A couple of years ago, at age 71, I started having some discomfort in my hip. During my annual physical, asked my family physician to take an x-ray. It showed some arthritis developing, but not significant. Decided then to undergo physical therapy and I religiously performed the exercises prescribed, but with little to no benefit. Slowed down on walking frequency and speed and stopped playing pickleball.
The following spring, I saw Dr. Owen O’Neill who gave me an injection into my hip and I felt almost immediate relief. Went back to walking and playing pickleball, but again experienced discomfort within a couple of months. I opted for Dr. O’Neill because he had performed surgery on my wife’s knees and I had seen him previously for other joint issues, that didn’t require surgery.
Then I went back to Dr. O’Neill earlier this year thinking that I needed a second injection. Additional x-rays and an MRI, along with only a three month beneficial response to the first injection indicated I should consider a hip replacement, much to my chagrin. My choice seemed to be to either live with the discomfort until it became unbearable or proceed with the operation as soon as possible while still in good health. I opted to proceed with the operation now.
Dr. O’Neill and his staff were outstanding throughout the process. They met with me numerous times to answer questions and explain what would happen during and after surgery. I also attended a 3 hour joint replacement class at Fairview Southdale Hospital in advance of surgery and then followed their advance exercise instructions.
My surgery and recovery were uneventful – just the way I had hoped. I walked within a few hours of surgery and was discharged the following day. There was discomfort, as you might expect after surgery, but I actually noticed improvement each day. I used a walker the first few days and shifted to a cane within a week. I discontinued the cane within a month following the surgery. Six weeks after surgery I was walking a three mile route a couple of times a week. Two months after surgery, I started some strengthening exercises and have continued walking. An added benefit seems to be the disappearance of some back pain I had been enduring before surgery.
Dr O’Neill performs hip surgeries employing an anterior approach, eliminating the need to damage muscles and significantly improving the speed of recovery. I would highly recommend anyone thinking they may need hip surgery to see Dr. O’Neill for an evaluation and potential hip replacement.
