How to Stay Strong & Active to Delay Joint Replacements?

Outstanding attitude and plan. And when/if the day comes and you need surgery, you'll recover in a NY minute.

I am 73 years old and I’ve been fairly physically active most of adulthood but had begun to slack off in my 60’s because I began volunteering full time and just couldn’t seem to work it all in. Then the covid pandemic hit and with the quarantine, I had extra time so I began walking 3-5 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Last September I began to feel and ache in my right hip joint and by the end of November, I began to limp when I walked due to pain. I went to see. an orthopedic physician who took did a scan and showed me that the problem was osteoarthritis and that I needed hip replacement surgery. I scheduled an appointment with a well- respected orthopedic surgeon who confirmed the recommendation and surgery was scheduled for March. He prescribed physical therapy to prepare me for surgery and I began that immediately. In the same timeframe, I decided to begin working out with weights in an effort to build bone since I discovered that I have osteopenia. In order to function, I was taking 1200mm + of Advil daily.
I started weekly sessions with a weight trainer, for upper and lower body and after a few weeks my pain began to subside. I was so surprised to find that I was close to being pain free. I postponed my surgery to August. When August arrived I was still walking 5 days a week and lifting weights 1-2 days a week, with only occasional hip pain that I would say was only a 1 on the pain scale. So, I have postponed it once again to January. I only take 200-400mg of. Advil a day now. I highly recommend physical therapy to improve alignment and then weightlifting…as well as continuing movement such as walking. It has worked for me and may work for others. I know I will have to have the replacement surgery at some point and my orthopedic surgeon is a part of the renown Andrews Sports Medicine group so I am postponing the surgery rather than canceling it to avoid a longer wait when I finally need it.

Hi there!

You’ve discovered a Fountain of Youth: weight training. It’s amazing for restoring mobility and endurance for folks our age (I’m 70). Keep going!

Bill

Have you had cortisone injections? I did that for many years and it delayed the hip replacement. I did have it done 1.5 years ago and it is good. Stay active and work with a physical therapist.

Did you have side effects from your injections? I had major hair loss from the Zilretta knee shots., a time released pelletized steroid injection. They did stop the pain for 3 months.

I am 73 years old and I’ve been fairly physically active most of adulthood but had begun to slack off in my 60’s because I began volunteering full time and just couldn’t seem to work it all in. Then the covid pandemic hit and with the quarantine, I had extra time so I began walking 3-5 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Last September I began to feel and ache in my right hip joint and by the end of November, I began to limp when I walked due to pain. I went to see. an orthopedic physician who took did a scan and showed me that the problem was osteoarthritis and that I needed hip replacement surgery. I scheduled an appointment with a well- respected orthopedic surgeon who confirmed the recommendation and surgery was scheduled for March. He prescribed physical therapy to prepare me for surgery and I began that immediately. In the same timeframe, I decided to begin working out with weights in an effort to build bone since I discovered that I have osteopenia. In order to function, I was taking 1200mm + of Advil daily.
I started weekly sessions with a weight trainer, for upper and lower body and after a few weeks my pain began to subside. I was so surprised to find that I was close to being pain free. I postponed my surgery to August. When August arrived I was still walking 5 days a week and lifting weights 1-2 days a week, with only occasional hip pain that I would say was only a 1 on the pain scale. So, I have postponed it once again to January. I only take 200-400mg of. Advil a day now. I highly recommend physical therapy to improve alignment and then weightlifting…as well as continuing movement such as walking. It has worked for me and may work for others. I know I will have to have the replacement surgery at some point and my orthopedic surgeon is a part of the renown Andrews Sports Medicine group so I am postponing the surgery rather than canceling it to avoid a longer wait when I finally need it.

Physical therapy with a good therapist is life changing. I recommend everyone do that before joint replacement.

I agree. I’m glad my physician did prescribe pt for me.