Journey to Hip Replacement

My hips have been bothering me for years. Over the past 6 or 7 years, I’ve had MRIs and X-Rays and have been told that I have mild to severe Osteoarthritis in my hips. Over the years I’ve tried physical therapy, injections, cognitive behavioral therapy, and prescription medications to no avail. The left hip is worse than the right hip.

Sometimes my left hip feels like it is popping out of the socket. I constantly have mobility problems and pain.

Often, I have difficulty:

• rising from bed in the morning,

• sitting down or standing up from a seated position,

• taking a shower and getting dressed

• getting in and out of a car, and,

• bending over to kiss my grandchildren or pick something up off the floor

While going through physical therapy for my Achilles tendon, my physical therapist asked me "has anyone ever discussed hip replacement with you?" "Duh, no! Why would they?" I respond. Now I'm in physical therapy for my left hip and the first thing the new physical therapist asks on the first day is, can you guess? She asked, "has anyone ever discussed hip replacement with you?"