Using minimally invasive techniques , advanced multimodal pain management and rapid progression physical therapy , the recovery is quite rapid. The hospital stay for total hip replacement or hip surface replacement is only one or two days and most patients do not even finish taking their prescription (#40) narcotic tablets after they go home. Crutches are only used for one to two weeks and return to work is quite rapid. By six weeks postoperatively most patients have significantly less pain than before surgery and walk one or two miles with a slight limp. Full healing occurs by one year. For more details , see my discussion in the hip information section.