You will be checked by one of the team doctors. A blood test will be taken in the morning and repeated on the next two days. This is to check that any loss of blood or body salts is being made up. You will be encouraged to take more liquids and solids by mouth if you are not feeling sick or nauseous. If you are able to do so, then the intravenous drip will be removed.
The nurses will assist to wash you and the physiotherapist will help you out of bed. At this time you may notice two plastic tubes coming out from the wound dressings which empty into bottles. These are inserted to help remove any excess bleeding after the surgery. You will be encouraged to take a few steps with the aid of a walking frame and take some weight through the operated leg. You will then be sat out of bed in a high chair with your operated leg elevated on a foot stool.
The physiotherapist will also supervise you in carrying out a number of exercises for your legs, arms as well as in breathing exercises. The latter are helpful in removing the extra secretions that may have collected in your lungs during the operation. If the secretions are not removed they can increase the risk of getting a chest infection. He or she will also emphasise the precautions to be taken to avoid dislocating your new hip. The precautions include:
The catheter inserted into your bladder will be removed. The support stockings will be removed for about half an hour once every 6 to 8 hours. You will prescrbed a number of medications which include iron to help build up the level of blood in your body, painkillers and laxatives.
The plastic tubes draining your wound will be removed by the nurse. This is a simple procedure that may cause a little discomfort, but you will be glad to have one less attachment! It is unlikely that you will require any more pain killing injections though you will still be on tablets. The physiotherapist will help you up and and instruct you on transferring safely from bed to chair and back. She will get you walking a little. You will be instructed in the use of the 'helping hand' which is a long stick like device with a grasper at the end that you can use to reach for and pick various items. It is important to use this implement as it enables you to avoid bending your new hip excessively. Your blood tests will be reviewed and you may need to have a blood transfusion depending upon the results.
With each passing day the therapist will increase your activity. As your strength and confidence grows, you will graduate from using the frame to using two crutches and then to two sticks. Gradually, you will learn to walk further and eventually also do stairs. Your dressings will be changed and you will undergo an X-Ray of the new hip to check its position.
You will be encouraged to dress in your own clothes and work towards increasing your independence. Your wound will be regularly dressed until it heals over.
You will be seeing the Occupational therapist who will assess your need for equipment that would be helpful for you in hospital and after your discharge such as a raised toilet seat, a helping hand, long handled shoe horn etc. Occasionally, some suggestions may be made to make your home environment safer. These include the installation of grab handles in the bathroom or a bannister by the stair case. The nurse is likely to check with you, your discharge arrangements. If you are assessed as likely to require help at home from the social services, they will be contacted. The precise help you will receive however, is decided by the social workers after a full assessment. About a week or so from your operation you will be able to go home depending upon your progress. You will be asked to continue taking your iron tablets for two weeks after discharge. A district nurse will visit you at home on the 12th day after your surgery to remove the staples used to close your skin wound. You should also take your surgical stockings home with you and wear them until your first follow-up appointment which will be at about six weeks. Until that visit you should be using two sticks.