Elliott,

Others may disagree (depending on their experience with THR), but I think you are wise to delay until it becomes more intrusive in your daily activities and your quality of life. It sounds like you are getting along pretty well right now. And I say this because of my experience with my left THR about 3 years ago. When I first noticed problems with the hip, I noticed groin pain on the left while doing yoga and finally had to stop doing the yoga. After awhile, I had a bit more discomfort bending over, painful moves at night (like you), so I went to the ortho, Xrays showed arthritis in both hips, the right (not left) being worse. But the right was not hurting a bit at that time. I had very good range of motion on both sides with no pain. Ortho said, you'll know when you need it.

I had friends in their 60s who had had anterior and told me it was "pretty easy" for them. I read a lot about it and am intelligent enough to know that the surgery is pretty drastic. But as the months went by, I began to search out referrals for a quality ortho, located a highly reputable ortho, and he had a long waiting list for the surgery. Finally, last year in March 2023 I had the left THR. The structural integrity of the left hip replacement itself has turned out well, but within 2 weeks after the surgery I had BAD nerve pain/numbness in the front of the left thigh. Long story, been back to ortho twice, he claims the nerve/numb in the thigh (above knee cap about 8-10 inches) should go away in 18 months, which will be Sept. 2024. The good news, the nerve/numb in the thigh has improved, but is still there. If I bumped into something in that thigh area--OUCH nerve pain. But I guess I"m getting used to it, and others have told me I'm lucky that's the only negative outcome because it could be a lot worse. The ortho's PA told me I would just need to live with it.

Now the right hip has started hurting. The same ortho who did the left said I can delay as long as I can tolerate the pain, (delaying won't create any problems) and no need to do the surgery unless I'm at the point where I can't tolerate the pain. I am 76, always been active, good health. I have decided to tolerate the right hip pain/discomfort until the bitter end of pain because as of now, the nerve/numb pain was worse than what the right hip pain is now. I guess I'd call it a choice of swapping the witch for the devil. And I have considered considering another ortho for the right, even though the ortho who did the left THR is among the best in the region, director of hip surgery at a large ortho group.

My sister and many friends in their mid-70s had the anterior THR and were back being active within a few months, no real problems. Everyone is different. I've had other people tell me that the nerve/numb situation on the left THR is pretty common with all surgeries because they pull/tug on nerves during surgeries and bruise them. So Elliott, I don't know what to say, except be sure you have the best ortho doc vetted and teed up, so you can proceed when that time comes. You will probably sail through fine!! Best of luck.