“How quickly can I get back to my day-to-day life after joint replacement surgery?” It’s one of the questions that patients are most concerned about, whether it’s returning to work, caring for family or simply enjoying the things they used to enjoy.
Although joint replacement is now a routine procedure, nevertheless it is major surgery and it’s natural to be anxious about how long it will take to get back on your feet, particularly if you have work and family commitments.
Everyone is different and heals at different rates so it’s impossible to give a definitive answer but your orthopaedic surgeon will advise you based on factors like your age, lifestyle and overall health. You can speed up your rehabilitation rate by making sure you follow any post-surgical advice, including the exercise regime set by your physiotherapist which will help to strengthen the muscles and restore joint function.
Recovering after a total knee replacement
Generally, someone with a desk job is normally able to return to work within four to six weeks of having a total knee replacement. For a job that involves lifting, walking or travelling, return to work times are typically around six to 12 weeks. When it comes to driving, it’s important not to drive while still taking certain types of painkilling medication. A realistic timescale is four to six weeks after surgery but your surgeon will advise you. After seven to 12 weeks many people can resume low-impact sports like swimming and cycling. It’s best not to attempt high-impact activities before 12 weeks and only with your surgeon’s go-ahead.
Recovering after a total hip replacement
Recovery times after a total hip replacement tend to be a little quicker. If you have a desk job you may be able to return to work within two weeks of surgery, while a job that involves manual lifting requires a recovery time of up to six to eight weeks. Surgery on the right hip might take a month to heal before you can drive again whereas some people who have a total hip replacement on the left hip are able to drive within a fortnight.
Returning to work
How quickly you can return to work will depend on the type of job you do. A study from LUMC in Leiden in the Netherlands, on behalf of the Longitudinal Leiden Orthopaedics Outcomes of Osteoarthritis Study (LOAS) Group, set out to investigate return to work times by types of occupation in people who’d had a total hip or knee replacement. The researchers looked at 360 patients who’d undergone a total hip replacement and 276 who’d had a total knee replacement. Patients were mainly high-skilled or low-skilled white-collar workers.
The study found that six months after a total hip replacement, 78% of low-skilled blue-collar workers had returned to work, while the figure ranged from 83-86% in other occupational classes. After a total knee replacement, the comparative figures were 58% and 80-89%. By 12 months, 79% of low-skilled blue-collar workers had returned to work compared with 87-92% in other occupational classes.
It’s important to talk to your employer prior to surgery. Depending what type of joint replacement surgery you’ve had, you may want to arrange a phased return to work to avoid putting too much strain on your joint.
The British Safety Council has some helpful advice for employers on workplace modifications for workers with osteoarthritis. In relation to hip replacement surgery it states: “Depending on the nature of their work, people can return to work within a few days to one week of the surgery. Those who need to return to heavy physical work are usually advised to make a phased return starting three to four weeks after surgery.”
In relation to knee replacements, it points out that length of stay in hospital is usually slightly longer and rehabilitation at home may take a little longer. While for some return to work is quicker, the majority of patients will require three to four weeks. The organisation warns that, for some employees, the commute to work is the biggest challenge.
Number of total hip and knee replacements in England
Between April 2018 and March 2019, official statistics from Patient Reported Outcome Measures in England report 81,130 hip replacement procedures and 93,911 knee replacements.
For more information about hip or knee replacements, including details of innovative Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery, contact us.
Related Reading:
Arthritis Treatment Options 2025 Update
Treating Arthritis with a Mako Partial Knee Replacement
Treating Arthritis with a Mako Total Knee Replacement
Treating Arthritis with a Mako Total Hip Replacement
Where to Find Out More About Mako Joint Replacement Surgery
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako robotic arm assisted surgery and conventional surgery.
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