Recovery, week by week — what to expect, and when to expect it.
Instead of one long list of questions, think of this as your week-by-week companion through recovery. Each stage covers what's typical for pain, swelling, walking, and daily life — so you always know roughly where you stand.
Arrival, the procedure itself, and time in the recovery room. See What to Expect on the Day of Surgery for the full walkthrough.
Managed with a multimodal plan — acetaminophen, an anti-inflammatory if appropriate, a short course of narcotic pain medication, and nerve pain medication if needed.
Many patients begin walking with physical therapy the same day, focused on safe movement rather than distance.
Just beginning — this is the calm before it builds over the next few days.
Pain control, safe mobility, and understanding your home instructions before you leave.
Ankle pumps and an initial PT evaluation.
The first week is typically the worst for pain — soreness and moderate pain are normal; inability to bear any weight or extreme pain typically is not.
Swelling peaks around day 3, then slowly starts to improve.
Your primary assistive device this week. Aim for at least 5–10 steps every hour while awake, up to a maximum of 750 steps per day.
40 minutes every hour while awake, then a 20-minute break for rest and exercises.
Keep your compression wrap and dressing in place as instructed — it's doing real work to control swelling right now.
Elevate the leg or arm above heart level when resting to help fluid drain away from the joint.
Often disrupted this week. Whatever position is comfortable — including a chair — is the right one.
Nausea, constipation, and medication timing are the most common early questions. See Questions After Surgery for real answers.
Remove the outer compression wrap and soft dressing within 1 week of surgery or at your first PT appointment — leave the mesh or glue in place until you're seen in clinic.
Still off the table if you're on narcotic pain medication, but this is the point where the conversation usually starts.
Outpatient PT is typically in full swing by now, usually starting 2–5 days after surgery.
Continued focus on regaining strength and range of motion.
Step count increases to a maximum of 1,200 per day. Some patients begin transitioning toward a cane.
Step counts progress from a maximum of 2,000/day (week 3) up to 4,500/day (week 6). See the full Recovery Step Count Guide.
Continues to improve steadily through this window.
Many patients transition off the walker during these weeks, once walking feels comfortable and steady.
Desk work often resumes within the first month. Most patients return to work of some kind around 6 weeks, depending on the job — you must be off all narcotic pain medication first. This is a key topic at your 2-week and 8-week follow-up appointments.
The limping common in the first month typically resolves as strength and confidence return.
Low-impact activities like golf, swimming, and cycling are usually encouraged early and continue here.
Flying is typically fine at 6 weeks. On long car rides, work on ankle pumps and stop every hour to hour-and-a-half to walk and stretch.
Continued progress toward higher-impact activity as strength and motion allow.
Many patients feel close to their new normal by this point.
Higher-impact activities — running, tennis, skiing — are often reasonable around the 3–6 month mark, once strength and range of motion are restored.
Your 1-year follow-up (with X-rays) typically marks the point where recovery is considered complete, followed by visits as needed.
Modern hip, knee, and shoulder replacements typically last 25+ years for most patients. Longevity depends on age, activity level, weight, and implant type — many patients never need a revision, and we monitor your implant at follow-up visits.
This information is provided for general educational purposes and does not replace instructions from your surgeon or healthcare team. Individual recommendations may vary based on your procedure, health, and recovery. Contact your surgical team with questions about your specific care.