John's Story

After Hip Replacement, Former Cowboy Says, "I Feel Much Younger"

A few years ago, John was forced to give up his passion for riding horses because of severe pain in his back and hip. Even walking the corridors of the Arkansas Department of Corrections’ Newport prison facility became difficult, too, because of pain he describes as “excruciating.”

“Being a cowboy’s rough on the whole body,” says John.

Like many younger arthritis patients, John, now 56, was living life to its fullest until arthritis slowly wore away at his active lifestyle. The pain and immobility grew worse until John was no longer able to do the things he loves. His family doctor sent him to a specialist–an orthopaedic surgeon.

An exam and X-rays showed his hip was badly deteriorated. “My hip joint just gave out. The ball of the joint had just sloughed off. My doctor said it was like trying to put a square peg in a round hole–that just doesn’t work.”

Since medicines were not much help anymore, the surgeon suggested replacing John’s diseased hip with a hip replacement implant.

With advanced hip systems available today from companies like DePuy Orthopaedics, doctors can select an artificial hip based on each patient’s needs.

Joint-replacement patients like John who lead active lives place a lot of demands on their replacement hip implant. Using DePuy’s Summit Total Hip System, the surgeon was able to match components suited for John’s situation. Surgeons can mix-and-match implant components, including the stem, the ball, the cup and the cup liner. The liner of the hip implant is vital to success, because it absorbs the patient’s body weight with every footstep.

John’s surgeon chose hip replacement implants using a special metal cup liner, unlike the plastic liners used successfully for decades. Because John is still working and is also active in his non-working life, the surgeon decided the metal cup liner would give John the best outcome.

Metal liners are strong and resist wear. They're less likely than plastic bearings to release particles into the body. These are important factors in reducing the risk for complications such as inflammation and loosening. The metal liner is also designed to achieve optimum range of motion and excellent hip function.

The desired result for a patient like John is a stable implant designed to withstand the stresses and pressures of day-to-day living. Here’s another important factor: Because metal liners stand up well to wear, they can be used with large femoral heads. The femoral head is the “ball” at the top of the part of the hip implant. A larger ball head creates a larger surface for the new joint to glide over, which may increase range of motion and stability. Also, metal liners allow surgeons to use implants that may allow the surgeon to remove less of the healthy bone from the hip socket during surgery. Anything that preserves natural, healthy tissue is an advantage, especially for younger or exceptionally active patients, because no implant is as strong as natural, healthy bone.

John’s recovery went well. “It was painful right after surgery,” he says, but he left the hospital 3 days after surgery using only a walker for support. As he has always done, he exercises regularly.

A little over a year after his surgery, John is walking the corridors of the prison free from pain. Since having his hip replaced, John says, “I feel much younger. My hip feels like new.”

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.

Register Now!
Register for a Free Hip Replacement Surgery Information Kit and an informational email series. These people have gotten back to the activities they enjoy, and you should too! Why not learn more about your options and what hip replacement could do for you? Click here to learn more.

Next: Mark’s Story