Many surgeons do not impose restrictions on patients after hip replacement. As long as you are sensible it is safe to return to most activities when you feel able to within the first 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
Having surgery is painful and you will be sore. This can last for the first four weeks after surgery. This is normal.
As you recover certain activities may cause you additional pain and discomfort. This is your body’s way of telling you to slow down. If this happens don’t push things. Leave that activity for a few days before trying again. Over time it will become more comfortable and you will be able to do more.
It is important to wear sensible and supportive outdoor shoes when returning to work.
Finally, don’t force your body to do anything that makes your hip feel uncomfortable – This applies to all activities in all jobs.
Additional resources
We suggest using the resources provided by the Royal College of Surgeons of England for additional information about general recovery following surgery.
Royal College of Surgeons of England – Recovery trackerUseful exercises to help with recovery are provided in the OPAL rehabilitation booklet and on the OPAL website. Click on the “Exercises” tab at the top of the page or the link under “Related pages” at the bottom of this page to access these exercises.
Further information can also be downloaded as a PDF from the Versus Arthritis website:
Versus Arthritis – Hip Replacement Surgery