This hip surgery patient information page explains what to expect at each stage, from your first consultation through to getting back to normal life. It is general guidance only. The instructions Mr Chauhan and his team give you for your own hip always take priority.
Before your consultation
Bring a list of your current medicines, any imaging you already have, and a short note of what your hip stops you doing. It helps to think in advance about your main goal, whether that is walking without pain, sleeping through the night, or returning to a particular sport. If you are self-paying you do not need a referral letter.
Preparing for hip surgery
You will be seen for a pre-operative assessment to check that you are fit for anaesthetic. This is the time to sort out practical things at home: a clear route through each room, everyday items within easy reach, and someone available to help for the first week or two. Stopping smoking and keeping active beforehand both make recovery easier.
The day of your operation
You will be asked to fast beforehand and will meet your anaesthetist to discuss whether a spinal or general anaesthetic suits you best. Mr Chauhan will confirm the plan and answer any remaining questions before you go to theatre. Most hip replacement patients are helped to stand and walk with support on the same day or the following morning.
Your hip recovery
Physiotherapy starts almost immediately and is the single biggest factor in a good result. Expect to use crutches or sticks at first, then gradually reduce support as confidence and muscle strength return. Swelling and bruising around the hip and thigh are normal in the early weeks. Progress is steady rather than dramatic, and most people notice a clear difference month by month over the first year.
Driving, work and sport
You can drive again once you can perform an emergency stop comfortably and are no longer taking strong painkillers, and you should tell your insurer. Return to work depends on how physical your job is. Low-impact activities such as walking, cycling, swimming and golf are usually encouraged; high-impact running and contact sport are discussed individually.
Risks worth knowing about
Hip replacement is a reliable operation, but no surgery is risk free. Infection, blood clots, dislocation, leg length difference and loosening of the implant over many years are all possible, and Mr Chauhan will discuss how likely each is in your particular case before you consent. Contact the team promptly if you develop a fever, increasing pain, or a hot swollen calf.
Read more about your treatment options
Find out more about total hip replacement, about injections into the hip joint as a non-surgical option, or about where Mr Chauhan sees patients in Essex and London.