Undergoing hip surgery is a major step toward regaining mobility, reducing pain, and improving your overall quality of life. While each patient’s journey is unique, understanding the typical recovery trajectory can provide reassurance along the way. Keep reading to discover our guide to total hip replacement recovery week by week.
Week 1: Immediate Recovery and Early Mobility
In the first week, your primary goals are pain management, wound care, and gentle movement. Within 24 hours of surgery, you will likely begin standing and walking with the assistance of a walker or crutches. We usually recommend limiting your walks to a few minutes at a time, 2 to 3 times per day, at a slow and steady pace. This could look like walking to the bathroom, across a room, or down a hallway.
You may also begin doing your prescribed physiotherapy exercises, such as ankle pumps and gentle leg lifts, to encourage circulation and prevent stiffness. While some discomfort is to be expected, your pain should gradually lessen with medication and gentle movement as you continue to build confidence each day.
Week 2: Building Confidence
By the second week, you’ll notice swelling and bruising begin to decrease, and you may be ready to transition from a walker to a cane, although some support may still be needed. If cleared by your physiotherapist, your exercises may expand to include seated knee extensions and side leg raises.
Precautions remain essential during this stage: Avoid bending your hip more than 90 degrees, crossing your legs, or twisting your operated leg inward (if recommended for your surgical approach). These restrictions reduce the risk of hip dislocation in the early healing phase.
Week 3: Increasing Strength and Independence
Mobility improves noticeably by the third week. You may begin walking slightly longer distances and practicing light functional movements, such as climbing stairs with assistance. During this period, continue doing your strengthening exercises and practicing safe transfers, such as getting in and out of bed or a chair without straining your hip.
Week 4: Regaining Daily Function
By the 4-week mark, you may be able to walk short distances without an assistive device, depending on your individual progress. At this stage, you can usually handle light household tasks and gradually increase the duration of your walks.
If approved by your surgeon, you may also introduce low-impact exercises, such as stationary cycling or gentle pool therapy. You might also return to nonstrenuous work duties at 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your recovery progress and job duties.
Weeks 5 and 6: Transitioning To Normalcy
At this point, you’ll begin to feel much more like yourself, as pain is typically minimal and any residual swelling continues to subside. You may be able to walk unaided, although it’s common to feel fatigued after longer activities.
Driving is often possible around the 6-week mark, provided you can safely control the vehicle and are no longer taking strong pain medications. Always confirm with your surgeon before resuming driving.
Weeks 7 Through 12: Building Endurance and Strength
You’ll make significant gains in endurance and strength between 2 and 3 months after your procedure. Physiotherapy sessions may include balance training, advanced strengthening exercises, and posture work.
Most patients can comfortably walk several blocks, shop, or participate in social activities without limitations. This period often marks the transition back to recreational activities, such as golf, light hiking, or swimming.
3 to 6 Months: Returning To Active Living
By 3 to 6 months, your new hip may feel natural, but you may still experience occasional stiffness after prolonged activity. If you have an active or physically demanding job, you can usually return to work by this point.
That said, you should still refrain from high-impact activities such as running or contact sports to protect the longevity of your implant.
Long-Term Recovery and Lifestyle Adjustments
Full recovery from hip replacement surgery can take up to a year, although patients typically achieve most milestones in the first 3 to 6 months. Key long-term precautions include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce stress on the joints.
- Staying active with low-impact exercise to preserve mobility.
- Following up regularly with your surgeon to monitor the health of your implant.
Recovery Considerations by Age
Your age and overall health generally influence recovery timelines:
- 60-year-olds often bounce back quickly, regaining their strength and mobility sooner due to higher baseline fitness.
- 70-year-olds typically follow the standard hip replacement recovery time but may take slightly longer to rebuild their endurance. Most people in this age group achieve excellent results with consistent physiotherapy.
- 80-year-olds may progress more cautiously, requiring longer use of walking aids and more gradual physiotherapy adjustments. Still, many regain independence and substantial pain relief.
Start Your Journey
The week-by-week journey through total hip replacement recovery is marked by steady progress, from short, assisted walks in the first week to near-full independence by 3 months. Each patient’s pace may differ, especially across age groups. With dedication to physiotherapy, careful adherence to precautions, and ongoing support from healthcare providers, the outcome is overwhelmingly positive: less pain, more mobility, and a better quality of life.
To explore your hip surgery options, contact us online today. We also invite you to explore our blog post on preparing for hip replacement surgery so you can set yourself up for success early.