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What do I do if I need a refill of my pain medication?
Call our office. Please get in touch with us well before you run out to give our staff and Dr. Eccles enough time. Several
factors, including insurance rules, can slow this process. Please plan ahead, especially around a holiday or weekend.

How soon can I travel after surgery?
This is up to you and your comfort level. Generally, we would recommend waiting 6 weeks. The main concern for sitting
for an extended period during the early recovery period is developing a blood clot in your legs. Standing up, walking
around, and pumping your ankles are essential activities to keep the blood moving throughout your leg and prevent
stiffness when you do travel by car or plane.

How long do I have to wait until another joint is replaced?
At least 3 months to allow your body to recover.

How much should I be walking or doing?
Dr. Eccles recommends getting up and walking short distances every hour you are awake during the first few weeks. The
key is frequency and has nothing to do with speed or distance. You can overdo it during the first couple weeks if you walk
too far. Make sure you use your walker at the beginning, and you can transition to a cane or nothing as your strength and
balance return to normal. Walk on firm, level surfaces and avoid grass or the beach for the first two weeks. Gradually
increase your distance as you are able. Sometimes increased activity will cause your operative joint area to have swelling
and pain. Control this with rest and ice. Listen to your body as it will tell you if you are doing too much.

How long will I need to stay in the hospital after surgery?
Most healthy patients should meet all criteria to go home on the same day of surgery with up-to-date techniques that we
use. Very few patients require an overnight stay for monitoring.

How soon will I walk after surgery?
Within an hour or two after surgery. The postoperative nursing or physical therapy team will instruct you on how to walk
safely.

Will I need physical therapy after surgery?
Most hip replacement patients don’t need formal therapy and just need to walk with a walker to get stronger over time.

How soon can I resume sexual activity after surgery?
In general, as soon as you are comfortable enough and if you can maintain any postoperative positioning precautions.

I think my leg feels longer now. Is this possible?
In most cases, patients may perceive that their leg is lengthened when it is back to your normal pre-arthritic position.
This is usually the result of straightening out a knee that had a significant bow before surgery after a knee replacement.
With hip replacements, this feeling usually comes from stretching contracted muscles about the hip and bringing the hip
location back to a normal position before it was damaged with arthritis. Over time, your body and muscles should adjust,
and the feeling of a leg length difference disappears. At times, your body’s musculature and soft tissue tensioning may
require slightly lengthening your operative leg for stability purposes.

Do I have any hip precautions?
Our best advice is for you to listen to your body and not do anything that causes pain during the early healing phase.
Don’t put your leg in strange positions for a couple of months. Your leg positioning is typically safe with your toes pointed
forward.

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