Diana, Indianapolis

I am 80 years old and had a total replacement of my right hip on April 20, 2010. My orthopedic surgeon used a new technique with me called the direct anterior approach, which allows him to perform the operation on certain selected patients without cutting the muscles surrounding the hip. I did have physical therapy the second week after surgery. My bodily movements are not restricted and I was pain-free and back home in four weeks. Needless to say, I am most pleased with the result of this surgery.

Cassie, Michigan

I’ve played soccer all my life – training for the one day I’d finally be able to play at the college level. Unfortunately during the spring of my freshman year I was experiencing a lot of hip pain, which caused me to limit my training with the rest of the soccer team. The pain got so bad that everyone at school started calling me “grandma.” It was awful. I couldn’t walk long distances or sit for extended periods of time. I underwent two separate surgeries but neither seemed to remedy the pain. I felt hopeless. Finally I was referred to an orthopedic hip specialist. He identified the route of the pain and determined that it was being caused by a condition known as hip impingement. Basically, the ball of my hip was not fitting into the socket properly. I assumed my condition was hereditary because I can’t remember a day that I did not experience some form of hip pain. However, my orthopedic surgeon determined that the injury had been caused by continuous pounding on my hip socket from playing soccer and volleyball since I was a child. About a week after my initial consultation with my orthopedic surgeon I underwent surgery. He retracted my hip joint, reshaped my ball joint and hip socket and repaired my torn labrum. After the surgery I was on crutches for the first few weeks but I started physical therapy almost immediately. I think I pushed too hard to come back from my earlier surgeries. After the third surgery, with the help of my orthopedic hip surgeon I was able to determine what physical activities I could do and when. He devised a plan with my physical therapist that identified the criteria I needed to meet before moving on to the next stage. This really helped to make sure I was not pushing beyond my physical means. My trainer and orthopedic surgeon did a great job in keeping track of my progress – it was awesome! The first two doctors I consulted with were ready to pronounce this as a career ending injury. They said I should never play soccer again. With the help of my orthopedic hip surgeon I was able to rejoin my team.
I was back on the soccer field and saying “look at me, I’m playing again!”

Michelle, Westville, IL

I was experiencing leg pain but couldn’t pin point what was causing it. The pain became so severe that I had to limit the duration of my activities to a short period of time. I was then forced to either suffer through the pain or stop doing it altogether, which really caused me to miss out on a lot of activities I enjoyed. The pain went on and off for about four to five years without any resolution. Finally I made a call to an orthopedic specialist, who conducted an evaluation and determined that my hip had built up excessive matter and worn down my labrum.  My doctor presented me with two options.  I could wait it out, or I could have surgery to scrape out all the excess matter and repair the damage.  I chose to have surgery, which I believe went better than expected. I thought I would bounce right back after surgery, but my recovery took a bit longer than anticipated. However, in the end I think my “forced” recovery time was a huge benefit.  I performed all of my physical therapy from home, which at times was very difficult. I’m doing wonderful now and can do all the physical activities that I use to enjoy. At times I still need to take a moderate pain medication, especially if the weather is going to be bad, or I’m planning on doing a more strenuous activity.  But, overall I’m not limited by anything anymore.

Wendy, Shelbyville

This summer I fell and hurt my hip.  The pain progressed until it was constant, and my quality of life became extremely poor.  I went to see an orthopedic surgeon who provided me with three treatment options.  I could do nothing and live with the pain.  I could treat the pain with steroid injections, or I could have surgery.  I was diagnosed with a labrum tear, so it wasn’t going to heal or get better on its own. I decided that if it’s broken; fix it – so I had the surgery the following week. Prior to surgery my doctor explained that while the labrum tear was caused by my fall, I did have congenital issues that increased my chance of injury. Basically my femur was like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. To create a better fit, he shaved off some of the bone on the inside of the socket. This was an outpatient procedure, so I was allowed to go home that same day. However, the next day I returned to begin physical therapy. I had some pain, but I only used pain medication for the first two days after surgery.  It’s been about two weeks since the surgery and I’m still utilizing crutches, but I can apply about 50 percent of my weight on my leg. I go to weekly physical therapy where they teach me exercises that I perform at home each day. It’s important to remember that the goal of physical therapy isn’t to push yourself to a point where you are in pain. If you feel pain you should decrease your activities. I’ve been told that it will take about six weeks or more to fully recover. My ultimate goal is to heal correctly, so I’m following all the advice my doctor and physical therapist provides.

Helen, Bainbridge 

I was having quite a bit of pain in my knee, especially when I drove a car. It felt as if the pain was coming from behind my knee. Sometimes it became so excruciating that I had to pull over and take pain medication. I’m sure I should have sought medical attention sooner, which could have avoided some of the damage to the bones in my knee. When I finally did have surgery, my physician had to perform a total knee replacement. It was pretty painful at the time and required extensive physical therapy, five times a day. It was a matter of days before I could place my full weight on my knee and not notice any pain. Today, for the most part I’m not having difficulty moving around. I do notice some numbness in my knee when I try to climb or descend stairs, but even then it’s no longer painful. The leg exercises have been such an important factor in my recovery. I still do them every morning, and I’m hopeful that eventually the exercises will help to reduce the numbness in my knee that I still feel today.  

Pat, Indianapolis 

I suffer from osteoarthritis in my knees which causes chronic inflammation of the joints.  As a result I had extreme pain in my left knee and was unable to put any type of weight on it.  The pain even made it difficult for me to sleep.  My rheumatologist recommended a number of treatments including cortisone shots and lubrication injections, but they only temporarily helped.  For two years I suffered in pain.  I eventually had to have a complete knee replacement.  If I had to do it over again, I would not have waited so long before undergoing surgery. I found the rehabilitation exercises to be very painful and difficult to perform.  To alleviate the pain, my orthopedic surgeon recommended that I take pain medication regularly. In the end my therapist and orthopedic surgeon felt I had a phenomenal recovery with significant improvement in the extension and flexibility of my left knee.  I was told that this was due to the extensive exercises I was required to perform during rehab.  I still have some pain in my right knee and may need surgery in the future.  However, climbing stairs and getting around is much easier.  I’m very pleased with the result and only wish I had had surgery sooner.

Lindsey, Indianapolis 

I was extremely active in cross-country running. Unfortunately, my body was not built for the sport so I suffered from a number of injuries including stress fractures.  In September 2007 my hip began to hurt but I chose to finish the season, assuming it was just another stress fracture.  I sought medical attention in November but the pain persisted.  In March I began training for track which only caused the pain to become worse.  I couldn’t sit Indian style, walk comfortably or even lie down – I was miserable. I chose to remain on the sidelines during track season but the pain did not fade. Finally in May 2008 I consulted with an orthopedic surgeon. He determined that I had a hip labral tear and presented me with three treatment options. I ultimately chose surgery. I started rehab the day after surgery.  It was awful but I realized that the exercises would allow me to recover faster. As time went on it became easier and my physician was extremely happy with the rate I was improving. Overall, my recovery was a three-month process.  The surgery and rehab have exceeded my expectations. It is six months later and I’m pain free!

Audra, Avon

I’m a very active person.  I bike, run, exercise daily and lift weights.  These intense physical activities eventually caused pain in my right hip that simply wouldn’t go away. I met with an orthopedic surgeon who informed me that the bone in my hip was jagged and the repetitive motion from running was causing the pain and progression of the injury. Through the use of an MRI, he determined that I had severely torn the labrum in my left hip.  I was very hesitant about arthroscopic surgery, but it truly was my only option. After surgery I was very strict about following the rehabilitation regimen. The physical therapy was surprisingly not painful and I’ve been very happy with my healing process.  The pain is gone and I hope to soon begin training for a marathon. My recommendation to others who might be suffering from a similar injury would be to do your research.  Understand the problems you’re having, evaluate possible treatment options, and listen to your physician’s assessment of your condition.