From Pain to Power: How Hip Surgery Changed My Life

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Have you ever faced a moment in life where you knew something had to change?

For me, it was a trip to Cancun.

Beautiful beaches, amazing friends.

But one huge problem.

I could barely walk without pain.

That moment made me realize that I couldn't live the rest of my life limited by something I could control.

Hey, friend.

Ever feel like those old fashioned ideas.

About aging just don't fit you?

If you're ready to own this incredible chapter with grace, style, and a touch.

Of sass, this is your space.

Welcome to the Aging with grace and style podcast.

I'm Valerie Hatcher, and I'm here with empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of fun just for us women over 50.

So grab your favorite beverage, turn up the volume, and let's get started.

Today I'm sharing the story of my hip replacement surgery, how it changed my life, and what I learned along the way.

The turning point for me was a trip to Cancun.

We went for a friend's birthday, and typically, I'm active.

I love to walk, to run, to explore, you name it.

But this trip was different.

I couldn't walk far without excruciating pain in my hip.

And let me tell you, it was like I had aged 30 years overnight.

That pain was relentless.

I grimaced, and I tried to appear to be okay, but I wasn't.

I remember thinking, this isn't me.

I can't imagine living the rest of my life like this.

I'd always envisioned being active, not just for myself, but for my future grandkids.

Being able to run and play with them and not be held back by something that I could control.

And whether or not I had surgery was something I could control.

It was a defining moment for me.

So let's rewind a bit.

The hip issues didn't appear out of nowhere.

I first started noticing them after I went back to working in the office full time.

Before that, I'd been working from home, staying pretty active, moving around throughout the day.

But going back to the office changed everything.

My commute was a three hour drive each day, and then once I got to work, I was at my desk almost all day, except for quick bathroom or lunch breaks.

Then when I got home, I was sitting even more to get more work done.

My life became so sedentary, and my body paid the price.

I was living at the doctor's office, trying physical therapy, getting airrosti treatments, anything to relieve the pain of.

At one point, they even thought it was my kidneys.

But nothing provided long term relief.

I gained weight during this time because I wasn't active.

And honestly, I just felt miserable.

Totally not me.

Then finally, I decided that I'd go to an orthopedic surgeon.

And that's when I got the real diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis.

Bone on bone in my hip.

We tried a steroid injection, but that only gave me relief for maybe a half a day.

But ultimately, the only real option was surgery.

I'll be honest with you, I did not want surgery.

My aunt had hip replacement surgery a few years earlier, and her recovery was not easy at all.

That was my only point of reference.

So of course I was hesitant.

I kept thinking, is this going to be me?

The idea of a tough recovery, it scared me.

But the pain became unbearable.

And even with all those fears, I knew I couldn't keep living the way I was.

Even though I was scared, I knew I had to make a decision to improve my quality of life.

I needed more information.

I didn't want to jump into surgery without doing my homework.

So I started looking into other options, other approaches that might be less invasive.

Here's where things get interesting.

One day, while I was at the hair salon, one of the stylists told me that he had hip replacement surgery.

I don't know, about a year earlier, he mentioned that he used one of the best surgeons in the area.

And this doctor was one of a few who performed what he called the anterior approach, which was less invasive.

And I remember when the stylist had his surgery, I swear he was back standing and working a couple of weeks afterwards.

So I decided to make an appointment.

But the wait was long.

It was obvious this doctor was very popular.

It took months to get my initial consultation, and then after my consultation, it took about another five months just to get a surgery date.

But I can say he was absolutely worth the wait.

So let's talk about the types of hip replacement surgeries.

As I said, the stylist at the salon had mentioned the anterior approach that he had.

Then, ironically, one day I was talking to my personal trainer, and he mentioned how some athletes were having this newer procedure called the anterior method of hip replacement surgery.

This was the second time I had heard about the anterior method, and that got my wheels turning.

So I.

I started to do my own research, and here's what I learned.

There are a few different approaches to hip replacement surgery and really the type that you choose depends on your doctor's recommendations and your personal needs.

So, the anterior approach.

This is when the surgeon makes the incision at the front of your hip.

It's less invasive because they don't have to cut through major muscles, which means a faster recovery and less pain afterwards.

This method.

This method is becoming more popular, especially for active people like me.

Then there's the posterior approach.

This is the most common method, where the incision is made at the back of the hip.

The recovery time can be a bit longer because some muscles are cut during the surgery, but it's a tried and true method that many surgeons prefer.

And then lastly, there's the lateral approach.

Well, this method, the incision is made on the side of the hip.

From what I've read, it's less common nowadays, but it's still an option for some patients, depending on their situation.

So after talking it over with my doctor, I decided on the anterior approach.

It felt like it was the right choice for me, especially because I wanted to get back to my active lifestyle as quickly as possible.

And while I was still a little nervous, I felt a lot more confident going into surgery, knowing that this approach would likely lead to an easier recovery.

Now, let's talk about the surgery itself.

It lasted a few hours, but of course, I was asleep, so I honestly don't remember much.

What's amazing is that today they often do this as an outpatient procedure, depending on your age and your health condition, meaning that you could go home the same day after hip replacement surgery.

Fortunately, my doctor decided to keep me overnight, and this was because I have a family history of blood clots, and I'm really, really glad that he did.

The pain that first night.

It was tough.

Thank goodness for pain medication.

They had me up and walking the same day, which totally blows my mind.

And because I have stairs at home, they even taught me how to climb stairs on the day of surgery.

Now, on day two, I went home the nights after.

They were pretty difficult.

I slept downstairs because even though they had shown me how to get upstairs, I wasn't ready.

And besides, the kitchen was downstairs.

It was hard to get comfortable.

I bounced between the downstairs bedroom and the sofa.

One was not any better than the other.

They were both uncomfortable, and I was in pain.

And on top of that, I had these compression boots on my legs to help prevent blood clots, so that was an extra challenge.

Now, the doctor had instructed me to get up and walk for ten minutes every hour during the day, and then icing and staying ahead of the pain with the pain meds was my best friend.

This was not the time to try to be tough and take the pain meds.

And this was not the time to try to be tough and not take the pain meds that he had given me.

My recovery wasn't too bad.

The first two weeks were the hardest, but I tried to stay focused on my long term goals.

I was off the walker in about a week because I was determined not to use it for long.

I think the first week I used the walker, walked up the street with my husband so I could keep moving.

By my two week appointment, I was on the cane.

And then I started physical therapy.

See, I had told my surgeon that I needed to be able to wear heels and to dance at my son's wedding, which was ten months from surgery.

So I continued to walk outside most days using the cane and practicing what I learned in therapy.

What's crazy is that in physical therapy, it was like I had to learn how to walk all over again because I had walked with a limp for so long and overcompensated for the pain that I had to really retrain my body.

By six weeks, I was walking on my own.

And I was so happy when I was told I could get back on my peloton and start working out again in moderation, of course.

I remember during this time telling God that if I got the chance to be active, I would never take it for granted or skip workouts.

It's funny how we make those promises, right?

But I've mostly kept it, though.

You know, I've had my moments, but I do still work out and I am staying active.

So I often get questions from people on Instagram about my journey.

So I'm going to share a few with you.

Let's dive in.

So one question that I often get is, why did you decide to go through with the surgery?

Well, for me, it came down to improving my quality of life.

I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life in pain, so surgery was my best and really only option.

Another question is, how long did the recovery take?

A.

It was about six months before I really felt back to normal.

More so from the workout flexibility perspective, however, it really was and is an ongoing process.

The doctor had told me that it takes about a good year to totally heal internally.

Now I found that I have to stay active.

And honestly, while I don't always do it, I need to stretch every day.

I can always tell when I haven't stretched for a while or when I've sat too much.

I don't feel pain, but I feel tight and sore.

Yoga is really great.

And then finally the question is, was it worth it?

Absolutely.

My quality of life has improved drastically and I'm able to do things that I love without the pain holding me back.

So two years later, I can say that hip replacement surgery was one of the best decisions that I've ever made.

I'm back to being active and enjoying life again.

I don't feel self conscious about walking with a limp.

I'm back in my heels when I want to wear them.

And most importantly, I danced at my son's wedding and I'm about to soon be chasing a little granddaughter around the house and the park.

Wait, I probably need to get on that treadmill and work on my stamina to prepare for that toddler energy.

But on a serious note, I tell anyone who asks that if you need to do it, do it sooner than later.

You just don't realize how your quality of life changes until you get it back.

I hope my story helps you feel empowered to take control of your health.

Advocate for yourself, do your research and make the best decision for you.

Your health is your greatest asset and taking care of yourself is your number one priority.

And trust me, it is definitely worth it.

If you are considering or about to go through surgery, a great resource is the total hip replacement forum on Facebook.

It was a lifesaver for me during recovery and I'll link it in the show notes.

So thanks for tuning in today and for letting me share this journey with you.

If you have questions or you even want to share your own journey with hip replacement surgery, dm me on instagram or contact me at pod dot agingwithgracingstyle.com dot.

I am willing to share whatever I know and to help you in whatever way that I can.

Until next time, stay fabulous and keep shining.

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