From the Research
Recovery from a hip replacement typically takes 3 to 6 months for most patients, though the timeline varies based on individual factors. The initial hospital stay usually lasts 1-3 days, followed by a period of using assistive devices like walkers or crutches for about 2-4 weeks. Most patients can resume light activities within 3-6 weeks and return to more normal function by 10-12 weeks.
Key Factors Influencing Recovery Time
- Age
- Overall health
- Pre-surgery fitness level
- Adherence to rehabilitation protocols
- Whether the surgery was minimally invasive Pain management typically includes prescription medications like oxycodone or hydrocodone for severe pain in the first few days, transitioning to NSAIDs like ibuprofen (600-800mg every 6-8 hours) or naproxen (500mg twice daily) for ongoing discomfort, as seen in studies such as 1.
Stages of Recovery
- Initial wound healing and pain control (1-2 weeks)
- Basic mobility restoration (2-6 weeks)
- Functional recovery (6 weeks to 6 months) A study published in the Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 2 found that the mean length of time to return to work was 13.9 weeks, and the mean time taken to return to sports or similar physical activities was 18.8 weeks. Another study published in International orthopaedics 3 reported that the mean time to sports resumption after surgery was 14.6 weeks, and the resumption rate was 98% for sports of any impact level and 82% for high-impact activities. Recovery time can also be influenced by the type of surgical approach used, as seen in a study published in the Journal of biomechanics 4, which compared the recovery time of patients who underwent minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty with two different surgical approaches. Overall, while the recovery time for hip replacement surgery can vary, most patients can expect to return to normal activities within 3 to 6 months 2, 3, 1, 4.