I just found this site last week. I'm glad you all are here.
I had my right hip replaced in February, 2021. I'm 45. It had gotten to the point where I couldn't walk two blocks without looking for a place to rest. The surgeon used the anterior approach and installed a Depuy Corail stem, ceramic ball, and Pinnacle cup with a polyethylene liner. We didn't discuss the parts and pieces before the surgery, but I guess those are pretty good components. Recovery has been pretty easy. I went home that day, used a walker for a few days, and used a cane for a week or so after that. It took a long time for a numb spot on my leg to go away and I still get a little bit of weird tenderness in my quad, but overall I treat my right hip like normal except I don't run, jump, or abuse it.
So ... my left hip is junk too. It is not near as bad as the right used to be. There is always some pain, but not enough to eat advil for breakfast. Range of motion is a problem and I can often feel some clicking in there, but I can usually walk or hike and it doesn't feel too terrible as long as I keep moving; after I stop the left hip pain starts. For example, I did a 45 minute steep uphill hike a couple of weeks ago. When I stopped my left hip started to feel bad and the whole downhill trek was very painful. I'm not sure if this is bad enough to require a replacement just yet. I think I could squeeze a few more years out of it, but why should I?
I'm scheduled to have a total replacement of my left hip later this month and I am having second thoughts for a few reasons. A friend of mine recently talked to someone who had a hip resurfaced and he does not have any restrictions. His surgeon told him that the hip might last the rest of his life. I don't know who the surgeon was, but I'm working on finding out. My surgeon told me to expect 20 years from my replacement hip and I'm not supposed to do anything high impact. I just started reading the work that James Pritchett is doing in Seattle with resurfacing and I'm wondering if I should go that route instead. I don't know enough about resurfacing to really make a decision on that point yet. On the other hand, if my right hip is a total replacement what difference would it make if get the left resurfaced? The right one will still be subject to limitations. Finally, if I keep my appointment, I will be in the same insurance year as my first surgery, so I will not have to pay anything out of pocket for the second hip (buy one get one free).
For background, I played rugby into my early 30's, then did cross-fit three or four days per week until just about 40. I have always lifted weights and been pretty active, but never a lean/light person. My hips started to go when I turned 40 and I pretty much stopped all physical activities by 44.
I had my right hip replaced in February, 2021. I'm 45. It had gotten to the point where I couldn't walk two blocks without looking for a place to rest. The surgeon used the anterior approach and installed a Depuy Corail stem, ceramic ball, and Pinnacle cup with a polyethylene liner. We didn't discuss the parts and pieces before the surgery, but I guess those are pretty good components. Recovery has been pretty easy. I went home that day, used a walker for a few days, and used a cane for a week or so after that. It took a long time for a numb spot on my leg to go away and I still get a little bit of weird tenderness in my quad, but overall I treat my right hip like normal except I don't run, jump, or abuse it.
So ... my left hip is junk too. It is not near as bad as the right used to be. There is always some pain, but not enough to eat advil for breakfast. Range of motion is a problem and I can often feel some clicking in there, but I can usually walk or hike and it doesn't feel too terrible as long as I keep moving; after I stop the left hip pain starts. For example, I did a 45 minute steep uphill hike a couple of weeks ago. When I stopped my left hip started to feel bad and the whole downhill trek was very painful. I'm not sure if this is bad enough to require a replacement just yet. I think I could squeeze a few more years out of it, but why should I?
I'm scheduled to have a total replacement of my left hip later this month and I am having second thoughts for a few reasons. A friend of mine recently talked to someone who had a hip resurfaced and he does not have any restrictions. His surgeon told him that the hip might last the rest of his life. I don't know who the surgeon was, but I'm working on finding out. My surgeon told me to expect 20 years from my replacement hip and I'm not supposed to do anything high impact. I just started reading the work that James Pritchett is doing in Seattle with resurfacing and I'm wondering if I should go that route instead. I don't know enough about resurfacing to really make a decision on that point yet. On the other hand, if my right hip is a total replacement what difference would it make if get the left resurfaced? The right one will still be subject to limitations. Finally, if I keep my appointment, I will be in the same insurance year as my first surgery, so I will not have to pay anything out of pocket for the second hip (buy one get one free).
For background, I played rugby into my early 30's, then did cross-fit three or four days per week until just about 40. I have always lifted weights and been pretty active, but never a lean/light person. My hips started to go when I turned 40 and I pretty much stopped all physical activities by 44.