Many people return to normal activities within 10 to 12 weeks after surgery, but full recovery can take six to 12 months. Pain usually goes away during this time, but some people feel some pain beyond the first year.
2-6 Weeks After Surgery
After two to four weeks, your doctor will likely remove the stitches from the surgical wound. By this point, you should be able to walk without assistive devices.
Your hip replacement recovery will include several milestones. It may take a year or more to fully recover from surgery, but you should be able to perform most daily activities within six weeks.
After 2–3 months of partial or total hip replacement, a person may be able to resume daily activities but should continue with daily physical therapy and regular walking. As pain and stiffness typically subside by this point, a person may be able to work on improving the following in their hip: strength. flexibility.
If the prosthesis is not cemented into place, it is necessary to allow four to six weeks (for the femur bone to "grow into" the implant) before the hip joint is able to bear full weight and walking without crutches is possible.
Most patients have outstanding success following hip replacement. Your pain disappears after just one surgery, and movement returns to normal.
Many times after surgery there will be a difference in leg length, but there is usually a difference in leg length whether you have had surgery or not. Most often, the difference is minimal and we experience no symptoms. Symptoms only show up when there is a larger discrepancy in limb length.
Seniors should avoid hip flexion past 90 degrees — bending your hip too far or lifting your knee too high. This movement occurs when you lift your leg or your knee up towards your body. For example, when you put on socks or shoes. Generally, keep the knee below hip level.
It is common at this point to still have a feeling of stiffness, particularly if you have stayed in one position for too long. I recommend changing position every 1-2 hours to avoid this feeling.
If pain was present right from the outset, it may indicate infection or a periprosthetic fracture. Impingement or early failure of osseointegration may also cause pain to have been present right from the first day of surgery. A pain free interval followed by pain may indicate loosening or late infection.
The effectiveness of exercises differs from patient to patient. However, walking is generally considered as the best exercise following total hip replacement. This is because it helps to promote hip movement and is a low-impact activity.
One of the most common serious medical complications related to joint replacement surgery is blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot in the leg and is called a deep vein thrombosis. A sudden increase in leg swelling along with calf tenderness may be the first sign of a blood clot in the leg.
The Don'ts
Don't lean forward while sitting or as you sit down. Don't try to pick up something on the floor while you are sitting. Don't turn your feet excessively inward or outward when you bend down. Don't reach down to pull up blankets when lying in bed.
Proper walking is the best way to help your hip recover. At first, you will walk with a walker or crutches. Your surgeon or therapist will tell you how much weight to put on your leg. Early on, walking will help you regain movement in your hip.
Most people can expect mild to moderate swelling and pain to subside in 3–6 months. According to 2015 data, post-operative pain becomes chronic in about 10% of people who receive a total hip replacement. This means the pain is ongoing.
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
Everyone recovers differently, but it's often possible to return to light activities or office-based work within around 6 weeks. It may take a few more weeks if your job involves heavy lifting. It's best to avoid extreme movements or sports where there's a risk of falling, such as skiing or riding.
The range of motion is typically limited to 90 degrees of flexion for the first 90 days while tissues are repairing themselves. The maximum potential of the joint and complete healing following a total hip replacement is achieved between one and two years after your operation.
Remember you can't bend more than 90 degrees in those early days, so ensure everyday items are stored at waist height. It's also worth thinking about hiring a raised toilet seat and a shower chair. Setting up a recovery station is a great way to avoid unnecessarily getting up and down when you're trying to recover.
It might be a problem with the artificial joint, or you may have an infection. The pain also could be related to a condition called hip flexor tendinitis. To find out the underlying cause, make an appointment to see your surgeon to have your situation evaluated soon.
Be sure to always step up with your non-operated leg first while climbing stairs after hip replacement surgery. One phrase doctors tell patients to help them remember this is “up with the good, down with the bad.” (As described below, you'll lead with your operated leg when descending stairs.)