You had surgery to repair a hip fracture. The type of surgery you had depends on the location and severity of the fracture. You may have pins, screws, or rods (internal fixation devices) holding the fractured bone in place. Or some or all of your hip may have been replaced. You must take care of your hip as you recover at home or in a rehabilitation facility. This means moving and sitting the way you were taught in the hospital. You must also see your doctor for follow-up visits as you slowly return to activity. Hip repair for fracture or hip replacement is major surgery. Don't be surprised if it takes a few months before you can move comfortably. Plan to have your family and friends help when you return home.

• Take your pain medicine exactly as advised.
• Don't drive until your doctor says it's okay. And never drive if you are taking opioid pain medicine.
• Wear the support stockings you were given in the hospital. Wear them 24 hours a day for 3 to 4 weeks.
• Get up and carefully move around to ease pain.
• If you got an artificial hip joint, tell all your doctors—including your dentist—about the joint before any procedure. You may need to take antibiotics before dental work and other medical procedures. This is to reduce the risk for infection.

• Wash your hands before and after touching your incision (the cut the doctor made).
• You'll be given specific instructions about how to care for your incision. The instructions will depend on the type of materials used to close the cut.
• You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Pat the incision dry. Don't swim or take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it's okay.
• Wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. They can slow healing.

• Don't sit for more than 30 to 45 minutes at a time.
• Use chairs with arms, and sit with your knees slightly lower than your hips. Don't sit on low or sagging chairs or couches.
• Don't lean forward while sitting.
• Don't cross your legs.
• Keep your feet flat on the floor. Don't turn your foot or leg inward. This stresses your hip joint.
• Use a raised toilet seat for 6 weeks after surgery.
• Sleep on your back with your legs slightly apart, or on your side with a pillow between your knees for about 6 weeks, or as long as your doctor tells you. Don't sleep on your stomach or your affected hip.
• Sit on a firm cushion when you ride in a car, and don't sit too low. Try not to bend your hip too much when getting in and out of the car.

• Don't bend at the hip when you bend over. Don't bend at the waist to put on socks and shoes. And don't pick up items from the floor.
• Use a cane, crutches, a walker, or handrails until your balance, flexibility, and strength improve. And remember to ask for help from others when you need it.
• Free up your hands so that you can use them to keep balance. Use a fanny pack, apron, or pockets to carry things.
• Follow your doctor's orders about how much weight to place on the affected leg.
• Do all exercises as advised.
• Arrange your household to keep the items you need within reach.
• Remove electrical cords, throw rugs, and anything else that may cause you to fall.
• Use nonslip bath mats, grab bars, an elevated toilet seat, and a shower chair in your bathroom.

Make a follow-up appointment as advised by your doctor.

Call 911 right away if you have:

• Chest pain.
• Shortness of breath.

Contact your doctor right away if you have:

• Hip pain that gets worse.
• Pain or swelling of your calf or leg not related to your incision.
• Soreness in your calf.
• Redness or any change in color on your calf.
• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.
• Shaking chills.
• Swelling or redness or any change in color at the incision site that gets worse.
• Fluid leaking from the incision.