Al's Story

Hip Replacement Allows Al to Enjoy Long Walks Around His Home Again

After years of travel and changing locations, Al, 66, and his wife, Cathy, were thrilled when they found the home of their dreams outside of Los Angeles in 2002. Near the San Gabriel River, their property is situated on an acre of remote land, and Al enthusiastically began renovating the house and improving the property.

Al planted about 50 trees over a period of time when the pain in his hip first appeared. “At first I thought I had pulled a groin muscle, but it didn’t seem to get any better. In fact, it got progressively worse," Al said. 

At the time, Al didn’t realize the pain was related to his right hip. “I had never had hip pain, and the location of it seemed to change, depending on what I was doing,” he explained. 

Al had been active his whole life – he was a boxer in college and an enthusiastic runner for many years – so as the pain continued, he worried about his mobility.  He continued working on his property, but gradually became frustrated as he was able to accomplish less and less. The pain began manifesting itself in other ways, too. For example, going up and down stairs and bending over became increasingly difficult.  

After six months, Al realized he needed help and went to see his doctor, who confirmed that Al would need his right hip replaced. He scheduled his surgery for a traditional hip replacement, but after reading a newspaper article about the Anterior Approach, he contacted his doctor to learn more.

Unlike traditional hip replacement surgery, the Anterior Approach allows a surgeon to work between the muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thigh bones, potentially reducing recovery time. After consulting with his orthopaedic surgeon, they agreed that the Anterior Approach to hip replacement was a good choice for Al and rescheduled his surgery.  His surgeon chose Pinnacle® Hip Solutions with TrueGlide™ technology from DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.  Only Pinnacle Hip Solutions feature TrueGlideTM technology, allowing the body to create a thin film of lubrication between surfaces.  The result is a more fluid range of natural motion that more closely matches the feeling and movement of a natural hip.

Al’s right hip was replaced in December 2005. “I had the surgery on a Monday and was home the very next day,” Al said. During his recovery, Al worked very hard at his rehabilitation. “I followed my doctor’s directions precisely. I wanted to get back to doing what I love to do as quickly as possible.”

Unfortunately, Al’s left hip began causing him considerable pain just a couple of years later. This time he didn’t hesitate. “I was standing in line and ready to get the Anterior Approach for the second hip,” Al said. His left hip was replaced in December 2007, and he says his experience was just as positive as it was for his first surgery.

Today, Al is able to work in his yard, take long walks with his wife and their five dogs, and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding his home. As for Al’s home and property, “it’s about as good as it’s going to get,” Al joked.  “I’m thinking about moving to Colorado just so I can start another major renovation.” 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Al’s story may not be typical. The performance of a hip replacement depends on your age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopedic surgeon can tell if hip replacement is right for you.

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