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How should I prepare myself for surgery?
1) Fitness
Recovering from an operation is tiring. Try and get as fit as you can. Patients who are fitter before surgery tend to have an easier recovery. Try and increase the amount of exercise that you do. Most patients will benefit from seeing a physio before surgery to get some specific exercises and even to try out crutches.
2) Weight
Generally, the lighter you are, the easier it is to move around on crutches. It can be difficult to exercise before surgery, as the hip is too painful to walk long distances / exercise. If you are obese, with a BMI of over 35, this will increase the risks of surgery. If you fall into this category you can discuss these risks with your surgeon.
3) Supplements
Taking Vitamin D supplements (around 1000 units per day) has been shown to reduce complications around hip surgery. Iron supplements can be useful to build up reserves in elderly patients. Please avoid Arnica, as this can make internal bleeding much worse.
4) Around the home
If you live alone, many patients stock up their freezer with food before they come into hospital. You will be able to walk up and down stairs after you have been discharged from hospital. Crutches and raised toilet seats will be provided by the hospital. You will not need to get specially adapted beds and chairs into the home for your hip replacement.
5) Will I need to go for rehab?
Most mobile people do not need to go for specialist rehab after a hip replacement. However, if you are worried and feel that you may need some help to look after yourself after surgery, a rehab unit can be very useful. The two units that I recommend around Sussex are
Your Surgical Journey: What to Expect
Anaesthetic & Surgery
Your hip surgery is typically performed under a spinal anaesthetic combined with sedation. This means you can choose to be fully asleep or remain awake but completely relaxed during the procedure. For more detailed information, you can read about spinal anaesthetics on Patient.info.
The operation itself usually takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 15 minutes.
Immediate Recovery
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The Recovery Room: Straight after surgery, you will wake up in the recovery room, where specialist nurses will closely monitor you and ensure you are comfortable.
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Returning to the Ward: Once you are settled—typically after about 30 minutes—you will be transferred back to the ward.
Post-Operative Care & Physiotherapy
Because a spinal anaesthetic temporarily numbs your legs, you won’t be able to move them immediately.
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The Sensation: The numbness naturally begins to fade about 2 hours after the anaesthetic was administered, though it can take 4 or more hours to wear off completely.
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Monitoring: Our ward nurses will check on your progress regularly.
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Your First Steps: On the day of your surgery, as soon as the sensation has returned to your legs, a physiotherapist will be there to help you get up and walk.
Going Home (Discharge)
You will be safely discharged home once you are mobile, your pain is well controlled, and you can safely manage daily tasks.
Expected Timeline: Most patients are able to climb stairs and look after themselves independently by Day 1 or Day 2 after their operation.
Will I be in pain?
How We Minimize Your Pain
It is completely normal to experience some discomfort after a major operation, but pain affects everyone differently, and we have a clear strategy to keep you comfortable:
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Spinal Anaesthetic: The spinal anaesthetic used during your surgery provides highly effective pain relief that can last for up to 12 hours.
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Surgical Local Anaesthetic: During the operation, your surgeon will also inject local anaesthetic directly around your new hip and the wound site. This offers targeted pain relief for up to 8 hours.
The Importance of Regular Analgesia (Painkillers)
While you should expect some post-operative pain, it should always be manageable.
Crucial Step: It is vital that you start taking your regular pain relief medication (analgesia) before the local anaesthetics begin to wear off.
Preventing pain from building up is much easier than trying to catch up once it becomes severe. If your pain is not well controlled, you will find it very difficult to participate in your physiotherapy sessions.
Why Movement is Your Best Medicine
It might sound strange, but moving your new hip and walking will actually help reduce your pain.
Beyond pain relief, getting out of bed and moving as early as possible is essential for your overall recovery. It significantly lowers your risk of serious post-operative complications, such as:
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Blood clots (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
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Chest infections
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Pressure sores
What to Expect at Home
Every recovery timeline is unique. Most patients require strong painkillers for the first 7 to 10 days at home, though it is not uncommon to need them for a bit longer as your body heals.