A little about me and my need for hip replacement surgery. I have been running since 1978. I actually started to augment my love of cross country skiing in the off season and running quickly became the passion. Most people who know you are a runner too quickly connect a procedure like a hip replacement with the abuses of running. Not the case with me. My accident happened in April of 1989. I also like to ride bikes and was on a first ride of the spring when I was struck by a car while riding. I sustained a partial PCL tear and a posterior hip dislocation. The orthopaedic doc that relocated the hip told me then that I would recover fine and would resume full activity, but that 20 years or so down the road I would likely develop osteo arthritis in that hip. And so it came to pass. About 6 years ago after nagging discomforrt in the hip I had X-rays which confirmed the onset of osteo arthritis. I was advised to contact my doctor when things became worse. I was still running, but not racing and my weekly mileage was a shadow of what I had formerly run. About two years ago I had another x-ray and the orthopedic doc says “We now have a problem.” I had a consult with my surgeon and (surprise, surprise) replacement was recommended. After several months of niggling with my then boss about paid time off work, I scheduled the surgery for March 27, 2013. I was very eager to get things taken care of ASAP at that point. The pre-surgery meeting with all the other prospective knee and hip replacement candidates helped me to appreciate how thankful I was that my fitness level going into the surgery was very high in comparison to many of the others in the room. It is difficult to over emphasize how important a high overall fitness level is going into the surgery. Recovery and recuperation is WAY better when you are fit before surgery! I asked a consulting ortho doc about returning to … (Click Here to View Full Post and Comments)