I am now 6 weeks post-op and feeling good, the first couple of days were a bit intense at times but the pain p***es quickly and the arthritis pain is mostly gone. There are a few times that I think I feel it like I used to in the groin area, but then I realize that I have been using that muscle and I really haven't used it in about a year and it will take time to rebuild. By two weeks you feel a lot better, (still a bit hard to lift your leg in and out of bed etc.) by 4 weeks you are getting around good and feeling good, by 6 weeks it feels much better and still improving.
The first couple of weeks I did my fair share of time on the couch, you know it if you push to hard and move around too much, your body will guide you to your recovery rate and let you know if you do to much. I had problems with my hamstring and the back of my knee being very painful but this could be relieved by standing with my elbows on the counter and slowly moving my surgical leg back while keeping my foot flat on the floor and stretching my hamstring, did this several times a day. I was told the pain was due to the muscles trying to get back to the normal position they are working all the time even while you're sleeping because your hip is now straight again. Makes sense I guess, the pain is gone now.
The only problems I had with any medication was oxyconton I think it's called, this would cause my blood pressure to drop after I took it, my BP got as low as 70/54 at one point, not good, quit taking it and no problems. I didn't donate any or receive any blood, they almost gave me a couple of units due to my BP being so low but then we figured out it was the medication. The surgeons ability has a lot to do with this, the quicker and the better he (or she) is, the less blood loss during surgery, barring any complications you should be fine, but you need to do it in advance so it may be too late already.
I was only in the hospital for four days, my wife only took one week off work and I have been pretty much self supporting since then, there are obviously things that she helps me with, but I get around good. Make sure you have your house set up BEFORE you go in, get rid of the throw rugs on the floor so you don't trip on them, things you normally use in the kitchen put them in an easy to reach location, get a stool for the shower if you think you will need one, purchase a 'hip kit' to help you out afterwards, all that stuff. The hip kit just has a extended grabber to get things that are out of reach, has a sock aid for putting our socks on, (wish I knew these exsisted before surgery) and just a few other things to help you out. I think I paid $23 for my kit.
Didn't mean to get so long winded but hope this helps. Oh, I'm 42 years old so my recovery may or may not be faster than yours, everyone varies in recovery time.
Don
