Ripanco

Hi Greg,
Well, there are plenty of folks here that can sympathize with you, me included. I can let you know what my experience was/is like. I just had both my hips replaced on May 23rd.

I too was/am highly motivated to get on with my life, which was being severly limited by OA. My dh and I are athletes.

Because I met some pretty strict criteria, my surgeon agreed to do both my hips at the same time. The criteria is lean, strong, young, good bone and motivated. I had posterior, minimal, metal/crosslinked poly, non cemeted. If I did not want to run again, my surgeon would have used ceramic/ceramic since that seems to be the longest lasting for young patients. But for running, the highly crosslinked plastic is more forgiving and less likely to fracture.

I have not heard of "outpatient" hip replacement, but I have heard of the 2 incision minimal approach. Every surgeon has their own method and it is important to find one that is good at what they do. The newer minimal incision takes considerable skill and different equipment. I think my surgeon is outstanding.

Just to give you an idea, my replacements where not easy, I had no cartilgage left and the bone was not in great shape. My surgery was a little over 4 hrs long and I did end up have to have one socket screwed in since there was not enough bone left. But I have a 3" incision on the right side and a almost 4" on the left side (the tough one). This approach does not cut any tendons or muscles, just pushes them aside.

I did not to my room until nearly 6:00 pm so I did not try walk that nite, but the very next morning I was up and around with a walker and little pain. By the next morning they took the walker away, gave me crutches, showed me how to do stairs and sent me home!! It was a hospital record for the shortest stay for a bilateral replacement and even singles never go home before 2 days. I contibute my fast recovery to being prepared. I approched this surgery the same as training for an athletic advent.

I can walk easily with no aid now, very little pain, mostly stiffness and not much of a limp at all. I have been getting back to work a little at a time since it is pretty physical, but find I am very functional.

So is it worth it? To me, absolutly!! Just do a lot of research, find a good doctor and get yourself prepared physically, emotionally and intellectually.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.