Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars is recovering after undergoing hip-replacement surgery on Tuesday.

Mars, 53, has been suffering from a chronic degenerative illness, ankylosing spondylitis, for some time and underwent the surgery to ease the pain of the damaged joint, according to his spokesperson.

"The surgery went extremely well," Mars' surgeon Dr. Brad Penenberg said following the operation. "I expect him to be walking with the help of a physical therapist as early as Wednesday morning."

Individuals afflicted with Mars' illness suffer from a fusing together of some or all joints and bones of the spine. The affected area becomes inflamed and some of the bone may erode, but only about six percent of sufferers of the disease need to undergo hip-replacement surgery. The illness cannot be cured but the pain can be minimized with anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society.

A spokesperson for the group was optimistic about Mars' recovery from surgery. "Mötley Crüe are a gang of musicians that climbed the mountain of rock to success," Allen Kovac, CEO of Tenth Street Entertainment, said in a statement. "A healthy Mick Mars gives hope to all those who love one of rock's most passionate and aggressive bands."