joint, but you may be able to enjoy low-impact exercise like cycling, walking and (once your surgeon is happy with your wound healing) swimming.³

A hip replacement is major surgery, so you’ll need daily help, at least for the first week.

Make sure you have someone to pick you up and help you settle into your house after surgery. Getting in and out of a car can be tricky at first.

If you live alone, ask a friend or family member to stay over or pop in each day to help out.

Getting around the house can be tricky, initially. You’ll most likely be tired and need to rest, and pain relief medication might affect your ability to get around safely.

If you normally care for other family members or pets, you should organise for someone to help out. Likewise, it pays to organise some help with things like watering the garden, putting out the bins and doing the grocery shopping.

If you don’t have someone to help with the cooking, ready-to-go freezer meals will come in handy.

Ensure there’s plenty of space to manoeuvre around in your home with a walker or crutches, and make sure there are no obstructions or things you might trip over (like power cords or rugs).

Remember, you will have limited mobility in the early days of your rehab and your treating team might recommended that you don’t bend at the waist more than 90 degrees.⁴ So, it’s important to make sure everyday things are stored at an accessible height.

It can help to get a raised toilet seat, shoehorn, shower chair and claw grabber. Setting up a recovery station is also a great way to avoid unnecessarily trips around the home. Make sure you get a basket for your phone, medication, tissues, TV remote and books, and keep it in an accessible place.

As going up and down the stairs will likely be a no-go at first, you might need to temporarily rearrange your living space or even stay with a friend or relative.

Going into surgery with weak and tight muscles can make strengthening work during your rehab more difficult. So, it’s worth booking in to see a physio for prehabilitation (aka ‘prehab’), which can help you strengthen muscles before surgery and speed up your recovery.⁵

Prehab might also help you mentally prepare for the operation, as it gives you the time and space to ask your physio questions.

While hip replacements are a last-resort surgery, many people put it off until they’re in a lot of pain and their quality of life is significantly compromised. But the surgery can give you a new lease on life, and people often say they wish they did it sooner.⁶

A hip replacement is a very personal decision that needs to be made under the guidance of a trusted treating team.

Musculoskeletal Health Australia provides information and support for people living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. Visit their website or call them on 1800 263 265.

Pain Australia works towards improving the quality of life for those living with pain. Visit their website for resources and support, including their National Pain Services Directory.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association can help you find a physio near you.