Hip Replacement Surgery: Recovery

Recovery after hip replacement surgery usually takes around six to eight weeks. However, some people may have more extended recovery periods due to advanced age, activity level before surgery, or co-existing health conditions.

Proper post-operative rehabilitation is key to getting back on your feet.

Surgery Follow-Up

You will need to follow up with your orthopedic surgeon several times during and after your recovery period. Your appointment schedule after your hip replacement surgery can vary.

You can expect to follow-up with your surgical team two to three times in the first six months after surgery, and then every three to five years for x-rays to monitor your hip replacement.

During the immediate post-surgery visits, your surgeon will check on your healing and screen for complications, like an infection or blood clot. If you have non-absorbable stitches, these will be removed one to two weeks after surgery.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PT) begins while you are in the hospital, starting with exercises like ankle pumps, glute squeezes, quad sets, and heel slides. Your physical therapist will assist you the first few times you get out of bed to ensure you feel confident before having you do this on your own.

While you are still in the hospital, your therapist will make sure that you are safe to return home. If you are not and don't have anyone to assist you, you may need extended inpatient rehabilitation where you can get more physical therapy and medical supervision until you are ready to go home.

It may be recommended that you attend regular PT appointments after you are discharged home. You can also opt for in-home physical therapy, where a physical therapist comes to your home to help you with tasks such as transfers, climbing stairs, walking, and overall strengthening.

The main goals of physical therapy are to:

• Help you regain the strength of the muscles surrounding your hip
• Improve your gait (walking)
• Improve functional independence

In addition to the work you put in at your PT appointments, it's likely that your therapist will prescribe exercises for you to do at home as well.

Recovery Timeline

After hip replacement surgery, you can expect to stay in the hospital for approximately one to three days. If you are having an outpatient hip replacement, which is commonly done with a minimally invasive anterior surgical approach, you will be able to home on the day of your surgery.

As you recover in the hospital, you can expect to:

• Ice your hip and incision site
• Elevate your leg when laying down.
• Work with an occupational therapist who will teach you how to do important self-care activities, like bathing and dressing, while maintaining any precautions you may have with your new hip.

Most people can go home safely after their hospital stay with the assistance of a family member or friend. If you cannot safely return to your home after surgery, you will go to a rehabilitation center for about seven to 10 days after your hospital discharge.

Once at home, it's important to follow your discharge instructions, which will likely include:

• Continue icing your hip as instructed
• Take your pain medication as directed, which usually includes a combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids
• Take any other medications as prescribed, such as a blood thinner, antibiotic, or stool softener
• Resume your normal diet and drink lots of fluids
• Attend all of your surgery and physical therapy appointments

Return to Physical Activity

Your surgeon will advise you about when you can return to various activities after your operation. It's important to follow instructions to optimize your healing and help prevent complications.

^*These are general timeframes for resuming physical activities safely. What's best for you may be different than what is listed here. Speak with your healthcare provider.

Walking

Most people take their first steps after surgery with the aid of a walker. Those with good balance and a strong upper body may opt to use crutches.

Transitioning to a cane, which takes about four weeks, depends on two main factors:

• Restrictions from your surgeon to avoid putting full weight on your leg in the early weeks after surgery
• Your ability to regain leg muscle strength

From a cane, the usual time to walking unassisted is about six to eight weeks after surgery.

Exercise and Sex

The usual time to return to various activities like biking, golfing, swimming, or having sex is around six weeks. This assumes that your wound has fully healed and that you feel comfortable and ready.

Driving

You can usually return to driving between one to six weeks after surgery, as long as you can safely and quickly operate the gas and brake pedals and are no longer taking any opioid pain medication.

Work

Your return to work depends on your occupation and the type of activity involved in your work.

If you work in a seated position with limited walking, you can plan on returning within about three weeks after your surgery. If you are physically active at work, you may need several additional weeks until you can return to your full duties.

Other

Your surgeon may advise you about taking precautions when sitting, bending, or sleeping in order to protect your newly implanted hip. These precautions prevent a hip dislocation (the ball of the hip joint coming out of the socket).

Coping With Recovery

Hip replacement surgery requires careful planning. In fact, probably the most important factor in coping with your recovery is being organized and psychologically prepared before actually having the surgery.

You can do this by:

• Purchasing or renting all of your equipment and having it ready to use at your home. This includes walking aids, such as a walker and crutches, and also things like a shower chair, elevated toilet seat, or sock aid.
• Removing home hazards that increase your risk of falling, like loose rugs or electrical cords
• Lining up some friends who can assist you with tasks like getting the mail and grocery shopping
• Arranging for home services, like a visiting nurse or physical therapist
• Talking with your surgeon in detail about what to expect from the surgery

It may also be beneficial to start physical therapy before your procedure. Studies show that that prehabilitation (or "pre-hab") can prepare your body for recovery and physical therapy after surgery—which may help you get back on your feet faster.

Even though hip replacement surgery is a type of elective surgery, it's normal to feel a bit uneasy or nervous before and after the operation. If you are struggling with your emotions before your surgery or throughout your recovery process, please reach out to your surgeon or healthcare provider. They can provide you with a referral to a mental health professional.

Wound Care

To prevent infection, it's important to keep your hip wound clean and dry and carefully follow your surgeon's instructions regarding the bandage. It is also important that you not submerge or soak the wound in a bathtub or hot tub until it is fully healed—usually three or four weeks after surgery.

Call your surgeon immediately if you develop any symptoms or signs of an infection, such as:

• Fever or chills
• Redness, swelling, or warmth around the incision site
• Fluid draining from the incision site
• Increased hip pain

In addition, hip replacement surgery increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT, blood clots in your legs). Be sure to call your surgeon if you develop any pain, swelling, or redness in your leg or calf.

A Word From Verywell

Recovering from hip replacement surgery requires a steadfast commitment on your part. To optimize your recovery, you may consider talking with your surgeon about engaging in a preoperative joint replacement education/exercise program. Research suggests these programs might help patients achieve successful and speedy recoveries.