- Preparing your home before hip surgery while you’re still mobile makes the early weeks of recovery safer and less stressful.
- Key steps include moving essentials to waist height, removing trip hazards, and arranging your sleeping and washing spaces to reduce bending and stairs.
- Gentle movement, guided by your physiotherapist, is an important part of recovery rather than something to avoid.
- Long-haul international travel is generally best avoided for around 6 weeks, given the increased risk of blood clots with prolonged sitting.
- Recovery is not the time for restrictive dieting; a balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports healing.
Feeling anxious about recovering from hip surgery is completely normal, and one of the best ways to ease that is to prepare your home before you go in. A little planning while you’re still mobile makes the early weeks, when your movement is more limited, much easier and safer. Here are practical tips for getting your home and yourself ready.
A General Recovery Timeline
Recovery varies considerably depending on the type of surgery and your individual health, so the following is only a broad guide; your own surgical team will give you a timeline specific to you.
| Stage | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| In hospital | A stay of a few days is common, with pain relief and the start of rehabilitation, though length of stay varies. |
| Early weeks at home | An important recovery phase, during which discomfort typically eases gradually. |
| Following weeks and months | Mobility and hip function progressively improve with your rehabilitation programme. Milestones such as returning to driving happen when your team advises you are ready. |
| Longer term | Strength and function often continue improving for up to a year. Persistent significant pain should be assessed rather than assumed to be normal. |
Preparing Your Home: Practical Tips
Ask family or friends to help you set things up before your surgery. A few simple adjustments make a big difference:
1. Move essentials to waist height
To avoid bending or reaching in the early weeks, move everyday items, such as the kettle, tea and coffee, soap, and frequently used kitchen things, to around waist height beforehand. A perching stool can make tasks like preparing food much easier while standing is tiring.
2. Set up for safe movement
Remove trip hazards such as loose rugs and clutter, ensure clear walking paths, and consider where you’ll sleep and shower to minimise stairs and bending in the early weeks. A shower chair and non-slip mats help with safe washing.
3. Plan your exercise with your physiotherapist
Gentle movement is an important part of recovery; it’s tempting to stay still, but appropriate activity supports healing. Your physiotherapist will guide the right exercises for your stage of recovery, and low-impact activities like walking and swimming are often introduced as you progress, when your team advises. Follow their programme rather than a generic routine.
4. Plan time off and getting to work
Give yourself enough time to recover before returning to work. Think ahead about how you’ll get there and whether working from home is possible initially. Physically demanding jobs generally require more time off than desk-based work; Dr Slattery will advise what’s appropriate for you.
5. Think about travel in advance
Travel, especially flying, needs planning after surgery. Long periods of sitting still, such as on longer flights, can increase the risk of a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). There is no single rule that fits everyone, so check with your surgical team about when it is safe for you to travel and fly, and what precautions to take, rather than relying on a general timeframe. Generally you need to wait 6 weeks before any long-haul international travel.
Supporting Recovery With Good Nutrition
Recovery is not the time for restrictive dieting; your body needs good nutrition to heal. In general, a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients supports recovery. Foods often highlighted as helpful include:
- Calcium-rich foods (such as dairy, and leafy greens like kale and spinach) for bone health.
- Protein and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, starchy vegetables) to support healing and energy needs.
- Vitamin C-rich foods (citrus, capsicum, and similar) which support collagen production.
If you have specific dietary needs, health conditions, or take supplements, check with your doctor or a dietitian, as individual circumstances vary. For further guidance on preparing for surgery, contact the clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most useful thing to do before surgery?
Setting your home up while you’re still mobile, moving essentials to waist height, removing trip hazards, and arranging your sleeping and washing spaces to reduce bending and stairs, makes the early weeks safer and less stressful.
When can I drive or fly again?
There’s no single answer that fits everyone. Both depend on your recovery and individual circumstances, and flying carries a clot-risk consideration with prolonged sitting. Check specifically with your surgical team about safe timing for driving and travel.
Should I change my diet while recovering?
Recovery isn’t the time for restrictive dieting. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports healing. If you have particular health conditions or dietary needs, check with your doctor or a dietitian.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is intended as general patient education and does not constitute medical, dietary, or travel advice. Recovery timelines and what is safe for you vary depending on your surgery and individual circumstances. Always follow the specific guidance of your own surgical team, particularly regarding driving, travel, exercise, and returning to activities.
