@Brushis Good morning! I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing a good bit of swelling.
It happens and with you having both hips replaced, I'm not surprised.
there are many lymph nodes and pathways deep in your abdomen and some very important nodes on each groin area.. right where your upper leg joins into the front part of your hip and they can get overwhelmed after such a surgery..
The nodes are what assimilates the excess fluid and moves it upward to the next channels so it gets to the heart, then kidneys. When they get hit with such a large amount they just can't keep up.
Manual Lymph Drainage - MLD - is very effective and if you want to try a few of the techniques, maybe you can help with the flow.
It won't be a quick fix because your body is producing a good bit of lymph fluid and trying to heal. But if you do this daily and several times a day
with a very light touch, it will begin easing up.
Ideally, finding a MLD therapist is the best option but doing something for yourself isn't bad, either.
Laying with a pillow under your knee is not a good idea. It should be like this, similar but different!
****
Take deep breaths.. deep, as in breathing in to a count of 5, or 3 or 4, whatever is best for you. hold it for another count of 5 then blow out completely, still using the count that's comfortable for you. A series of at least 6 of these could help get your excess swelling to move. To ensure you are taking proper deep breaths, place your hand on your naval and watch while taking in your breath, if doing this properly you should see your hand move up.
Then, as you slowly breath out, to the same count of either 3, 4 or 5 gently press down and slightly upwards with the palm of your hand.
Do this whenever you feel up to it during the day or night. The more supine that you could get in the recliner or bed, the more effective this can be.. you have lymph nodes located in your groin and sitting up too much can cause a restriction of the lymph flow.
You can, after the breathing, place your hands lightly on your upper thigh, right where the crease is in your groin and lightly stroke upwards towards your naval.
I did this quite a bit post op and while it takes a while for the body to wake up and respond, it will, and it will help get things moving.
The reason this can help is because our lymphatic system doesn't use our cardiovascular system to help lymph fluids move.. no assistance from the heart pumping. Our breathing and our physical (muscular) movements keep it flowing.
****