Recovery guide
Pain and swelling after hip replacement: what's normal
Some pain, swelling and bruising are a normal part of healing after hip replacement. Here is what to expect, what helps, and which signs mean you should call.
The short answer
- Pain is usually worst in the first few days and eases steadily over the following weeks.46
- Swelling and bruising in the thigh, sometimes down to the knee or ankle, are common in the first weeks.46,47
- Between about 7% and 23% of people still have some long-term pain after hip replacement.5
- Calf pain, chest pain, fever or a sudden change in the hip are not normal. Call.
Pain
Your team will give you a pain plan, usually combining regular non-opioid medicines with a short course of stronger medicine if needed.47 Taking pain medicine before therapy sessions can help you get more out of them. Most people need less and less pain medicine over the first two to three weeks.
Some people notice pain in the groin, thigh or outer hip, or a numb patch near the incision. These usually settle with time.46
Swelling and bruising
- Swelling is often worse at the end of the day and after activity.
- Ice packs over a thin cloth, rest and raising the leg can help.46
- Bruising can spread down the thigh in the first week or two as it fades.
- Your team may suggest compression stockings.
When pain lasts
In a systematic review of studies in unselected patients, between 7% and 23% of people reported long-term pain after hip replacement.5 Ongoing pain is worth investigating, because causes such as infection, loosening or tendon irritation can often be treated. See hip replacement infection.
Call 911 for chest pain, sudden shortness of breath or coughing blood, which can be signs of a clot in the lungs.
Call your surgeon's office the same day for: calf pain or swelling, fever or chills, wound redness or drainage, or sudden severe hip pain, a clunk, or a leg that looks shorter or turned, which can mean dislocation.
Sources
- Beswick AD, et al. What proportion of patients report long-term pain after total hip or knee replacement for osteoarthritis? A systematic review of prospective studies in unselected patients. BMJ Open. 2012;2(1):e000435. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000435
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Total hip replacement. orthoinfo.org/bodypart/hip-thigh/total-hip-replacement
- Mayo Clinic. Hip replacement. mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement