Ron
Hip replacement recipient
“Now, I walk, get up from my chair, get up and down off the floor, dance, play golf and much more. It’s been a remarkable story.”
At 53, Ron was “too young” to give in to the gnawing pain and discomfort that was affecting every aspect of his life. It began during his morning commute, when it hurt to get in and out of his car. It continued throughout his day, working at his desk as a petroleum engineer in Houston, Texas.
“It hurt to get out of my desk chair,” says Ron, “I’m normally up and down a lot, and it got to where I would hardly get up from my chair. It hurt too much to get up and walk around.”
“I was very active,” says Ron, who for the past 35 years had been going to the gym every morning to lift weights and do elliptical work. The former competitive tennis player also played either tennis or racquetball in the mornings and golf in the afternoons. He walked through fields to bird hunt, and went wade fishing in the bays.
“I had to stop doing all those things,” says Ron. “It wasn’t comfortable. I gained weight. Everything was going in the wrong direction. I had to get it fixed.”
After being diagnosed with arthritis in both hips, Ron spent several years researching options and talking with his doctor about the benefits and risks, before finding a surgeon.
Ron went into the first surgery with a walking cane. When he woke up, he felt better than he had been feeling in months. “I had felt so bad, you cannot believe it,” says Ron.
Under his doctor’s supervision, soon after surgery, he got up to walk to the bathroom on his own. He worked his way up to a half mile. “It felt so good,” said Ron. “I had not walked a half mile the whole prior year.”
At home, he continued to do his exercises and physical therapy. Soon after returning home, he went back to work. After consulting with his doctor, he had his second hip replaced. The results were the same as his first hip replacement.
Now, Ron is back on the golf course, working out in the gym every morning, boating, vacationing and generally getting his life “back on track.”
“People used to ask me what was wrong: You have problems walking. Is it your hip?” recounts Ron. “Now, I walk, get up from my chair, get up and down off the floor, dance, play golf and much more. It’s been a remarkable story.”
All surgery carries risk. See your orthopaedic surgeon to discuss your potential benefits and risks. Not all patients will have the same post-operative recovery and activity level. Individual results vary.
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Hip Replacements
Hip joint replacement is intended for use in individuals with joint disease resulting from degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, fracture of the neck of the femur or functional deformity of the hip.
Joint replacement surgery is not appropriate for patients with certain types of infections, any mental or neuromuscular disorder which would create an unacceptable risk of prosthesis instability, prosthesis fixation failure or complications in postoperative care, compromised bone stock, skeletal immaturity, severe instability of the joint, or excessive body weight.
Like any surgery, joint replacement surgery has serious risks which include, but are not limited to, pain, infection, bone fracture, change in the treated leg length (hip), joint stiffness, hip joint fusion, amputation, peripheral neuropathies (nerve damage), circulatory compromise (including deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)), genitourinary disorders (including kidney failure), gastrointestinal disorders (including paralytic ileus (loss of intestinal digestive movement)), vascular disorders (including thrombus (blood clots), blood loss, or changes in blood pressure or heart rhythm), bronchopulmonary disorders (including emboli, stroke or pneumonia), heart attack, and death.
Implant related risks which may lead to a revision of the implant include dislocation, loosening, fracture, nerve damage, heterotopic bone formation (abnormal bone growth in tissue), wear of the implant, metal and/or foreign body sensitivity, soft tissue imbalance, osteolysis (localized progressive bone loss), audible sounds during motion, and reaction to particle debris. Hip implants may not provide the same feel or performance characteristics experienced with a normal healthy joint.
The information presented is for educational purposes only. Speak to your doctor to decide if joint replacement surgery is appropriate for you. Individual results vary and not all patients will return to the same activity level. The lifetime of any joint replacement is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device, including avoiding high-impact activities, such as running, as well as maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to closely follow your doctor’s instructions regarding post-surgery activity, treatment and follow-up care. Ask your doctor if a joint replacement is right for you.
Stryker Corporation or its other divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: Mako, Mobile Bearing Hip, Stryker, Together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.
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