Debating hip replacement

If cortisone shots work for me I'm going to delay hip replacement. I'm 73 yrs old and I don’t know how long I should put it off. Anyone dealing with a similar issue?

Thank you.

I appreciate all the positive comments on hip replacement. I feel a little more enlightened. I'm going to prolong surgery, as long as cortisone shots relieve the pain for an acceptable time period. I've had 10 arthritis related surgeries in 15 yrs, so I'm secure with replacement now, but not ready for another surgery, if I can wait.

I agree with not doing surgery prematurely, and am trying to make 2025 a surgery-free year, but be sure to keep the leg and your back as strong as possible because recovery gets harder every year as we age. My lovely substitute PT just told me that at 70+ my healing from rotator cuff surgery is taking twice as long as he 50 year old patients, but assured me I will get there.

Thank you. I appreciate your input.

If you have a good surgeon you are confident in; give it serious consideration. Also, watched a lot of u tubes, as people have recorded day by day, and week by week progress post hip replacement. Really helps to understand what is involved, what you need to prepare for etc.

I'm 72 and while my x-ray indicates severe osteoarthritis in one hip (moderate in the other), I've decided to not go ahead yet with hip replacement surgery. I've been told it's not what the x-ray shows but your degree of pain and debilitation. While the pain can sometimes wake me up at night, it's rarely ever bad enough that I feel the need to go ahead with it. My left hip area and down the leg is often a bit sore but it doesn't prevent from going out on hour long walks. I've decided to wait until the pain is far more intense - maybe it will never come to that. I keep active with walking and light strength training.