Hip replacement recovery in Adelaide: what to expect
The question patients ask most
Before hip replacement surgery, the question Dr Mooney hears most often is not about the operation itself — it is about what comes after. How long will I be in hospital? When can I drive? When can I get back to golf? When will I feel like myself again?
These are the right questions to ask. Recovery from hip replacement surgery in Adelaide — whether performed through the direct anterior approach (DAA) or with MAKO robotic assistance — follows a broadly predictable pattern, with individual variation. This article outlines what patients can expect at each stage.
Hospital stay
Most patients undergoing hip replacement at Eastwood Private Hospital or Calvary Adelaide go home one to two days after surgery. DAA patients are typically walking on the same day as the operation, which means the hospital physiotherapy team can assess mobility and stair safety early. The goal before discharge is walking safely with a frame or crutches and managing stairs with assistance.
Pain is managed with a combination of local anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory medication, and paracetamol. Strong opioid medications are used sparingly and are usually not required past the first day or two.
Week-by-week recovery guide
The timeline below applies to DAA hip replacement patients. Posterior approach patients follow a similar pattern but with additional movement restrictions for the first six weeks.
Hospital — walking and stairs
Walking with a frame begins on the day of surgery for most DAA patients. Physiotherapy focuses on getting up from a chair, walking to the bathroom, and managing one flight of stairs. Pain is typically well controlled. Wound dressings are waterproof and do not need changing at home.
At home — building confidence
Most patients use a walking frame or crutches at home. Short, flat walks two to three times a day help with circulation and healing. Swelling and bruising in the thigh and groin is normal. Ice packs and leg elevation reduce discomfort. DAA patients have no hip restrictions — they can sit normally, bend forward gently, and move freely.
One crutch or walking stick
Most patients transition from two crutches to one by the end of the second week. Walking distances increase steadily. Many patients are comfortable in low chairs and can manage basic household tasks independently. A four-week post-operative review is scheduled with Dr Mooney’s rooms.
Driving and returning to light work
Driving is not decided by the calendar. You are ready when you are comfortable in the car, confident you could perform an emergency stop without hesitation, and have not taken an opioid pain medicine in the previous eight hours. For most patients that point comes at around four weeks. Patients with a left hip replacement driving an automatic vehicle may be ready a little earlier, since the left leg is not used. Office-based work and light duties can resume around this time.
Walking normally, returning to low-impact activity
By six weeks, the large majority of patients are walking without any aid. Swimming and cycling on a stationary bike are appropriate from this point. A six-week review with Dr Mooney includes an X-ray to confirm implant position and a discussion about returning to sport and activity.
Golf, bowls, and social activities
Low-impact recreational sport — golf, lawn bowls, cycling, gentle hiking — is typically appropriate from three months. Most patients report that the hip feels significantly better than before surgery by this stage. Residual swelling and occasional night aches are still common and normal.
Full function and final review
The hip continues to improve gradually over the first twelve months. A twelve-month review with Dr Mooney provides a final assessment of the outcome. Most patients at this stage have forgotten what life was like with the arthritic hip they came in with.
Does the surgical approach affect recovery?
The approach — DAA versus posterior — makes the most difference in the first six weeks. DAA patients have no movement restrictions, which simplifies early rehabilitation and reduces anxiety for many patients. The posterior approach is an excellent technique that has served patients well for decades, and later recovery milestones are broadly similar between the two approaches.
Robotic assistance (MAKO) does not change the recovery timeline directly, but precise implant positioning reduces the risk of complications such as leg length discrepancy and instability, which can otherwise affect recovery. The implant goes in where it was planned to go, and that matters for long-term function.
What affects your individual recovery?
Recovery speed varies between patients. Factors that tend to support a faster recovery include being physically active before surgery, having good baseline strength in the hip and thigh muscles, and not having significant other health conditions. Factors that may slow recovery include obesity, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease.
Dr Mooney discusses realistic expectations at consultation based on each patient’s individual circumstances. The timelines in this article represent a typical experience, not a guaranteed outcome for any individual.
Physiotherapy after hip replacement in Adelaide
Structured physiotherapy is an important part of hip replacement recovery. Dr Mooney provides a physiotherapy referral at discharge. In Adelaide, physiotherapy can begin at home in the first week and transition to an outpatient clinic as mobility improves. Hydrotherapy (pool-based physiotherapy) is particularly well tolerated in the early weeks and is available at several Adelaide facilities.
The goal of hip replacement is not just to relieve pain — it is to restore the ability to do the things that matter. Recovery is the bridge between the operation and that outcome.
When to contact Dr Mooney’s rooms
Most questions in the first weeks after surgery can be managed by the nursing staff at Dr Mooney’s rooms at Orthopaedics 360, Eastwood. Patients should seek urgent review if they develop increasing pain, significant new swelling, redness or warmth around the wound, fever, or shortness of breath. A 24-hour after-hours contact number is provided to all patients on discharge.
References
1. Higgins BT, et al. Anterior vs. posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty, a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Arthroplasty. 2015;30(3):419–434.
2. Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Annual Report 2023. AOA, Adelaide.
3. Stryker Mako Total Hip Application. Clinical Evidence Summary. Stryker Corporation; 2023.
The information in this article is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Recovery timelines are approximate and vary between individuals. Please discuss your specific situation with Dr Mooney or your GP.
Related reading
DAA Hip Replacement → Robotic Hip Replacement (MAKO) → Revision Hip Surgery → Hip replacement precautions → Sleeping after hip replacement → Driving after joint replacement →About the author
Dr Luke Mooney is an Adelaide orthopaedic surgeon specialising in hip and knee surgery. He performs direct anterior hip replacement and MAKO robotic hip replacement at Eastwood Private Hospital and Calvary Adelaide. MBBS · FRACS · FAOrthA
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