Hip & Knee Replacement

Some patients go home the same day of surgery and some stay overnight. Your surgeon will let you know if you should plan on an overnight stay in the hospital after your surgery.

You should expect some pain with any surgery. We will work together as a team to control your pain. If we give you pain medication before your pain is too strong, you will need less pain medication. Your pain should be tolerable so you can sleep at night, work with physical therapy and spend most of your day out of bed and moving around.

Your surgeon's office will give you prescriptions for the medications you need, including pain medication and an anti-inflammatory medication to keep the swelling down. During your hospital stay, you will be given an antibiotic, pain medication as needed and the medications that you usually take at home.

Most patients start walking a few hours after surgery.

Most people start out using a walker in the hospital. You will go home with a walker or a cane. You will keep using the walker for about two weeks and then switch to a cane for two to three weeks. You should be walking on your own by four to six weeks after surgery, but each patient is different. The most important thing is to prevent falls, and walking aids help to achieve this goal.

Most of the healing and recovery will happen in the first three months. It will take 12 months to heal and recover fully. There will be a scar, but the size and how it looks will depend on the type of surgery you have and how your skin heals.

You should not drive while you are taking opioid pain medications such as Norco, oxycodone, morphine and codeine. Opioids slow down your reaction time. It may take you longer to put on the brakes when you are driving or to respond to an emergency. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe to start driving again.

You can start having sex again when you feel ready. Until you heal, let your partner do the work. Don’t put pressure or weight on your fresh incision.

Your new knee or hip may set off metal detectors, such as those at airports. Tell the security officer that you have a joint replacement. A hand-held wand can be passed over the area to confirm. Stand frequently and do your ankle-pumping exercises during the flight. If you are concerned about traveling, talk to your doctor.

A blood clot can happen on either leg, even the one that did not have surgery. Most blood clots cause no symptoms at all. To prevent them, be sure to take the medications and use the devices your surgeon has suggested. Signs of a blood clot may include:

• Any sudden changes including increased pain, redness, heat and swelling in either leg
• Any changes in feeling or numbness in your toes
• Toes suddenly look purple or very pale

Call your surgeon right away if you think you may have a blood clot.

It’s a good idea to let your medical doctor know when you are home after your surgery. Make sure that your medical doctor knows what medications you are taking. Of course, if you don’t feel right and have symptoms like new difficulty with urination, a persistent stomach upset, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea or anything else concerning to you, call your doctor as soon as possible. It is always best to contact either your medical doctor, surgeon, or Clinical Joint Surgery Manager if you have questions, even if they may seem unimportant.