Important considerations immediately after hip replacement
After your hip replacement surgery, you’ll be moved to the recovery room and monitored for one to three hours. Nurses will keep a close eye on your vital signs, care for your surgery site, and manage your pain.
It’s important to move your body after surgery to reduce complications and speed your recovery. You’ll be encouraged to start walking soon after surgery, which may be done with a walker or crutches.
Penn Medicine uses an evidence-based multi-modal pain protocol to manage pain for joint replacement patients. Your doctor will create a pain management plan tailored to your needs, using different types of pain-relieving medications to reduce the need for opioids after hip replacement. This protocol is clinically proven to improve movement and reduce pain after surgery, making your rehabilitation easier and recovery faster, while minimizing the risk of opioid dependence.
The length of your hospital stay will depend on many factors that your surgeon will discuss with you. Many patients stay one night and are discharged the day after surgery. If you’re in good health, highly motivated to achieve a rapid recovery, and have strong support at home, you may have the option to go home the same day as your surgery.