Recovery and rehabilitation
To manage your own expectations about how quickly you will be ‘back on your feet’, it is important to understand what will happen both immediately after your surgery and in the months that follow.
When you leave the operating theatre, you will usually have an intravenous drip in your arm for fluids and any necessary drugs. You may also have two suction drains coming from your hip – plastic tubes inserted into the area where the operation was carried out, to drain away fluids produced as the body heals.
You will be taken to a recovery room where you will remain until you are fully awake and the doctors are happy that your condition is stable. At this point you will be taken back to the ward where you will receive painkillers as the anaesthetic starts to wears off. The drip and drains are usually removed within 24-48 hours, after which time you may be able to start walking again – initially with a frame and then with crutches or a stick.
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
