What is harder knee or hip replacement?
James Craig
Published Jan 18, 2026
Knee replacement is technically more difficult to get right than hip replacement and this is one important reason why some patients have poorer results than others. A surgeon who does a good number of knee replacements will tend to have better results, but this is not the whole story.
What is easier hip or knee replacement?
Hip replacement surgery is a slightly more straightforward procedure than knee replacement. That's because the hip is a basic ball-and-socket joint. Therefore, it's a fairly straightforward process to create and implant parts to replace that joint effectively.
What is more painful knee or hip replacement?
A hip replacement is a much less painful operation. People are on crutches for a while, and then their hips feel normal. But it takes six months to a year to recover from total knee surgery, and even then, the knee just doesn't feel normal.
What is the most painful joint surgery?
ACL surgery is the reconstruction or replacement of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. Doctors perform ACL surgery when the damage to the ACL ligament is causing severe pain or significantly limiting your ability to move the knee, which hinders participation in sports or an otherwise active lifestyle.
What is the hardest orthopedic surgery to recover from?
What are some of the hardest orthopedic surgeries to recover from...
- Spinal Fusion Surgery. Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure that involves fusing two vertebrae together to prevent movement that causes pain. ...
- Total Joint Replacement. ...
- Minimally-Invasive Orthopedic Surgery. ...
- Minimally-Invasive Surgery in Naples, FL.
How painful is a hip replacement?
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
Why is a knee replacement so painful?
Over time, implants can loosen and detach from the bone, causing pain. Plastic components of the artificial knee slowly wear out, creating debris that can cause inflammation. The wear and tear can cause the knee to break.
How long does it take to walk normally after hip surgery?
3 to 6 Weeks After Hip Replacement Surgery
You'll likely be able to walk without a walker or crutches.
How do you poop after hip surgery?
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, to prevent constipation. Use a stool softener while taking pain medication. Take a laxative if you do not have a bowel movement within two to three days. Notify your doctor if you don't have results after taking the laxative.
How long are you on bed rest after a hip replacement?
How do I safely rest and sleep after a hip replacement? Elevate both of your legs when sitting to minimize swelling. When resting or sleeping in bed, lie on your non-operative side for the first four to six weeks following surgery.
How long are you in hospital after a hip replacement?
Recovering from hip replacement surgery
You'll usually be in hospital for 3 to 5 days, but recovery time can vary. Once you're ready to be discharged, your hospital will give you advice about looking after your hip at home.
What you Cannot do after knee replacement?
After your surgery, avoid stools, sofas, soft chairs, rocking chairs, and chairs that are too low. When getting up from a chair, slide toward the edge of the chair, and use the arms of the chair, your walker, or crutches for support to get up.
What is the best age for knee replacement surgery?
In summary, TKA performed between the ages of 70 and 80 years has the best outcome. With respect to mortality, it would be better to perform TKA when the patients are younger. Therefore, the authors of these studies believe that from 70 to 80 years of age is the optimal range for undergoing TKA.
What is the most commonly reported problem after knee replacement surgery?
Knee replacement complications can result from surgery or a faulty implant. Loosening is one of the most serious complications after knee surgery and pain is the most common one. Loosening can cause bone fractures, instability and serious falls. Almost all serious complications require revision surgery.
What is the newest procedure for hip replacement?
The latest advanced technology, a percutaneously-assisted “SUPERPATH™” approach, involves sparing the surrounding muscles and tendons when performing total hip replacement surgery. This technique builds a traditional hip implant in-place without cutting any muscles or tendons.
Are you awake during hip replacement surgery?
Hip replacement surgery is usually done either under general anaesthetic (you're asleep throughout the procedure) or under spinal anaesthetic (you're awake but have no feeling from the waist down). Sometimes you may have an epidural, which is similar to a spinal anaesthetic.
What you Cannot do after a hip replacement?
Hip replacement patients are given a long list of things not to do—do not bend the hips or knees further than 90 degrees, do not cross the legs, do not lift the leg to put on socks, and much more. These movement restrictions protect the new hip from dislocation.
How long after knee surgery Can you walk?
One to three weeks after surgery
Typically, you'll be able to bend your knees at a 90 degree angle, fully straighten your knee, and walk for at least 10 consecutive minutes during this stage of physical therapy. You can expect to use assistive devices like walkers, crutches or canes during this phase of recovery.
Will a knee replacement get rid of arthritis?
Knee surgery may temporarily relieve pain from arthritis, but it does not cure the condition. Managing your arthritis will still be necessary to reduce pain in the knees, even after joint surgery.
Do you need a knee replacement if you are bone on bone?
Bone-on-Bone Arthritis
Before considering knee replacement, the patient should have X-rays that show bone touching bone somewhere in the knee. Patients who have thinning of the cartilage but not bone touching bone should not undergo knee replacement surgery, except in rare circumstances.
Can you climb stairs after knee replacement?
For the first several weeks after TKR, you will likely go up/down stairs one foot at a time (non-reciprocally). The pattern to follow is: “Up with the good leg, Down with the bad (operated)”. As you get stronger, I encourage you to try to climb stairs alternating one foot per step; holding on to the banister will help.
How do you sleep after a knee replacement?
The best way to sleep after knee surgery is on your back. This position makes it easy to keep your leg straight while sleeping, allowing proper blood flow to the surgery site. You can also prop your leg up using pillows while sleeping on your back.
Are muscles cut during a total knee replacement?
In traditional knee replacement surgery, the surgeon makes a long incision over the middle of the knee and cuts muscles, tendons and ligaments to get to the knee joint. When more tissues, muscles and tendons are cut during surgery, the recovery is more painful and the healing process takes longer.
Can you go home same day after hip replacement?
Same-day surgeries, also called outpatient surgery, are when a patient safely leaves the hospital to recover at home the same day as the surgery. About one-third to one-half of my patients with a knee or hip replacement surgeries can go home the same day as their procedures.
Is hip surgery considered major surgery?
Hip replacement is a major surgery and some complications, such as infection and blood clots, can be life-threatening. Experts estimate3 0.35% (35 in 10,000) patients die within 30 days of hip replacement surgery. That rate changes to 1% (1 in 100) within 90 days of surgery.