This is my titanium anniversary.
Two years ago today I got a total hip replacement. I couldn’t be happier.
I’m posting this because I frequently see complaints and worries about hip replacements, mostly from people about to undergo the procedure. Of course, this is major surgery and that makes anyone nervous. But in the hands of a skilled surgeon, it works out well most of the time. It sure did for me.
I was walking pretty well in a few days, driving my car in the third week, and playing golf in the fifth week after surgery. At two months, I hiked 7.8 miles up to and back from a summit with a 3,300-ft. altitude gain and loss. And at about 10 months I did a 48-mile W-trek around the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia.
Last summer, I resumed riding in an annual local biking event: 100 miles to benefit the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital. (I confess missing it in 2017, when my hip was only six weeks out of the operating room.)
I don’t take opioids. I seldom take anti-inflammatories or pain meds, but I’m convinced they should provide most people all the post-operative pain treatment they need.
My recovery has been better than expected. I did a little skiing in the first winter after surgery, but was cautious; my doctor told me now to run or ski bumps, and I tried to comply. But last winter, I violated the second part of the order. I found myself skiing in fresh powder with friends or my sons, and couldn’t resist. I skied bumps, which were softened by the powder, and it felt great!
I want hip replacement patients to know that there’s lots to be gained from the operation. I was having trouble walking when I limped into the hospital for my procedure. I was immediately better for it.
If you want a memoir of my recovery, and that of 11 other patients who have mostly good results, you can get it from my book: “Get Hip! How to Prepare for and Recover from Total Hip Replacement”, which is available from Amazon and major book sellers. See it on my Web site: www.gethip.info
or go directly to Amazon.
Good luck with your hips.
Rob
GetHip! 