The first two weeks after a hip replacement: what home really looks like

The short answer: the first two weeks after a hip replacement are about short walks, the exercises your physio gave you, staying ahead of pain and swelling, and not doing it alone. Someone stays the first few nights, the follow-up is usually around day 14 and most of the jobs that need bending, lifting or driving go to other people for a while. Plan the two weeks before you leave the hospital and they go far more smoothly.

Coming home with a new hip feels like a big step, because it is. Every day gets a little easier, and the people around you can make a real difference if they know exactly what's needed and when.

A quick note before you read: we're not doctors, nurses or physiotherapists, and this isn't medical advice. We've pulled it together from hospital patient guides and from families we've talked to. Your surgeon and physio know your hip, so their instructions always come first.

Days 1 to 3: getting home and settling in

• The ride home. Push the passenger seat all the way back and recline it a little. Sit down first, then swing your legs in together. A plastic bag on the seat makes turning easier.
• Someone stays. Many hospitals ask that a responsible adult stays with you for the first few nights. One BC health authority asks for the first 3.
• Pain on a schedule. Take your medications the way they were prescribed, and write down each dose so nobody has to guess. Staying ahead of pain makes walking and exercises much easier.
• Ice for swelling. A common instruction is 15 minutes at a time, with a towel between the ice and your skin.
• Short walks, often. A few minutes around the main floor every hour or two while you're awake, with your walker.
• The exercises. Most teams ask for the home exercises 2 or 3 times a day. They feel small, and they matter.

Days 4 to 7: finding a rhythm

• Expect swelling and bruising down the leg. It often moves lower before it fades.
• Follow your team's dressing instructions. Some change the dressing around day 7.
• Keep walking a little farther each day, with rests in between.
• Sleep the way your team showed you. Many people sleep on their back with a pillow between their knees at first.
• Short visits are good for the spirit. Long ones are tiring, so ask visitors to bring a meal and stay for a coffee.

Days 8 to 14: the first milestone

• The follow-up. Many hospitals book a check around 2 weeks after surgery, often when staples or stitches come out. Line up the ride now.
• Showers and baths. Rules vary. Some teams let you shower early with a waterproof dressing. Soaking in a tub, pool or hot tub usually waits about 4 to 6 weeks.
• Physio. Know who's arranging it after the first visits at home, where it is and whether there's a fee. In some parts of Ontario, publicly funded home physio runs for a few weeks, then you arrange outpatient physio yourself.
• Walker to cane. Your physio decides when. Some people switch in days, others in weeks.

Hip precautions, if your team gives them

Not everyone has them, because they depend on how the surgery was done. When they're given, they often last about 6 weeks and look like this:

• Don't bend past 90 degrees at the hip, whether you're sitting, standing or lying down.
• Don't cross your legs or ankles.
• Don't twist the operated leg inward or outward.

This is where the raised toilet seat, the reacher and the sock aid earn their keep.

When to call

Hospital discharge sheets list signs that mean you should get checked quickly. Common ones include:

• A fever above 38.5°C (101.3°F)
• Redness, warmth, more swelling, a bad smell or fluid from the incision
• New pain, swelling or redness in the calf or lower leg
• Bleeding that soaks through the dressing

Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath means calling 911. For other questions in Ontario, you can call Health811 any time, or your surgeon's office during the day. Keep these numbers on the fridge and in everyone's phone.

Share out the two weeks

The first two weeks go best when the jobs are written down and each one has a name. Here's what most families end up covering:

• Overnights: the first few nights, plus a backup.
• Mornings and evenings: a quick visit or a call, especially once you're on your own at night.
• Meals: one person organizes drop-offs so the freezer stays full.
• Rides: physio and the 2-week follow-up. Most people can't drive yet.
• Groceries and the pharmacy: a weekly run or a standing order.
• The dog, laundry and the bins: anything that means bending or carrying.
• Updates: one person keeps everyone else in the loop.

And keep one thing on the list that's just for fun: a movie night, a favorite takeout, a visit from the grandkids. Recovery is still life.

Turn this into your plan

Getting ready ahead of time? Start with Getting your home ready before hip surgery. Our Coming home from the hospital plan shows how a family can share the first weeks, and how discharge works in Ontario covers the hospital side.

In Hello Pearl, the two weeks become a private Circle built around you, with one calendar for rides, visits and meals, and jobs your people have said yes to. You stay in charge, and it's free for you, always. Start your plan free.

Planning for Mom or Dad? Turn this into Mom's plan with our free 5-minute checklist, or ask a navigator a quick question.

We're not medical experts. This is general information to help you prepare, not advice for your situation. Recovery, precautions and timelines vary by person, surgeon and hospital, so always follow your own team's instructions. Last checked October 2026.

Sources

• Interior Health (BC): Hip and knee discharge information
• Middlesex Hospital Alliance (Ontario): Total hip replacement patient guide
• Hamilton Health Sciences: Hip replacement surgery and home in one day
• Health811 Ontario: When to call 811