Prior to your discharge, you will usually be notified when your follow-up appointment with your surgeon will be. At your follow-up visit, your surgeon will ask about your pain and your progress with mobility and exercise. Your physical exam will include a careful check of your hip movement, amount of swelling and your surgical wound to rule out any signs of infection.

In preparation for your appointment, make sure you write down a list of all the questions you want to ask or any issues you want to discuss with your surgeon. Take those notes with you on the day and then tick each point off during your appointment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things that are not clear. You may want to take someone with you for support. Be sure to bring all your medications with you to your appointments. If you are struggling with pain control, it is useful to keep a pain diary over the course of a week leading to your appointment.

Your hospital paperwork should say if there are any tests or scans or x-rays you need before your appointment. If you have any questions about how to have these done, contact your surgeon

prior to your appointment date.

Depending on how soon after the surgery you appointment is scheduled, you may not be able to drive yourself to the hospital, so you may need to ask a friend or family member to take you to your follow-up appointments.

Examples of questions to ask

Write down any questions you want to ask your doctor so that you don’t forget. Here are a few ideas: