Returning to an Active Lifestyle After Hip Replacement
“So I was relatively young when I first started having pain. I've been an athlete and very active all my life, and on my feet and my job and my profession, and at 45 years old, I was in discomfort.
It got worse and worse, and got to a point where it was hard to walk, and it affected my quality of life.
It was tolerable at first, and then I finally was talked in to go and see an orthopedic.
When I met Dr. Harris, he was probably the fourth or fifth orthopedic that I had been to. First, he said, “You're going to tell me when you need the hip done. I'm not going to tell you. I'm telling you, from a medical standpoint, we could do your hip tomorrow, but it's all about you and your timing.” And that was just different.
The staff and his PA, and the support staff, you weren't another number. And it was just refreshing to meet that type of surgeon who was there, not just for me, but who let me make that decision on my own.
And one of the key points, too, was the tissue sparing aspect of the way that he approached surgery by using these tools and getting in to access the hip without actually doing the cutting.
It simplified my rehab process, and I was on it immediately. I was walking out of anesthesia.
Once I was conscious and could say my name, I was walking. I wasn't bedridden at all. I was up, and I was active the day after.
And after my second hip, because I knew what to expect from the experience with the first hip and the rehab, it was no exaggeration, not even 10 days, and I was 100% again after my second hip operation. And it just allowed me to go back to do everything I wanted to do.
And I asked Dr. Harris, “Now, what can I do? How do I need to limit my lifestyle?” And this was key. And he goes, “We did this to not limit your lifestyle. You want to run, run, you know, if you want to if you want to bike, bike, if you want to go snow skiing, go snow skiing,” which I did immediately.
It's hard to even express how grateful I am for a practice like Dr. Harris has and the team that he has around him. It's not about just replacing hips and knees and moving on to another case.
I'm healthier than when I was 35, 45 years old. You know, younger man, and it's a lot of it is due to lifestyle and having two brand new hip joints.”
San Antonio Orthopædic Specialists is a patient-focused practice utilizing advanced techniques to ensure optimal results. Our highly skilled surgeons, like Dr. Harris, are committed to providing the highest quality orthopedic services, including state-of-the-art hip replacement surgeries with tissue-sparing techniques designed to promote a faster recovery and improved mobility.
Dr. Harris and the team at SAOS want to help you get back to living your life, pain free.