Get Hip! How to Prepare for and Recover from Total Hip Replacement

Although everyone's experience will be different, this book gives a broad overview of hip replacement: preparation, helpful tools to have for recovery, even describing the surgery. I have found it very useful to help me feel as if I am truly prepared.Addendum: I am now 3 weeks past surgery. This little book has been a great companion. The author gives a week by week idea of what he experienced during healing, and also includes 11 other person's experiences. Almost every time I became nervous about a difficulty, I would turn to the section on the week I was post-surgery and he would describe the same thing, and what he was told about it by either his doctor or his physical therapist. What a relief.

am a very fit 47 year old active man. I am a forester for the state of NH and walk many miles a week. In March 2023 I was sliding down a snowy hill in a plastic sled, stuck my leg out to slow down and it got jammed and I completely displaced my femoral neck. I was shipped to DHMC from a northern NH hospital as they were uncomfortable with the severity of the break. I opted to have it repaired with plates, screws and a retractable rod. It took a long while to get back to 80% and then started to go downhill. The pain and length of my leg were causing major issues. Last Tuesday, August 20 th 2024 I went back to visit my trauma surgeon at DHMC who is really good and found out the ball was no longer getting blood and was crumbling to pieces. He said from the beginning that this was a possibility.The rod and screw had punched through the ball and were scratching the socket. I needed a total hip replacement soon. I went back home and got a call on Wednesday saying I could get in with Dr. Moschetti on Thursday because of a cancellation. Count me in! He took out the old hardware and installed my new pieces. I'm six days out and had my first therapy session today. I'm doing really well and did not take a single narcotic pain killer home. I agree with you and do not want to take it unless completely necessary. I researched Dr. Moschetti as quickly as I could because I didn't have much time to think about it and saw your book, ordered it, and read it in a day while resting. I liked the information very much and want to thank you for writing it.

I bought the book because I was about to have a hip replacement. There was helpful info, but a few missteps too. The author was saying he refused to take pain medication as if those who did were weak (I beg to differ!), and some actions along the way weren't always in line with "doctors' orders" such as applying a bandage after being told to leave the incision uncovered after the initial bandage was removed. SO- I learned some things, but readers should not see this as the "right" way to manage the surgery.

I bought this book, from among many on the subject, because I recognized the mountain peaks on the cover. I stood in that same place 35 years ago when I backpacked the Sierras. Now, suddenly lame at 64 because of OA, I must have both hips replaced in some sequence. This will not be my first dance, I've had open heart surgery twice, a cervical spine fusion, and other major intrusions. But as I read this book, I recognized the theme - preparation pays off. Rob Taylor's experience is a "checklist" of preparatory arrangements, including some unique to hip replacement. For example, I just had my second set of steroid injections and did not realize there is a waiting period. Can I make it to medicare (4 months)? I think I'll have to. There are numerous pearls of wisdom strewn throughout. Choosing a hospital that has a dedicated orthopedic unit makes great sense, I had difficulty recovering from bypass because I was in a general ward with people suffering hideously painful conditions vocally. Lower chance of post-surgical infection. Although the book is a dry read, in the style of a New Englander, it is just what I wanted. (FWIW, I went to high school in Connecticut.) If you are fearful, you should not be, this procedure is straightforward, and this book will allay your fears.

Easy read, presented in a chronological format. If you’re facing hip replacement and want to know about someone’s experience this book is very useful. Other patients experiences are referenced and the surgeon also provides information. A quick easy read.

I bought this book because I have surgery with Dr. Moschetti scheduled. I knew I had very little in common with the author as I am not the ideal surgical patient, as Rob was. But I am in incredible pain all of the time with my hip and pretty desperate. This book gave great insight into the process and hope for a life without pain. There were many helpful tips about things I would not have even thought about. But the most important thing that happened for me reading it was I became much less fearful of the surgery itself and am no longer dreading it. My recovery may be different than those outlined in the book and that is OK. Or I might just rock it like Rob did! I've been working hard to prepare; to loose weight and try to become stronger. I probably won't be seeing Rob on any mountain tops, but I hope to be able to dance again! I appreciate the time, research and effort put into this book and would recommend it.

This book had some helpful ideas for how to prepare for before you have hip surgery. I felt like the stories post surgery were from very fit and active people, not your average person.