Recovery
Recovering from hip and knee replacement
Hip replacement
Recovering from anterior hip replacement
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Day of surgery
First steps
Most patients stand and walk with assistance using a walker, and most go home the same day.
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About 2 weeks
First follow-up
We check your incision and how you are walking. After a left hip replacement, you may be ready to drive.
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About 4 weeks
Driving after a right hip
After a right hip replacement, you may be ready to drive, and many patients no longer need a walker or cane.
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About 6 weeks
Second follow-up
Most patients have returned to the majority of their daily routine and are continuing to build strength.
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1 year
Final follow-up
Your last routine visit. Afterward, you return only if a problem arises.
Activity
You will not be given a list of restricted activities. You may return to the things you enjoy as your body allows; begin gradually, let your comfort guide you, and increase your activity a little each week.
Driving
Typically about two weeks after a left hip replacement and about four weeks after a right hip replacement. You should also be off opioid pain medication and able to move your leg quickly enough to brake safely.
Follow-up visits
Follow-up visits are scheduled at about two weeks, six weeks, and one year. There are no routine visits after the first year, but please call if anything does not feel right.
Knee replacement
Recovering from knee replacement
Knee recovery generally takes longer than hip recovery, and your commitment to daily exercises makes the greatest difference in the result.
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Day of surgery
First steps
You will stand and walk with assistance and begin gentle bending and straightening exercises.
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First 2 weeks
Daily exercises
Use a walker or cane, perform your exercises several times a day, and use ice and elevation to control swelling.
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About 6 weeks
Growing independence
Many patients are walking independently and returning to light daily activities.
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About 3 months
Noticeable improvement
Most patients feel substantially better as swelling and stiffness continue to subside.
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Up to 1 year
Continued progress
Strength and comfort can continue to improve for up to a year after surgery.
Range of motion
Regaining full bending and straightening of the knee is the most important goal during the first several weeks. Physical therapy sessions and consistent home exercises help you reach it.
Swelling
Some swelling and warmth around the knee are normal for several months. Ice, rest, and elevation help.
Driving
You may drive once you are off opioid pain medication and can brake quickly and safely. Ask your surgeon when it is appropriate for you.
For hips and knees
Important information after any joint replacement
Dental procedures
For the first year after surgery, take an antibiotic before any dental procedure, including routine cleanings. After one year, this is no longer necessary.
Returning to work
Patients with desk jobs typically return sooner than those with physically demanding jobs. We will discuss the specific demands of your work with you.
Physical therapy
Your team will recommend specific exercises and let you know whether formal physical therapy visits are needed.
Your care team will also give you written instructions tailored to your surgery. When they differ from this page, follow those instructions first.
Questions
Frequently asked recovery questions
Are swelling and bruising normal?
Yes. After hip replacement, swelling and bruising can extend down the thigh to the ankle for several weeks. After knee replacement, swelling may persist for a few months. Ice and elevation help. New calf pain or swelling is different, however, and should be reported to the office promptly.
How should I sleep?
Sleep in whatever position is most comfortable. After hip replacement, a pillow between your knees can make side-sleeping more comfortable at first. After knee replacement, avoid placing a pillow under the knee, which can cause it to stiffen in a bent position.
Why is a patch of skin numb?
Small sensory nerves in the skin are stretched or divided during surgery. Numbness on the outer thigh after anterior hip replacement, or along the outer side of the incision after knee replacement, is common and often improves over several months. It does not affect how the new joint functions.
When will I start to feel better?
Most patients feel considerably better within a few months, and a new hip often feels comfortable sooner than a new knee. Both can continue to improve for up to a year.
Ready to talk about your hip or knee?
Book online or call to see Chibuzo Akalonu, MD at the Pearland or Houston office.