We don't mean to be "Debbie-downers" about the return to work. We're just trying to keep your expectations real. No one knows how they're going to react to major surgery or how their body will recover from it. However, many of us got the idea that in 6-8 weeks all would be healed and we'd be back to normal life. The complete healing from THR can take up to a year or more. Yes, you will be functional fairly soon after but those soft tissues take more time and the energy drain associated with healing should not be underestimated. I fell into this trap and had to re-negotiate with my boss 3 times to extend my off-work time. That was not a fun position to be in. I wish I had just started with the full 12 weeks. If you have an uncomplicated and smooth recovery and can return sooner, hopefully, in a phased return, then that will be a win-win all around. Sometimes we don't have much of a choice but if you do, it's worth some due diligence to see what your options are now.