I would suggest 90% of hip replacement patients are happy or very happy with the outcome, and notice a big improvement to their pain within days of surgery (still takes a couple of months to rehabilitate after probably years of a crappy hip.
Knees are more of a mixed bag.
Surgery for osteoarthritis is to relieve pain, and not to improve joint flexibility. Range of movement will typically be worse, with knees managing perhaps 90º of bend at best after replacement.
Recovery, assuming no complications such as infection or DVT, is gradual and many people take 3-6months until they feel the surgery was worthwhile.
My rule of thumb is the more pain a patient is in, the better an outcome they will get: if you can still walk a mile albeit in pain, don't have the surgery - if you are crawling like a dog after 100 yards then you'll probably have a good result.
Last edited by: Lygonos on Thu 20 Dec 18 at 17:31
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