(HealthDayNews) -- If you've recently had hip replacement surgery, learning to live with your new hip can take some time.
The University of Virginia Health System offers these tips:
- Use pain or discomfort as your movement guide, and avoid positions that give you discomfort.
- Do not use your hand, your strong leg, or anything else to force movement in your hip.
- Lie down and elevate your legs if they swell after walking.
- Don't cross your legs or ankles.
- Don't bend forward or lift your knee higher than your hip.
- Use firm chairs with arms. Avoid sofas and recliners.
- Use two or more pillows between your legs at night for six weeks.
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Redness, swelling or drainage around or from the incision site.
- An unexplained fever that lasts for more than a day.
- Severe pain that's not relieved by your pain medication.
- Unusual shortening or rotation of your leg.
- Sudden swelling in your thigh or calf.
