Hip replacement FAQ

You should tell your doctor about your full medical history, even if you don’t think that something in your history is important. Tell your doctor about any and all medications and herbal supplements you take.

You should be sure to tell your doctor about your occupation and lifestyle, particularly if your lifestyle involves any demanding physical requirements such as running or lifting heavy weights. Your surgeon will consider your lifestyle as well as your weight when determining whether a hip replacement is appropriate for you.

You should also tell your doctor if you think you might have a hard time following any instructions you are given regarding your new hip replacement. Before you decide that hip replacement is right for you, speak with your doctor about the instructions that you can expect.

You should ask your doctor to explain all of the risks of surgery to you. You should also ask your doctor what type of rehabilitation you can expect. Your doctor may request that you attend physical therapy, so you will need to make sure you understand this and can make arrangements for transportation if needed.

After you have had a hip replacement operation, call your doctor if any of the following things occur:

• Redness, swelling, or drainage from around the incision
• An unexplained fever (temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Centigrade) or chills that last more than a day
• Severe hip pain that is not relieved by your pain medicine, or
• Any sudden swelling in the thigh or calf. It will always be important to protect this new part of your body from infection.

Your doctor may also give you additional signs and symptoms to watch out for.

After you have healed, you should keep any follow-up appointments that you doctor requests. In addition, if you notice any unusual sounds or sensations coming from your hip, please contact your doctor for further follow-up.

Hip replacement implants cannot be expected to perform as well as your natural joint, and they do carry the risks of breakage and wear, particularly if you lead a very active lifestyle, or place a lot of demand on the implant. If the implant does break or wear out, you may need additional surgery.

If you travel by air, you will likely need to tell airport security about your hip implant because you may activate the metal detector. This is common and the security officer will have an alternative method for screening you.

Also, if you are sent for an MRI at any time after surgery, be sure to tell the MRI Technician about your hip implant.