Preparing for hip replacement surgery means optimising your health in the four to six weeks before the operation, attending a pre-operative assessment at your chosen hospital, reviewing your medications with your surgical team, preparing your home for safe recovery, and packing for a one to two night hospital stay. Mr Shakir Hussain's team coordinates each step with you.
When Does Preparation for Hip Replacement Start?
Preparation typically begins four to six weeks before your surgery date. This window gives Mr Hussain's team time to complete a full pre-operative assessment, optimise your physical condition, review your medications, and help you prepare your home for recovery.
Patients who use this time well report shorter hospital stays, faster early recovery, and fewer complications. Patients who arrive on the day of surgery without preparation can still do well, but the margin for setbacks is smaller.
Mr Hussain's secretary, Wendy Richards, will contact you to schedule your pre-operative assessment as soon as a surgery date is confirmed.
Your Pre-Operative Assessment
Your pre-operative assessment is a structured review of your fitness for surgery and anaesthesia. Mr Hussain operates at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Priory Hospital Edgbaston, and Harborne Hospital, and your assessment takes place at whichever hospital your surgery is booked into.
The assessment typically includes:
- Blood tests, including full blood count, kidney function, blood sugar, clotting screen, and group and save
- An electrocardiogram if you are over 60 or have a heart history
- MRSA nasal and groin swabs to screen for resistant bacteria
- A consultation with the anaesthetist (see the difference between spinal and general anaesthetic for hip replacement)
- A physiotherapy review covering early mobilisation and crutch fitting
- A nursing review of your medication list, allergies, and home circumstances
Most assessments take two to three hours. You will be told on the day if anything needs further investigation. If your blood pressure is uncontrolled, your blood sugar is too high, or your iron level is low, your team may delay surgery briefly to optimise these.
Optimising Your Health in the Weeks Before Surgery
The single biggest factor in a fast hip replacement recovery is the condition you arrive in on the day of surgery. Three to six weeks of focused preparation makes a measurable difference.
Fitness
Walk daily within your pain limits. Short walks build the cardiovascular reserve that aids anaesthetic recovery. If walking is painful, consider stationary cycling, swimming, or pool walking; the buoyancy unloads the hip while still moving the joint.
Upper body strength
You will use crutches for the first two to four weeks. Squeezing a small ball or using light hand weights builds the wrist and forearm strength that crutches demand.
Weight
A BMI under 35 is the safest range for hip replacement surgery. If your BMI is higher, even a modest five percent weight loss in the weeks before surgery reduces complication risk.
Sleep
Aim for seven to eight hours nightly. Tissue repair, immune function, and pain tolerance all depend on sleep.
Blood sugar
If you have diabetes, an HbA1c at or below 69 mmol/mol significantly reduces surgical site infection risk. Speak to your GP or diabetes team well in advance.
Iron
Low iron stores predict slower recovery. If a pre-op blood test shows iron deficiency, Mr Hussain's team may prescribe iron tablets or arrange an iron infusion before surgery.
Dental check
Untreated dental infections are a recognised source of late prosthetic joint infection. A routine dental check and any needed treatment before surgery is sensible.
Reviewing Your Medications
Some medications need to be stopped before hip replacement; others must be continued. Bring a complete list, including doses and frequencies, to your pre-operative assessment.
Common medications that require attention include blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs, anti-inflammatory painkillers, diabetes medications including GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, long-term steroids, biologics, and herbal supplements.
The detailed guide on which medications to stop before hip or knee surgery covers each class in full, with the specific stop dates and the reasons behind them. Read it once, then bring your medication list to your assessment so the anaesthetist and Mr Hussain can confirm the plan with you.
Setting Up Your Home for Recovery
A safe, accessible home reduces the risk of falls in the first six weeks after surgery. Walk through your house mentally and address these areas:
- Bed. If your bedroom is upstairs and you have a downstairs toilet, consider moving the bed downstairs for the first two to three weeks. You can manage stairs after surgery, but limiting them in the first week is easier on the new hip.
- Bathroom. A raised toilet seat brings the seat closer to standing height. A grab rail next to the toilet helps with sit-to-stand. A non-slip mat in the shower or bath prevents slips.
- Trip hazards. Remove or tape down loose rugs. Clear electrical cables from walkways. Move low coffee tables that you cannot see while using crutches.
- Reach. Place daily-use items between waist and shoulder height so you do not need to bend or squat.
- Kitchen. Cook and freeze meals for the first two weeks. A perching stool at the kitchen counter lets you prepare food without standing for long.
- Equipment. Useful aids include a sock aid, a long-handled shoehorn, a grabber, and a perching stool. Most can be bought online for around fifty pounds in total.
If you live alone, plan for someone to stay with you for the first three to five nights.
What to Pack for Hospital
You will typically be in hospital for one to two nights. Pack a small bag rather than a large suitcase.
- Loose-fitting clothing such as joggers, T-shirts, and a cardigan that buttons at the front
- Slip-on shoes or trainers with a firm sole; avoid backless slippers
- Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm
- Phone and charger with a long cable
- Reading material, a tablet, or headphones for downtime
- A copy of your medication list and any letters from your GP
- Glasses, hearing aids, and dentures with their cases
- A small amount of cash for the hospital shop or vending machine
Leave jewellery, large amounts of cash, and valuables at home. The hospital provides toiletries and meals; bringing your own simply adds comfort.
Arranging Your Support Team
Most patients need help at home for the first two to three weeks after hip replacement. Think about who will be available and what they will help with:
- The first night home. Someone to stay overnight is reassuring even if you feel mobile.
- First two weeks. Help with cooking, laundry, shopping, and pet care. Friends and family can rotate this so no one person is overburdened.
- Transport home from hospital. You cannot drive yourself home. Arrange a friend, family member, or pre-booked taxi with a high seat.
- Children and pets. If you have young children or active dogs, arrange extra help for the first two weeks; even a sociable jump from a small dog can risk a fall.
- Shopping. A pre-stocked fridge and freezer reduces the load on whoever is helping.
If you do not have family nearby, a private carer for a few hours a day is a practical option for the first week. Wendy Richards can suggest local agencies if you ask.
The 24 Hours Before Surgery
The day before and the morning of surgery follow a clear routine designed to keep you safe and comfortable.
Solid food
Stop eating six hours before your scheduled arrival time. This includes sweets, chewing gum, and milky drinks.
Sip Till Send
Clear fluids can be sipped right up until you are called to theatre. This is the protocol used at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Priory Hospital Edgbaston, and Harborne Hospital, replacing the older "nil by mouth from midnight" rule. Clear fluids include water, black tea or coffee without milk, clear squash, and apple juice. Sipping fluids reduces thirst, nausea, and recovery time.
Take small sips of clear water or clear squash whenever you are thirsty, right up until the nurses send for you to go to theatre. You do not need to stop drinking the night before. This is the same modern protocol used at all three of Mr Hussain's hospital sites.
Shower
Take a shower or bath the evening before, and again the morning of surgery. Use the chlorhexidine wash provided if your hospital includes one.
Skin and nails
Remove all jewellery. A wedding ring can be taped if it does not slip off. Take off nail varnish, false nails, and acrylics; the anaesthetist needs to monitor oxygen levels through your fingertip. Remove contact lenses and bring glasses instead.
Sleep
Try to get a good night's rest. Anxiety the night before surgery is normal; stick to your usual bedtime routine.
Arrival
Confirm your check-in time, the hospital site, and the entrance. Set out a little early; admission feels rushed if you arrive late.
Day of Surgery, What to Expect on Arrival
You will be admitted at a dedicated surgical reception desk. The admission process is consistent across all three hospitals where Mr Hussain operates.
A nurse will check your details and fit a hospital identification band. You will change into a gown and surgical socks. Mr Hussain will see you on the ward to confirm the operative side, mark the leg with a marker pen, and answer any final questions. The anaesthetist will visit to confirm your anaesthetic plan and place a small cannula in your hand or forearm.
If you are mobile, you will walk to theatre with a member of the nursing team. The walk itself is part of the modern enhanced-recovery approach and is less daunting than being wheeled in. If walking is too painful or your mobility is limited, you will be taken in a wheelchair or on a trolley; the choice is yours and the nursing team will follow your lead.
The operation itself takes 60 to 90 minutes for most hip replacements. Recovery in the post-anaesthetic care unit takes about 60 minutes before you return to your ward. Many patients are walking with assistance the same afternoon.
Questions to Ask Mr Hussain at Your Pre-Op Visit
Patients often think of questions too late. Bring a written list to your pre-op consultation. Useful questions include:
- Which surgical approach will you use, and why is it the right one for me?
- Which implant brand and bearing surface will you select for me?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- When can I shower, drive, fly, return to work, and resume sport?
- What does my support team need to know on day one?
- What pain relief will I have, and how is it managed at home?
- What are the warning signs I should call you about after discharge?
- Who do I call out of hours if I have a concern?
- How do you follow up after surgery, and at what intervals?
- What is the realistic best and worst case for my recovery?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink water on the morning of hip replacement surgery?
Yes. Under the Sip Till Send protocol used at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Priory Hospital Edgbaston, and Harborne Hospital, you can sip clear fluids until you are called for theatre. Clear fluids include water, black tea or coffee without milk, clear squash, and apple juice.
Can I take my regular blood pressure tablets the morning of hip replacement surgery?
Usually yes for most blood pressure medications, but ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, such as ramipril or losartan, are often paused on the morning of surgery. The anaesthetist confirms the plan at your pre-operative assessment.
How long will I be in hospital after a hip replacement?
Most patients stay one to two nights after hip replacement surgery. Day-case hip replacement is also possible for fit patients with strong home support; Mr Hussain will discuss whether you are a candidate at your consultation.
Do I need to stop multivitamins or herbal supplements before hip replacement?
Most herbal supplements should be stopped at least two weeks before surgery, as some interact with anaesthetic drugs or affect bleeding. See the full medication guide for specifics.
Can I bring my own pillow to hospital for hip replacement?
Yes. A familiar pillow often helps sleep on the first night after hip replacement. Label it with your name in case it is misplaced during the ward routine.
Will I need physiotherapy on the ward before discharge after hip replacement?
Yes. A physiotherapist will see you on the ward, teach you to walk with crutches, climb stairs safely, and confirm you are safe to be discharged home.
Who do I contact if my hip replacement surgery date needs to change?
Wendy Richards, Mr Hussain's secretary, handles all scheduling. Email shussainorthopaedics@gmail.com or call 07399 114575.
Mr Shakir Hussain
Consultant Hip and Knee Surgeon at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham. Specialist in hip resurfacing, hip replacement, robotic knee replacement, and complex revision surgery.