I posted the other day about being 12 days into post-surgery and received some excellent advice. What about beginning an upper body workout with light weights with repititions? Obviously I'm getting ansy about staying active.
Absolutely, do your upper body work. Keep everything moving. Keep the blood flowing. It will keep you happy and help with all your other recovery exercises.
My doctor allowed light upper body weight work at 2 weeks, and I did bench presses and chin ups. At 4.5 weeks he turned me loose on all upper body weight work.
Upper body work outs seem fine to me. But I would take certain precautions like not packing up any weights while being supported by your legs. Roll plates and dumb bells etc just make sure that you don't put much weight through your repairing femur.
I have been doing upper body weight training since my friend took me to the YMCA while I was still on crutches and could not drive. Start with light weights and just get the body used to moving - I did that for a couple of weeks and felt silly in the weight room. Now I am at 80% and hold back enough not to be "silly" and risk to much. I had my second done in Aug 2011 and am holding off any leg work for a year (Doc's orders)
I have also added a bunch of CORE work that is paying off - well worth switch off each day - strength, CORE, stretching; repeat
I agree with all that has been said. Use machines, or benches, or whatever so that the operated hip/leg is not supporting the weight. And, I was cautioned NOT to do a machine that requires you to hook your knees under a pad to keep you down (like a lat pulldown). Other than that, let-er-rip.