What to Expect After Hip Replacement Surgery

Get your top questions answered about hip replacement recovery

When walking, sitting down and standing up are painful — and so is just lying still — your doctor might say it’s time to consider hip replacement surgery.

“Surgery is recommended when ongoing pain and stiffness limit daily activities and when treatments like medication, injections or physical therapy aren’t providing enough relief,” says James Piper, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Geisinger. “Hip replacement surgery is a proven way to relieve pain, improve mobility and increase quality of life when other treatments are no longer effective.”

But surgery is a big decision. Knowing what to expect after you wake up from it can put your mind at ease.

That’s why Dr. Piper answers your top questions about what hip replacement recovery looks like — from your hospital stay to resuming normal activities.

FAQs on hip replacement recovery

“Outcomes are strongest when you follow your care plan and stay active throughout recovery,” says Dr. Piper.

And understanding what to expect after hip replacement helps you better prepare and stay engaged in your recovery.

He answers your top 7 questions about hip replacement recovery:

How soon after surgery does recovery begin?

As soon as your surgeon finishes the surgery, your recovery begins — by standing and walking that same day. Getting up and moving after surgery reduces risk of blood clots and can help you recover quicker.

“Walking is the best medicine to prevent post-operative problems,” says Dr. Piper. “You’ll receive antibiotics in the hospital to help prevent infections, as well as medications to control your pain and reduce risk of blood clots.”

Some people stay in the hospital overnight, but most can go home the same day. The length of your hospital stay depends on your age, overall health and preexisting conditions.

Your care team will prep you for going home by getting you moving around and starting your physical therapy routine right away. They’ll also give you deep-breathing exercises to help prevent lung complications.

“While you’re healing following surgery, you can become susceptible to congestion in your lungs,” says Dr. Piper. “You should work on breathing deeply and frequently coughing to clear your lungs as part of the healing process.”

Will I need a cane or crutches?

Reducing your fall risk is crucial, so your surgeon and care team will evaluate whether you need a device to help you walk. In most cases, it’s not necessary to keep weight off your hip after surgery. But if you feel unbalanced walking on your own, a walker, crutches or cane can help with stability as you heal and gain confidence.

When you’re recovering at home, you might also need a raised toilet seat, a shower chair and a grabber tool to help you pick items up off the floor.

When does hip replacement rehabilitation start?

While you’re still in the hospital, you’ll learn to move your feet up and down and flex your leg muscles to keep your blood circulating. You’ll begin working with a physical therapist the day of surgery and learn how to protect your hip in the correct positions while recovering.

“Your physical therapist will work with you in the hospital to teach you specific exercises to regain full hip movement,” says Dr. Piper. “After you leave the hospital, formal physical therapy depends on your progress.”

Doing the exercises will ease pain and swelling, restore range of motion, rebuild strength in your hip and surrounding muscles and improve your balance, helping prevent falls.

If your surgeon recommends outpatient physical therapy, you can expect a tailored program that evolves as you heal. Some of the exercises may include:

Early phase: gentle range-of-motion exercises, ankle rotations, quadriceps and gluteal sets, hip abductions and extensions, quad squeezes, supported walks and stationary cycling
Progression: standing hip exercises, knee extensions, straight leg raises, mini squats, step training and balance drills

“Your homework is to do your exercises regularly to enhance progress and help you return to daily activities sooner,” says Dr. Piper.

How much pain will I be in?

Some initial mild to moderate pain at the joint is normal and tends to peak a few days after surgery. But as your physical activity increases, your pain levels should gradually decrease.

Your care team will prescribe or recommend over-the-counter pain meds to manage it. Ice your leg and incision site and keep your leg elevated above your heart to reduce pain and swelling, too.

“If your pain is severe — consistently at a 6 or higher on a 1-to-10 pain scale — or worsens, talk to your doctor,” says Dr. Piper. “Your care team will evaluate you for infection or other complications, especially if you have other symptoms like redness and oozing at the incision site.”

When will I return to normal physical activities?

Depending on your progress, you should be able to return to most of your normal low-impact activities in 4 to 6 weeks, such as light housework and gardening, cycling and golfing. But high-impact sports and activities may take longer, up to 3 to 6 months.

Just be sure to give yourself enough time to heal and avoid taking on too much too soon. Your doctor will probably discourage you from participating in any activities that put too much stress on your new joint, such as running.

“You don’t want to push yourself too hard within the first few weeks after surgery,” says Dr. Piper. “And you definitely don’t want to put yourself in the position where you could fall — that can damage your new hip and require more surgery.”

When can I return to work and driving?

Once you reach the 6-week mark and have regained full hip movement, you’ll likely be able to resume driving — as long as you’re no longer on pain meds that can impair your coordination. You may be able to drive sooner if your hip replacement was on the left hip and you’re recovering well.

“Depending on the physical nature of your job, your surgeon will give you the OK to return to work about 6 weeks after surgery,” says Dr. Piper. “If you have a desk job, you’ll likely be able to return sooner, in 2 to 4 weeks.”

When can I expect a full recovery from hip replacement?

Full recovery varies from person to person, but most are doing well about 2 to 3 months after surgery and regain full strength and endurance by 6 months. Robotic surgeries and minimally invasive techniques for hip replacement are helping people achieve quicker recoveries and better results.

As you work on improving your hip mobility, you should find you have much less pain than before your surgery, as well as increased range of motion in your hip. In fact, one study showed that 90% of people who had hip replacement surgery had mild to no pain. Only up to 20% still had limitations after 5 years.

“Patients usually discover that their daily activities have become much easier because their joint moves better than it did before surgery,” says Dr. Piper. “And that’s the whole point. Hip replacement can be life-changing and greatly enhance quality of life, so you can engage in more daily activities without pain or limitations.”