ReplacedHip
Last reviewed August 20, 2026Content type Medical informationSources & editorial policy →Editorial review — not medical peer review. Follow your own discharge instructions.

Medical information

The first week after hip replacement

The early days are a transition from monitored hospital care to managing movement, medicines, rest and everyday tasks at home.

Use your discharge instructions to decide the order and amount. NICE recommends mobilisation and daily-living advice before discharge; it does not prescribe one universal first-week schedule.

02 — Getting through the day

Separate the tasks

Being home does not mean every task is easy. Think about safe movement, basic routines and help as separate needs.

Walking and transfers

Use the walking aid and techniques taught by your physiotherapy or occupational therapy team. Do not treat another person's milestones as your instruction.

Pain and medicines

Use the plan supplied at discharge. Contact the appropriate clinician or pharmacist if you are unsure how to take a medicine or pain is not being managed.

Swelling and rest

Some swelling can occur after surgery. What matters clinically is your own pattern and instructions, especially if symptoms worsen or appear with warning signs.

Food, washing and support

Practical help may make meals, washing, dressing and household tasks safer while movement and energy are limited.

Medical information → Patient experience data

See where experiences varied

This page provides the medical framework. The linked pages separately show what curated patient accounts described, without turning those accounts into medical advice.

Walking Pain Swelling Sleep position

03 — When to seek help

Use your discharge contact route

Contact your care team or local urgent service if you are worried. NHS guidance advises urgent clinical help after recent hip replacement for signs including:

  • worsening redness, tenderness, swelling or pain around the hip, leg or wound
  • oozing or pus from the wound
  • high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery
  • throbbing or cramping pain in the hip or leg

This list is general information, not symptom assessment. Your treatment centre's instructions and contact details take priority.

Explore next

Continue from the first week

Use the journey to choose the question that matches what you are trying to understand.

Before surgeryPreparing for hip replacementOpen guide →Recovery overviewWhat to expect after hip replacementStart here →Patient questionsExplore the first-week stageChoose a question →
Sources & medical references

Every medical claim is mapped in the structured evidence file. Patient forums were not used as medical sources.

  1. Recovering from a hip replacement

    NHS · Current NHS patient guidance retrieved 20 August 2026

    Supports: hospital-to-home transition, walking aids, pain and swelling, daily activities, individual instructions. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  2. Complications of a hip replacement

    NHS · Page last reviewed 6 March 2024

    Supports: urgent postoperative warning signs, wound and clot symptoms, emergency chest and breathing symptoms. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  3. Joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder — Recommendations

    National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) · NG157, published 4 June 2020; reviewed 19 December 2024

    Supports: rehabilitation within 24 hours, mobilisation, daily-living advice, home exercise and discharge support. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  4. After Your Joint Replacement Surgery

    American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), OrthoInfo · Peer-reviewed patient information; current PDF retrieved 20 August 2026

    Supports: early home recovery, medicine and activity instructions, warning signs, variation in recovery. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
About this page
Title
The first week after hip replacement
Publisher
ReplacedHip
Last reviewed
August 20, 2026
Last updated
August 20, 2026
Content type
Medical information

Medical sources and evidence map Editorial reviewCorrectionsIndependence