Recovery from hip embolization has two parts. The first is healing from the procedure itself, which is usually quick because there is no incision in the hip. The second is the slower question of whether, and how much, your hip pain improves. Published hip studies followed patients for 3 to 12 months, so this timeline is built from what they measured. It is a general guide, not a promise, and your own plan may differ. For an overview of the treatment, see our hip embolization page.
Recovery at a glance
| Time after the procedure | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Observation for several hours or overnight, then home with puncture-site care instructions |
| Days 1 to 3 | Soreness at the puncture site and around the hip; light walking around the house |
| Week 1 | In one small study, average pain had already dropped noticeably; bruising fades |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | Gradual return to usual activity and exercise; first follow-up visit in many studies |
| Months 1 to 3 | The period with the largest pain change in the studies that tracked it |
| Months 3 to 12 | Results tend to level off; 6- and 12-month check-ins |
| Beyond 12 months | Not yet known for the hip |
Day of the procedure
After the catheter is removed, the artery is sealed and you rest while the team checks the puncture site and the circulation and feeling in your leg or arm. How long you stay depends on the approach. In a 2025 pilot study that went through an artery in the arm, patients were observed for at least four hours and then discharged. In a 2026 Berlin study that went through the groin, patients stayed one night and had a groin ultrasound the next morning.
Plan for someone to take you home, and keep the rest of the day quiet.
The first few days
Expect some aching around the hip and tenderness where the needle went in. Small bruises are common. Most people are up and walking around the home right away, then increase activity as the puncture site settles. Your doctor will tell you how long to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and soaking in a bath or pool, since these depend on the access site and closure method.
A few short-lived effects have been reported in hip studies during this window. In the Berlin study, 3 of 41 patients noticed temporary skin discoloration over the hip that faded within a day. Our risks and side effects guide explains what is expected and what is not.
Week one
Some people notice a change early. In the 2025 pilot study of 18 older adults with hip arthritis, average pain on a 0 to 10 scale fell from 7.8 before treatment to 4.2 at one week. That is an average, though. Some people feel better quickly, some improve more slowly, and some do not improve. An early lack of change does not necessarily mean the procedure failed.
Questions about your treatment options? Dr. Fox can help.
Book a ConsultationThis article is part of our Embolization Guide.
Weeks two to six
This is the window when most people return to their normal routine, including work, walking and lighter exercise, unless their doctor advises otherwise. It is also a good time to restart or continue a hip-strengthening program. Exercise is strongly recommended for hip osteoarthritis in the 2026 American College of Rheumatology guideline, and exercise-based physical therapy is the best-supported treatment for pain on the outside of the hip. Embolization does not replace that work. Many clinicians see it as a way to make exercise more tolerable.
It helps to keep a simple log during these weeks. Once a day, note your hip pain on a 0 to 10 scale, how far you walked, how you slept, and any pain medicine you took. Hip studies measure the same kinds of things, using pain scores and questionnaires about stiffness, daily tasks and quality of life, such as the WOMAC and HOOS scores. A written record makes your follow-up visit more useful than trying to remember how you felt three weeks ago, and it helps you notice gradual changes that are easy to miss day to day.
Published studies scheduled their first follow-up visit in this range: at about 30 days in Brazilian studies, at one month in the HipE study, and at six weeks in the Berlin study.
Months one to three
In a 2026 comparison study of 26 people treated with embolization and 36 who received structured conservative care, the biggest drop in pain after embolization happened during the first three months. After that, symptom levels stayed about the same through six months. In the pilot study, pain at 12 weeks was close to where it had been at one week, averaging 4.3 out of 10.
By three months, you and your doctor usually have a reasonable sense of whether the procedure helped.
Months three to twelve
Two studies have reported results at 12 months:
- HipE study (2026): 49 people treated, 37 reached 12 months. Average pain fell from 7.8 to 4.0 out of 10, and 73% met the study's definition of success (at least a 50% improvement in pain or in an arthritis symptom score).
- Berlin study (2026): 41 people treated. Median pain fell from 7 to 4 out of 10 at 12 months, and 64% reached a meaningful improvement in pain. Two people (4.9%) had hip replacement during follow-up.
Neither study had a placebo or sham comparison group, so some of the improvement may reflect the natural ups and downs of hip pain or the placebo effect. Our research summary covers what these studies can and cannot tell us.
After one year
Most hip studies have reported results at 12 months or less. A Brazilian registry of outer hip pain described longer, "midterm" follow-up, but the hip literature does not yet answer the long-term questions. That means nobody can yet say how long relief lasts, whether the procedure can be repeated with the same effect, or whether it changes when someone eventually needs a hip replacement. Ongoing check-ins with your doctor are the best way to track your own course.
If your pain is not improving
If your hip pain has not meaningfully improved by around three months, talk with your doctor about next steps. That might include rechecking the diagnosis, since back problems can mimic hip pain, adjusting your physical therapy, trying an image-guided injection, or seeing an orthopedic surgeon about hip replacement.
Call sooner if you develop fever, a growing painful lump at the puncture site, worsening numbness or weakness in the leg, a dark or spreading skin change, or a cold or pale limb. If you fall and cannot bear weight, seek emergency care.
To compare recovery across the different joint procedures, visit our embolization guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I walk after hip embolization?
Most people walk around at home the same day or the next day. Your doctor will give specific limits on lifting and strenuous exercise based on where the artery was accessed.
When will I know if hip embolization worked?
In the studies that tracked it, most of the change in pain happened within the first three months. By about three months you and your doctor usually have a good sense of whether it helped.
How long do the results of hip embolization last?
Published hip studies have followed patients for up to about 12 months, so long-term durability is not known yet. Regular follow-up helps you and your doctor track your own results.
Do I still need physical therapy after hip embolization?
Usually yes. Exercise is strongly recommended for hip osteoarthritis and is the best-supported treatment for outer hip pain, and embolization is not a replacement for it.
Keep Reading
- Hip Embolization in Manhattan
- Hip Embolization Research: What the Studies Show
- Hip Embolization Risks and Side Effects: What Studies Report
- Hip Embolization vs. Hip Replacement and Injections: An Honest Comparison
- What Is Causing Your Hip Pain? Arthritis, Bursitis and Tendinopathy Explained
- Is Hip Embolization Covered by Insurance?
- Embolization Guide: knee, heel, shoulder, elbow and hip
Sources
- Feier et al., Cureus, 2025 — Periarticular embolization via brachial access in older adults with hip OA: pilot study (18 patients)
- Fleckenstein et al., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2026 — Transarterial embolization for symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (41 patients)
- Cavalheiro, Marinho Lopes et al., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2026 — HipE study: hip embolization for hip OA and GTPS, 12-month follow-up
- Feier, Bloj et al., J Clin Med, 2026 — Periarticular embolization vs conservative care in surgery-ineligible hip OA (prospective comparative study)
- Correa et al., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2022 — 6-month follow-up of lateral femoral circumflex artery embolization for hip OA and GTPS (13 patients)
- Giordani et al., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2025 — Latino-Hip registry: midterm follow-up of embolization for GTPS (31 patients)
- American College of Rheumatology, 2026 — Update of recommendations for management of osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and hand (summary)
- Wang et al., J Orthop Surg Res, 2025 — Conservative treatment for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: network meta-analysis of 19 RCTs
Medically reviewed by David Fox, MD, FACS, RPVI. This article is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation.
Living with joint or tendon pain that hasn’t improved? Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Fox at Fox Vein & Vascular in Manhattan to find out whether embolization is right for you. Call (212) 362-3470 or request an appointment online.
