After dealing with declining hip mobility for a long time it's finally gotten to the point that it affects my day to day life and the doctor says both hips are shot and need replaced. Anybody had a hip replacement? Any advice? One of my bigger concerns is that I'm only 48 and it's very possible I could wear the replacement out and have to do it again.

I have one hip replacement. Had it for 5 years. I am careful in selecting rolling partners and tap if partner smashes my knee to opposite shoulder.

I did not have an option of not having the operation.

In the UK replacement joints don't last long under physical activity. You will have another replacement in your life time. Did you have a total hip replacement or a resurface?

I had a replacement. Rolling is not the only sports I do. I go to gym, do kickboxing, ride a mointain bike and live very normal active life. I think the estimate is 25 years to renew it, but doc said that he has had an ultramaraton runner wear his replacement in 5 years.

This is one of my bigger concerns. I'm a big guy, so it will be under more stress. But my more active days are also behind me and BJJ is really the only activity I do other than normal walking around. I would like to get back into muay thai once I get some mobility back, but that isn't crucial. I found some research online that said there was a 77% chance of them lasting 25 years, 82% chance of lasting 20 years, and 90+% chance it would last 15 years. The problem with this study is that by definition all of the joints they asked about are at least 15 years old. I did ask the dr about this and he said the technology has improved and they expect longer lifespans on the newer joints, but they won't know until they get time on them.

Can you feel it when it's getting close to the limit? Or is it a situation where you just have to know there is a limit and not to go near it?

That's the issue unfortunately. As they are very hesitant to replace joints of people under 45-50 years old. If you manage your activity well you will get the most out of the joint.

Hip replacement works better than my other hip. Can’t feel the limits, but not testing either. I’m 66 so my rolling is not very intence.

So far they have not been hesitant at all. This was their first recommendation after looking at the X rays.

Hesitant in the sense of if there was another option they would take it. But they must of clinically reasoned that this is the best option. But I would say that after the replacement being sensible with rolling will be key to your longevity along side some decent and structured rehabilitation.

I am not personally, but had a former student that has had both replaced.

They were a former power lifter and followed their PT diligently after their surgeries.

Bounced back great and were back doing rounds way sooner than I personally would've expected (with their surgeons approval) with no modifications.

GL!

Hip…No, not yet. Have had both knees total replacement. Had to adjust to lack of range of movement. Can not sit back on my heels so working in someone’s guard has changed as well as other aspects of my game but I’m still rolling.

Yes, just had mine done about three months ago. Anterior approach. It was a good move on my part, feel waaaaay better now.

I've been meaning to create a thread like this for quite some time, very happy to see you beat me to it!

I was diagnosed with FAI (Femoroacetabular Impingement) a few years back, which was supposed to be corrected via a simple surgery. However, upon further inspection of the X-rays, they discovered arthrosis in the joint as well, meaning the only surgical option available to me was a full replacement.

Having just turned 40, I'm not sure I'm ready for a replacement, so I'll be following this thread with great interest to help me decide whether I should stay safe, focus on slowing down the arthrosis progression and live with my current limitations (basically grappling one-legged) or take the chance on surgery.

According to the surgeons, the goal of the surgery would be to allow for 'daily activities' which they define as standing up, sitting at a desk at work, and picking up toys from the floor.. all of which I'm still capable of doing without the surgery🙃

My issues are almost purely mechanical, but I don't recall him telling me a clinical term for the problem. Tying my shoes and picking things up off the floor have become nearly impossible without some kind of assistance. The cartilage joint itself seems like it would actually be in pretty good shape if it weren't for the other issues. I've got arthritis around the joint and bone spurs on my femurs that limit mobility. The bone spurs have at some point rotated into the hip joint and scratched/cut/damaged/destroyed the cartilage (he had a fancy term for this, but I don't remember what it was).

Looking back, this has probably been at least a decade coming. I don't know if going to have it checked sooner could have prevented this or not, but it doesn't matter at this point.

I just scheduled my appointment for total hip replacement in November. My doctor is confident I'll be able to do pretty much anything I want, including bjj... for however long the replacement lasts, of course.

A quick rundown of my hip issue(s):
- 2015: was diagnosed with avascular necrosis (AVN) after getting an MRI.
- 2016: had surgery (core decompression) to try and save my natural hip.
- 2016-present: I think I'll refer to these as my "blast double-free era".

Unfortunately, my luck's run out and I can't really put up with this bullshit anymore, so hip replacement it is.

I'm both looking forward to leveling up to "standard middle-aged grappler" ability, as well as not looking forward to getting all cut up and being off the mats for months... again.

I'll be sure to update this thread for anybody who cares, after all is said and done, but so far I'm optimistic :).

I am definitely interested in hearing how you progress. I am trying to put mine off until spring, but not sure if I an do it.

Check with Professor Chris Mize Hero’s Martial Arts Academy in Trussville, Alabama.
Had a hip replacement within this past year. He’s back on mats again and doing great. Was with him about 3 weeks ago.

Contact him on FB at: Hero’s Martial Arts Academy: Trussville

I have had bilateral hip replacements for over a decade and a half.

I roll with them

I had my left hip done on Tuesday (two days ago). So far so good. There was initially some significant pain, but nothing unbearable. I reported to the hospital at 7 am for a 9 am operating time. They wheeled me back to the OR about 8:45. I started waking up in spurts about noon and was pretty much back in the world of the living by 1PM. The way they had me arranged on the bed was agonizing. It had a footboard on it that my feet were wedged against and the other end of the bed was elevated so my weight was on my feet. The way I was wedged in I couldn't move at all. Once I got them to remove the footboard it was much better. I never was able to lay in the bed comfortably. I went for my first walk about 3PM. Not far; maybe 150 feet round trip to the end of the hall and back. I had to laugh a little bit at this. They sent a physical therapist to keep me from falling when I walked. She maybe weighed 100 lbs soaking wet with rocks in her pockets. I'm 265 lbs. If I fell there wasn't a damn thing she could have done to stop it. When I got back I sat in the recliner and spent the rest of my stay there. Went for another walk that evening that was a little longer.

The surgeon came in early yesterday morning to check me over and said I was doing fine and he was going to clear me for discharge as soon as we got another PT session in where I had to prove that I could step over the threshold of our front door. No issues there. They discharged me about 1PM yesterday afternoon. The nurse that wheeled me out was worried about me being able to get in the truck to come home, but it was not an issue.

I'm supposed to have a PT session and a visit from the home health nurse this morning. So far I've been able to do pretty much anything I need to do without help from anyone else, but my wife is supervising my every move with great scrutiny. I've had to tell her a few times to back off and let me do things on my own. This has been met with mixed results. Stiffness and being careful not to move my leg in the three ways they told me would be dangerous have been the biggest issues. At the rate I'm going I think there's a chance I'll transition from a walker to a cane sometime this weekend. I already hurt less now than I hurt before surgery, so I guess that's a success. I'll update this thread as new developments arise.

Definitely keep us updated. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

My PT session yesterday went better than I thought it would. We basically just talked about the recovery plan and the guy had me do three tests to establish a baseline of where we are at. I did really well on all three. One of them he said I was the only one he'd ever seen complete it in the allowed time.

So far my biggest issue is getting comfortable enough to sleep. That sucks. I'm pretty stiff after all the activity yesterday, but I'm still mobile and able to do what needs to get done.

Did your doctor do the anterior or posterior incision?

Speedy recovery Joe. Nothing but the best and positive vibes to get back to being pain free ASAP mang!

Anterior. From what I've read on the procedures it seems like the only people still doing posterior approaches are older doctors that don't want to bother learning something new. I'm sure there are cases where posterior is better, but I haven't read of any. I also haven't tried to find any to read about.

My biggest piece of advice for anyone going into this procedure is to make sure you have a place you can sleep before you get cut on. I haven't slept more than 2-3 hours per night since I left the hospital. I just can't get comfortable. The only place I was comfortable in the hospital was in the recliner they put in the room. If you don't already have a comfortable recliner, go get one before your surgery. We talked about my wife going and picking one out for me, but I want to make sure it's comfortable for me. As soon as I'm able to go out in the world again the first place I'm going is the furniture store.

So, is it difficult to lay flat? Does your hip have to stay a little bent in order to not be so painful?

Not really. It's just uncomfortable. I'm a side sleeper and that's not possible right now. A recliner lets me put a little bend in a few places to help.

I haven't updated this as often as I intended. Today is my first day back to work and surgery was two weeks ago tomorrow. I am amazed at how well this is going. Pain is pretty much completely gone for the most part. Going up the stairs to my office was easier than before the surgery and I'm able to easily walk at least 1/2 mile without issues. I'm sure I can go farther than that, just haven't done it yet.

The physical therapist told me I could start trying to sleep on my non-surgery side and I've been playing with that. I can do it for a while, but not all night. So I'm still struggling with sleep, but it is getting better. We'll probably try to get a recliner this week.

Driving hasn't been an issue, but I'm in one of my backup trucks with an automatic transmission. I can't wait to get back to a truck with the proper number of pedals on the floor, but that will probably be another week or two.

Awesome. Good to hear. First step climbing stairs, next step judo 🤣🤣🤣

What kind of work do you do?