Ann's story

Hip Surgery Leads UCLA Professor to a Greater Appreciation of Movement

Ann is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), whose life has been shaped by a love of creativity and movement.  She teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Greek literature and modern architecture, and her appreciation for the creative arts extends beyond her teaching career to her personal life – in her free time, Ann enjoys calligraphy, tap dancing, and Tai chi. She is also a fan of weight training and yoga.

Because so many of Ann’s favorite activities keep her active and moving, she noticed right away when arthritis pain began creeping into her left hip. It began gradually at first, but quickly became worse. 

Determined not to give up some of her favorite activities, Ann tried to modify her routine to accommodate the pain in her hip. She was able to continue weight training with machines and worked with her yoga instructor to adapt her practice, but tap dancing eventually became too difficult to continue.

Soon, the pain began affecting her daily routine, as walking any distance required frequent stops and starts. Ann’s campus office is only five minutes away from the parking lot, but the walk between the two became increasingly difficult. Carrying heavy books made the trek even worse. Simple shopping trips or visits to museums became challenging, too.

To manage the pain, Ann tried medications and cortisone injections, but had little success. Then, while researching her options, she discovered the Anterior Approach to hip replacement. Unlike traditional hip replacement surgery, which requires a surgeon to cut major muscles and tissues, the Anterior Approach allows a surgeon to work between the muscles and tissues without detaching them from either the hip or thighbones, potentially reducing the recovery time. 

Although she was eager to have her hip replaced, Ann decided to wait until she had completed two important events before scheduling the surgery – a presentation at a large architecture conference and a teaching trip to China. “I wanted to make sure I could devote the necessary amount of time to my recovery,” Ann explained.

Ann’s surgery went well. Her orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Matta, chose Pinnacle^® Hip Solutions with TrueGlide™ technology for Ann’s hip replacement. One study conducted since the device was approved in 2002 observed that an estimated 99.9% of Pinnacle hip components remain in use.¹ Only Pinnacle Hip Solutions feature TrueGlide™ 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.

Following the surgery, Ann was thrilled to be up and walking the next day. Within weeks she was able to return to the activities she loved, even tap dancing.

“This surgery was a great blessing to me,” Ann said. “When pain robs you of movement and your favorite activities, you learn how much they mean to you. I’m glad I made this investment in my life.”     

Ann’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 orthopaedic surgeon can tell if hip replacement is right for you.

Reference:
1. Kindsfater K., Barrett W.P., Dowd J.E., Southworth C.B. and Cassell M.J. “99.9% Midterm Survival of the Pinnacle Multi-Liner Acetabular Cup in a Prospective Multi-Center Study,” Poster Presentation #P077, AAOS, San Diego, CA. February 14-18, 2007.

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