# My son just had hip replacement surgery **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324 "2025-08-20T16:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/1 "2025-08-20T16:24:38Z")
My son had hip replacement surgery yesterday, which naturally had me in fits of worry, both about the surgery and the recovery process. It’s pretty much the most major surgery anyone in the immediate family has had in recent memory. I was having fits when, hours after the surgery, he was still in recovery and not back in his room. Fortunately, mostly due to the efforts of his mother, it was done by probably the top orthopedic surgeon in the country. They used a process called the anterior approach, which is apparently the most challenging but somewhat less invasive and leads to faster recovery, less potential for muscle damage, and lower risk of potential hip dislocation during recovery. The surgery went very well and he should be home some time today. I must say I’m very proud of the brave and stoic way he approached this. When I suggested some time ago that he should carefully assess whether the surgery was really necessary at all, he replied that it was a quality of life issue and it was important to get it done. About 7 hours after the surgery he emailed me (it wasn’t practical for me to be there, but his wife was there) and said that for somebody who’d just had a major artificial body part implanted he was feeling just fine. He was due for a physio assessment today and then would be taken home. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/2 "2025-08-20T16:32:32Z")
I’m so glad it all went well! May he enjoy a continued, untroubled and full recovery! ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/3 "2025-08-20T16:32:54Z")
My husband had his done a month ago. He had the posterior approach, because he’s got a belly and the overhang would have increased the risk of infection which would negate the benefits of the anterior approach. He was walking the same day , came home the next day and ditched the walker for a cane after less than two weeks. Within a week or so, he had less pain than he had before the surgery. Wishing your son a speedy recovery! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/4 "2025-08-20T16:33:51Z")
Oh my. Good luck for his PT. I hope it goes well. The Lil’wrekker broke her hip, last year during an on-stage performance. They had to reduce it surgically. Out-patient. I was amazed when after they rolled her out to leave she got up and walked a short distance to the car. Her recovery was short and easy(didn’t stop her from complaining endlessly) Anyway, my point is how quickly recovery is from surgery nowadays. I hope your son comes out, of a significantly more serious hip surgery, easy as possible. The surgery aftercare sheet for my daughter was imprinted in big block letters: **DO NOT HAVE A FALL, in several places.** ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/5 "2025-08-20T17:24:56Z")
Thanks for the good wishes. I just got another email from my son saying he’s now home and doing great. He already feels less pain than he did pre-surgery, feels he’s getting better by the hour, and can already walk with a cane but has been instructed to use a walker until next week – this is obviously in the interest of the Do Not Fall! edict as mentioned by @Beckdawrek. Overall, the news is better than I expected. I was anticipating major pain and immobility, but he has neither, and is incredibly cheerful! As an interesting side note, we have a lot of technical information from the hospital, like all the X-rays that were taken before, during, and after the procedure, and even a list of all the “components” that were used. I thought that a hip replacement was basically done by installing one (1) Acme™ Artificial Hip. 😁 It turns out that there’s a lot of stuff in there, kinda more like rebuilding an engine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/6 "2025-08-20T18:44:58Z")
Glad everything went well! Did you say somewhere else (and I missed it) re how this came about, how old he is, etc.? * * * > [@wolfpup](#): > > I just got another email from my son saying he’s now home and doing great. 👍🏼 My former boyfriend was home four days after quad bypass surgery and sang in a concert a week to the day from the surgery. In the future, they’ll mail the instruments to your house, you’ll do the surgery yourself on your kitchen table, and just send them the money. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/7 "2025-08-20T19:02:17Z")
Interesting to read, as I may be looking at a procedure at some point. It was diagnosed as bursitis by the last doc I saw, but the pain can be substantial. I’d just as soon not go through the misery I had with knee surgery again, but the end result was worth it as I walk pain-free now (other than the hip twinges). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/8 "2025-08-20T20:20:16Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Did you say somewhere else (and I missed it) re how this came about, how old he is, etc.? No, I never mentioned any of those things before. He’s in his early 30s. The condition that was treated was arterial vascular necrosis (AVN). Not due to any accident. It means that the hip bone can no longer continue to develop and will gradually weaken, because it’s essentially dead (“necrosis”). There is no specific, single known cause for this. The surgery replaced his hip bone structure by some of the most awesome futuristic type gadgetry known to man. My admiration for today’s best surgeons knows no bounds, and no bounds of admiration for the medical industry that produces this amazing technology. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/9 "2025-08-20T22:15:48Z")
Wow–that IS incredible! So glad that was available to him. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/10 "2025-08-20T23:28:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The surgery went very well and he should be home some time today. Hip hip hooray! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/11 "2025-08-21T05:44:59Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The condition that was treated was arterial vascular necrosis (AVN) For the sake of accuracy, I should mention that I either misheard or misremembered the name of the condition, but AVN stands for avascular necrosis, or at least that’s the most common term. But my description was correct. It means essentially bone decay due to lack of blood supply. In any case, apparently I’m out about a thousand bucks as I promised to cover the cost of dinner for him and his wife at one of his favourite sushi restaurants next month to celebrate his recovery. So I guess in some sense health care in Canada isn’t really “free”. At least not for those funding celebrations. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/12 "2025-08-21T06:48:00Z")
Glad to hear the good news. My best wishes to him for a speedy recovery! A celebration next month may be expensive, but I’m sure that you’ll all enjoy it. In the meantime, I suggest that you celebrate with a Caesar or two. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/13 "2025-08-21T08:06:23Z")
My daughter had a hip-replacement aged 36, due to an earlier car accident that resulted in osteomyelitis and septic arthritis when she was 16. She’s fine now, but my GOD, she was an awful patient. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/14 "2025-08-21T12:59:21Z")
Is he going to have the other hip replaced as well? I’ve had both hips replaced. The first happened 4 years ago, and the other 3 years ago.For me the second hip replacement went even easier than the first. I stopped using a cane after only one day. The surgeon said they should last about 20 years. The left hip, which was the first to be replaced, is producing a little pain and I’m not sure if it’s long term muscle pain or an omen of something worse. I’m much more active than is an average person, so I can imagine that the artificial hip is wearing out sooner than expected. Does anyone know if physical activity level is correlated with length of service life of an artificial hip? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/15 "2025-08-21T13:40:16Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Within a week or so, he had less pain than he had before the surgery. Most of the people I’ve known who have had joint replacement surgery of some kind have reported considerably less pain than beforehand, and more than one has opined that they should have done it sooner. Cataract removal surgery has had the same sort of life-changing reports as well, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/16 "2025-08-21T14:31:12Z")
Is Nancy Pelosi getting around OK without a cane or walker after her hip fracture and replacement surgery? The latest news I could find was that she was back in Congress in January, without her signature stiletto-heeled shoes. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/17 "2025-08-21T17:08:48Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Is he going to have the other hip replaced as well? Possibly, but not any time soon. It’s giving him no issues, but my understanding is that the surgeon said something to the effect that “there are signs” that it may become necessary at some point. That will be one of the questions for his followup appointment with the surgeon on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/18 "2025-08-22T15:49:54Z")
I had a replacement twenty some years ago due to arthritis. Very little pain, and walking with a cane in a week. Be sure he does his exercises; I did not, and have trouble getting a sock on. : ) It hurts like hell when I stub my toe. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/19 "2025-08-22T16:01:08Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > it was a quality of life issue More and more people are getting hip replacements in their 50’s and 60’s. While it is a “surgery” it isn’t considered a very complex and debilitating surgery. Patients are normaly expected to get up begin some walking just hours after coming out. Technology around hip implants have significantly improved over the last decade. The fastest growing type of hip ball is now a ceramic hip ball, vastly being preferred by orthopedic surgeons over metal. Surgeons recommend replacement if you are experiencing limited mobility to, as your son said, improve quality of life. You shouldn’t wait until you break your hip in your 70’s, do it earlier so you can continue being active and mobile as you age. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-son-just-had-hip-replacement-surgery/1022324/20 "2025-08-22T16:39:38Z")
Hip, hip, hoorray! (Pun intended) > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It hurts like hell when I stub my toe. I don’t need hip surgery for that, a well placed chair is more than enough.