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K. Dean Olsen, M.D. · TRIA Orthopedics Burnsville · Shakopee · Bloomington, MN
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After Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

My answers to the questions hip patients ask most in the first weeks after surgery.

These are the same answers that are in the Quiet Total Joint Recovery app. Hip questions first, then the general ones. For the day-to-day rules, see Rules of the Road after Surgery.

Hip questions

I have blood on my dressing. What should I do?

Generally speaking hip incisions don't bleed too much. Keep ice on the wound for 30 minutes at a time and keep your activity to a minimum for two to three hours. If the bleeding continues, contact Dr. Olsen's office.

If the bleeding is confined to the pad portion of the dressing, you can leave it alone. However if it is leaking under the sticky portion of the dressing, then your dressing needs to be changed. You should call Dr. Olsen's office to set up a time you can be seen.

Call the office: 952-831-8742

What are my activity limitations with my hip?

You can put your hip in any position of comfort. You can cross your legs and bend over. In general you want to go "low and slow" for the first six weeks after surgery. People that try to do their normal activities shortly after surgery have a lot more pain and prolong their recovery period. You should use your cane, walker, or crutches for at least three weeks if you are under 70 and for at least four weeks if you are over 70. You can put full weight on your hip as tolerated. You can go up and down stairs with a cane and a railing.

My hip feels great. Do I really have to use my walker, cane, or crutches for a full three to four weeks?

Yes, even if you feel great, those that go without their walking aid too soon, wobble when they walk and they get a lot more bursitis and tendonitis on the sides of the hip. This can double or triple the length of your recovery.1

When can I drive after my hip surgery?

If you had your right hip done, your reflexes aren't normal until four weeks after surgery and you shouldn't drive until then if you are over 70. If you are under 70, you can probably drive safely at three weeks but be very careful until the fourth week. If you had your left hip done then you can drive when you're not on any narcotic pain medications.2

How often should I ice my hip?

Ice packs can take care of about 50% of the pain you experience from the incision and muscle area. You can use it 30 minutes on and then 30 minutes off. Frostbite is a definite possibility if you leave it on too long. Never sleep with an ice pack against your wound.3

I'm having pain shooting down my leg past my knee. Is this related to my hip surgery?

No. Pain that radiates past your knee is more than likely coming from a pinched nerve in your spine. If this is mild, your regular medications can take care of it. If you are on gabapentin, that can be helpful. If your pain is more significant, contact Dr. Olsen for better solutions.4

Why do I have to avoid pickleball for 3 months after my hip surgery?

The bone needs to grow into the metal of your new hip implant. That takes 3 months and the quick start and stop nature of pickleball can compromise that ingrowth forever.5

General questions

I am having a lot of trouble with (name your problem). Should I go to the ER or Urgent Care?

If it is after 5 PM and the problem seems severe, then the ER is your best bet. Another option is TRIA Urgent Care, which will have a better handle on your problem: open until 8 PM on weekdays, and on weekends 8 AM to 8 PM in Burnsville, Bloomington, Maple Grove and Woodbury (8 AM to 4 PM in Shakopee). Orthopedic expertise matters a lot when it comes to solving post-operative problems. Before 5 PM, you can call Dr Olsen's office at 952-831-8742 (TRIA). If the problem doesn't seem severe, you can send Dr. Olsen a message through HealthPartners MyChart.

Call the office: 952-831-8742 TRIA. Before 5 PM.

My pain is not under good control. What should I do?

First of all make sure you're taking all of the prescribed protocol medications. Those that pick and choose tend to have more difficulty with pain control. Secondly if you've taken one of the narcotic pills and that was ineffective after 30 minutes and you took a second one, then you should contact Dr. Olsen to get some assistance with your pain management. A common mistake that patients make is to try and live their normal lives immediately after a major surgery like this and doing so will definitely increase your pain. Make sure you are resting, icing, and for knee surgery elevating frequently to diminish swelling, inflammation, and pain.

Can I take all of my regular medications when I am on this medication protocol?

Yes, you can take all of your regular medications at the same time as the medications on the protocol. Dr. Olsen has reviewed all of your medications and there are no significant interactions. If there are you have had your protocol adjusted accordingly.

Can I put any ointments or antibiotic cream or vitamin E on my wound?

No. Your wound should be left alone until Dr. Olsen's assistant takes off the dressing at your first post-operative visit. After that time standard soap and water is fine but you should not apply any creams or ointments to the wound. Vitamin E applied to a wound too soon can make things much worse.6

Can I shower after my surgery?

Yes you can shower after your surgery. However you should be cautious about the possibility of passing out when you first get in the shower the first couple of days after surgery. Your internal body fluid balance is affected after surgery and if you get immediately into warm water the day after surgery, you can easily pass out. Therefore you should drink at least 2 liters (about half a gallon) of water over a couple of hours prior to getting into the shower the first two days after surgery. Usually after that it's not as big of an issue.7

Do I have to use the Quiet Total Joint app to manage my medications?

No. Some patients will find this app helpful and others will not. It is totally up to you. You can use the printed medication sheets that Dr. Olsen gave you on the day of surgery if you would just like to do it that way.

What if I have a question that this FAQ does not answer?

You should send Dr. Olsen a message on the HealthPartners MyChart webpage.

Log in to HealthPartners MyChart to leave a message for Dr. Olsen (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Numbered answers rest on the studies below; the same lists are on the app’s sources page (opens in a new tab). Answers without a number are Dr. Olsen’s standing instructions for his own patients.

  1. Walker, cane or crutches. Three to four weeks with a walking aid is Dr. Olsen's protocol.
  2. Driving after hip replacement. The three- and four-week figures, and the age cut-off, are Dr. Olsen's protocol. The studies below measured how quickly braking recovers.
  3. Ice. The 30-minutes-on, 30-off routine and the ice-machine advice are Dr. Olsen's protocol.
  4. Pain shooting past the knee.
  5. Bone growing into the implant. The three-month pause from stop-and-start sports is Dr. Olsen's protocol.
  6. Creams and ointments on the wound. Leaving the wound alone is Dr. Olsen's protocol.
  7. Showering.

Nothing on this page is medical advice or a prescription. These answers are written for Dr. Olsen’s own patients and assume his protocol. Never start, stop, or change a medication based on what you read here. Questions about your care: call 952-831-8742 or send a message through HealthPartners MyChart.