# Is it time for a hip replacement? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282 "2026-05-21T14:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/161 "2026-10-23T01:50:05Z")
5 week update (plus one day). Saw the PA in the surgeon’s office today for a follow-up. No problems, no issues; he approves of me walking without the cane whenever I can, which I have been doing around the house most of the time. Tomorrow will be my last home-care visit, by the PT; next week I start outpatient PT. I have been driving for a few days, no issues, no problems. I got the anesthetist’s bill, my share is only $92. Still waiting for the surgeon’s bill and the bill for the overnight stay in the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/162 "2026-10-23T13:51:23Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > No problems, no issues; That’s super news! Do you still have any pain/weakness in the leg? Mine still hurts when I put weight on it (but not a lot) and if I twist it suddenly. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > got the anesthetist’s bill, my share is only $92. Wow, excellent! That’s about what I’m getting charged for all my copays. When insurance works, it is literally a life saver. I sure wish we had a more sensible system though. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/163 "2026-10-23T18:30:05Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > Do you still have any pain/weakness in the leg? Oh, I’m still fairly weak on that side, it’s going to take some building up. Not pain really, but it still gets tired easily from a lot of standing or walking. I’m having a PT evaluation next Tuesday, which will give me a better idea of what’s going to be required. I also can’t cross my right leg onto my left leg very well, which I think will mostly be about stretching, but when I tried to stretch it further I felt some pressure on the hip joint, so I didn’t push it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/164 "2026-10-29T00:37:21Z")
Further to the above, proof of how weak I have gotten over the past couple of years. I went to my first outpatient appointment yesterday, which was assessment plus having me run through some exercises, much more strenuous than the home help PT had me doing. I was wobbly when I left, and pretty sore today, so much that I couldn’t finish all my exercises today. But I also feel better and stronger at the same time. I closed out yesterday with stationary bicycle, and I felt so good being able to cycle without hip pain that I kept speeding up, and managed to wear myself out in 5 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/165 "2026-10-29T14:31:55Z")
That’s the most shocking thing to me now: just how much weaker my left leg is than my right. It’s a combo of the operation plus favoring it for years since it hurt to put weight on it. Another reason to be proactive about the surgery rather than putting it off. Pain is pretty much all gone, except my leg is stiff & sore first thing in the morning. I would like to ride my ebike, but am worried if I had to stop suddenly & put my left foot down, that it would collapse under me. Falling is a pretty terrifying prospect. I think I will do a couple of slow rides very close to home. Meanwhile, I bought a second hand recumbent bike on FB Marketplace & have been trying to ride it at least 1/2 hour/day. I’m with you: it’s startling to be able to walk & move without babying the sore hip. Hooray! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/166 "2026-10-30T15:26:28Z")
> [@bobsmom101](#): > > plus favoring it for years since it hurt to put weight on it. Another reason to be proactive about the surgery rather than putting it off. This is huge. IMO … For anyone, as soon as you start favoring a failing joint, it’s time to schedule the replacement. Before you cripple yourself through some combo of sedentary living and favoring the weak limb. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/167 "2026-10-30T16:10:33Z")
But it’s hard to know exactly when. It’s not as if one day the joint stops working indefinitely. At least, not usually. I’ve had knee issues since i was 20. Every so often one knee or the other gives out, and i hobble for a week, and then it recovers. Usually after I’ve gone on a hike that includes a lot of hiking downhill. Tuesday, for no obvious reason, the left knee buckled painfully when i tried to go down stairs. I spent the day carefully putting most of my weight on the right knee, and my arms. Wednesday, it was totally fine. My right knee was a little sore from overuse, but nothing problematic. I took some naproxen. Thursday, everything on my body blew up. My left knee buckled even worse, the right knee was sore, the shoulder I’ve been seeing a physical therapist about acted up, and the other shoulder ached. I also felt like i might be developing a headache. I took more naproxen and felt better. I was really tired last night and went to bed early. Today I’m fine. The left knee is a little on edge, but I’m using it normally. The right knee feels a little bit over used, but not in a bad way. The bum shoulder still hurts, but i can use the arm pretty well. My best guess is that i was exposed to some bug, and my immune response kicked off general inflammation everywhere. But… Should i be considering knee surgery? It’s really hard to know. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/168 "2026-10-30T16:15:24Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But… Should i be considering knee surgery? It’s really hard to know. IMO, the time to start thinking about surgical correction is when it hurts/gives out _plus_ the xray or other diagnostics show something is wrong that is correctable sugically. That’s where I screwed up. The xray I had 5 years ago showed significant arthritic changes in my hip and I was okayed for surgery. Instead, I opted for a cortisone shot that made things feel better temporarily, and then, as you mention, very slowly everything went south again. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/169 "2026-11-04T22:05:44Z")
I walked out to the end of the driveway this morning and stopped dead. Everything felt, well, _normal_! No hip pain. No stiffness. No cane. No longer walking like Chester (only over 60s will get this allusion). Seven weeks post surgery. Today is a great day. To all the medical professionals who make these great life-enhancing advances possble: thank you from the bottom of my heart.💖 ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/170 "2026-11-05T05:52:01Z")
Congratulations. I think today is the 7-week anniversary for my operation (which was on Sept. 16th). I am not as far along as you are, but I am still getting better. Did you do a lot of physical therapy? I have three weeks more of that (after the in home PT, I am now doing outpatient PT). I still carry my cane when I go anywhere away from home, because I still tend to limp without it. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282/171 "2026-11-05T15:27:41Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I am still getting better. Did you do a lot of physical therapy? I have three weeks more of that (after the in home PT, I am now doing outpatient PT). You will keep getting better! The only PT I do is walk the dog for at least a mile a day, once per week “chair” exercises at the senior center (though we do some standing up as well), and I bought a used recumbent bike that I try to peddle for 1/2 hour a day. If I were more diligent, I’d probably be better off. As the day goes on, my leg starts to ache a bit, but not enough to grab the Ibuprofen or the cane. I’m hoping I’m well over the worst and wish you the best as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-a-hip-replacement/1030282.md?page=8)