For the general shape of recovery over time, see Recovery, Week by Week.
Normal
Swelling. Expected for weeks, sometimes longer. It's usually at its most noticeable in the first two weeks, and takes 10 to 14 days just to begin properly settling. Ice and elevation help throughout.
Warmth, and sometimes redness, around the hip. Common in the early weeks as the body heals. This is different from the specific warning signs below, a generally warm hip is expected; a hot, increasingly red, or discharging wound is not.
Bruising. Common and expected, and fades over the following weeks.
Fatigue. Surgery is a significant physical event. Feeling more tired than expected, sometimes considerably so, is a normal part of recovery, not a sign something is wrong.
Disrupted sleep. Very common in the first several weeks, and it can genuinely take longer than people expect to properly settle.
Feeling low, particularly around week two to three. This is one of the most common things patients don't expect and don't hear about beforehand. Between disrupted sleep, medication, and the physical toll of surgery, feeling flat or discouraged in this window is genuinely common, even when recovery is otherwise going well. It generally passes with time.
Knee pain on the same side as your hip. A recognised, temporary phenomenon that can persist for a couple of months after hip surgery. It isn't a sign of a problem with the knee itself.
A leg that feels the wrong length. Common in the early weeks. In most cases this is the body and pelvis adjusting rather than an actual difference, and it typically resolves as recovery continues.
Dry skin. Common as swelling reduces, and not a concern.
Some pain after activity. If a walk leaves you sore afterwards, that's a signal to do a little less next time, not a sign of harm.
Good days and less-good days. Recovery isn't a straight line. A harder day, on its own, doesn't mean something has gone wrong.
Contact the rooms if you notice
- Fever, or a wound that is increasingly red, warm, or discharging
- A sudden or significant increase in pain or swelling, rather than the gradual improvement described above
- Calf pain, tenderness, or swelling
- Persistent low mood that isn't lifting over time
Confirm any specific temperature threshold or other numeric guideline Professor Rodda uses, to state explicitly here.
Seek emergency care immediately if you experience
Chest pain or shortness of breath.This needs urgent medical attention straight away. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department, don't wait to call the rooms first.
Common questions.
How much pain is normal after a joint replacement, and for how long?
Soreness that improves week on week rather than day on day. Most people are off strong analgesia within two to three weeks and using nothing regular by six. Pain that is escalating rather than settling after the first fortnight is not normal and is worth a call.
How long does the swelling last?
Longer than anyone expects. Six to twelve weeks after a hip and three months or more after a knee, worse at the end of the day and better in the morning. Warmth over a knee replacement for several months is also normal.
Is it normal to feel low during recovery?
Yes, and it is under-discussed. Disturbed sleep, reduced independence and a slower recovery than you hoped for are a combination that flattens people. It is common, it lifts, and it is worth mentioning to the rooms or your GP rather than enduring.
Why does my knee hurt when it was my hip that was operated on?
Hip pain refers to the knee along the obturator nerve, and it is common for a knee that was aching before surgery to keep complaining for a while afterwards. It usually settles. If it does not, it gets looked at.
Why does my leg feel a different length?
Common early on and usually a soft-tissue and pelvic-balance effect rather than a true difference in bone length. It generally settles over weeks to months as the tissues relax.
Why can I not sleep, and when does that improve?
Sleep is the thing patients find hardest and mention least. It is not a sign anything is wrong, and it improves as the pain settles, usually over the first four to six weeks.
This page provides general information about a medical condition and a surgical procedure. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified practitioner. Outcomes vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. A referral is needed for a consultation with Professor Daevyd Rodda; without one, you can start with the practice nurse practitioner, who can provide it.