Day by Day Progress

Diet

• An intravenous (IV) is started for fluids and medications.
• You will start with liquids, or a light meal as tolerated.

Activities and Exercises

• You will get out of bed with the help of a physiotherapist and/or nurse, generally within 24 hours of your surgery.
• You will do deep breathing and coughing exercises.
• You will do foot and ankle exercises.
• You will be told how much weight you can put on your leg. This will be shown and explained.
• For total hip replacement surgery patients, usually position pillow or wedge between legs.

Incision Care, Tests and Treatments

• Small or large dressing, as required, may need changing.
• Blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be taken every 4 hours (you will be woken up if you are sleeping).
• Catheter needed if unable to urinate (pee).
• May have drain in your hip or knee joint to remove extra fluid.

Diet

• IV is removed or maintained for fluids and medications.
• Move to regular diet as you are able to.

Activities and Exercises

• Movement from bed to chair with help.
• Using a walker, you may also go for a short walk with help.
• Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
• Foot and ankle exercises, every waking hour.
• Bed and chair exercises as taught by your physiotherapist, done at least 3 times a day.
• You will be told how much weight you can put on your leg. This will be shown and explained. 

Incision Care, Tests and Treatments

• Your incision is dressed and checked, daily, and may be changed.
• Blood drawn for testing. Temperature, blood pressure, pulse monitored.
• If you have a catheter, it will be removed.
• Drain may be removed.
• If knee surgery patient, you may have a knee x-ray.

Diet

• Maintain a regular/high fiber diet.
• IV is removed once you are drinking enough liquids and your medication is finished.

Activities and Exercises

• Sit up in chair for meals.
• Begin at least two walks per day with assistance. Increase walking distance with walking aid.
• Get in and out of bed frequently.
• Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
• Continue the exercise program taught to you by your physiotherapist.
• You will learn about precautions to take to protect your knee or hip.

Incision Care, Tests and Treatments

• Nurse checks incision, and may change dressing.
• Blood may be drawn for testing.
• Temperature, blood pressure, and pulse monitored.
• Drain removed.

Diet

• Maintain a regular/high fiber diet.

Activities and Exercises

• Dress yourself with help.
• Occupational Therapist may see you to discuss safe day-to-day functioning at home.
• Walking independently 3-4 times daily with walker or crutches.
• Increase walking distance as able.
• Continue breathing and coughing and daily exercises.
• Learn and review at-home exercises.
• Practice climbing stairs with physiotherapist.

Incision Care, Tests and Treatments

• Nurse checks incision, and may change dressing.
• Blood may be taken for testing.

Diet

• Plan to continue high fibre diet at home.

Activities and Exercises

• Getting in/out of bed by yourself
• Moving about independently and exercising on your own.
• Climbs stairs safely.
• Most patients go home with a walker or crutches. Your physiotherapist will talk to you about when to move to a cane.
• Able to walk 70-100 metres.
• Review hip/knee precautions.
• Continue daily exercises.

Incision Care, Tests and Treatments

• You will be instructed when to have your staples removed, and who will remove them. You will be provided with a staple remover.