The Hip Replacement Podcast

Hip Replacement Recovery: The Truth About Pain, Fear, Physical Therapy & Getting Your Life Back with Appreciation

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

►Watch the episode on YouTube here. 

What is hip replacement recovery really like? How painful is recovery after total hip replacement surgery? And what should you know before having your hip replaced?

In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, our guest, Cynthia, shares her personal experience with hip replacement surgery, including the years of increasing hip pain that led to her decision to have surgery.

Six months after her posterior approach hip replacement, Cynthia talks openly about the emotional challenges, fear, pain, physical therapy, and determination involved in her recovery.

You'll discover:

Cynthia also shares valuable lessons about setbacks, recovery expectations, and building confidence after hip replacement.

Whether you're preparing for total hip replacement, recovering from surgery, or supporting someone through the process, Cynthia's honest experience offers encouragement, perspective, and practical insights.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

 -Chris

If you enjoy this Podcast, please take a moment to rate or review and leave a comment in the podcast platform you use to listen. Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST! 

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

Code: MLM445VIJU0EDNM7

Hip Replacement Revision: What Is Recovery Really Like?

Hip replacement revision surgery is something many people with an artificial hip know they may someday face—but probably hope they never have to.

Our guest, Pauline from Scotland, had her first hip replacement more than 16 years ago, when she was only in her early 30s. About six weeks before this conversation, she underwent a hip revision surgery.

She shares what happened when her original hip began causing problems again, how she knew something wasn't right, why her revision was different from her first hip replacement, and what revision hip replacement recovery has really been like.

Pauline also talks openly about the fear before surgery, recovering while living alone, using crutches longer than she expected, physical therapy, learning to put weight on her revised hip, and the mental challenge of accepting that hip replacement recovery isn't always linear.

If you've had a total hip replacement and have ever wondered what happens if that implant eventually needs to be revised, Pauline's firsthand experience provides a rare look at the process from someone who is still going through it.

Her message is powerful: prepare well, don't compare your recovery to someone else's, and keep moving forward—even when progress feels slow.

Welcome to a very special Episode 65 of The Hip Replacement Podcast.

-Chris

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►Watch the Podcast on YouTube here

►For more information, or to send a question or comment or request for Pauline to contact you, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

►►Subscribe to our Channel on YouTube here

►►Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon Before Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement surgery starts long before you enter the operating room. One of the most important steps is knowing the right questions to ask your hip replacement surgeon—and remembering that you are interviewing the surgeon, too.

Before total hip replacement, ask about anterior vs. posterior hip replacement, the surgeon’s experience, complication and revision rates, implant components, personal risks, pain management, physical therapy, hospital stay, driving, showering, scar tissue, follow-up appointments, and what activities you can realistically return to after surgery.

Some common hip replacement questions need a deeper conversation. “How long is hip replacement recovery?” “Can I return to my activities?” and “Which surgical approach is better?” may sound simple, but the answers depend on your goals, health, activity level, and the surgeon’s philosophy.

Choosing a hip replacement surgeon is a major decision. You may live with that artificial joint for decades, so ask tough questions before saying yes.

Whether you’re preparing for hip replacement surgery or already recovering, these questions can help you better understand your surgery, recovery, and long-term life with your new hip.

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here – available in Hardcover, Paperback, eBook and Audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

What’s 1 question you’re going to ask a surgeon or 1 question you wished you asked a surgeon prior to your surgery?   Use the link above to submit your comment.  

Hip Replacement Recovery: Discharge Instructions, Physical Therapy & What to Do After Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital.

In Episode 63 of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris pulls out the actual discharge instructions he received after hip replacement surgery and looks back at what they told him to do—and which recovery habits still matter more than a decade later.

From physical therapy exercises, icing, compression stockings, pain medication, walkers and crutches to fall prevention, stairs, driving, and anterior hip replacement precautions, Chris walks through the basic hip replacement discharge instructions he was given before going home. He also shares how surprisingly alone and uncertain he felt once he left the hospital, even with family support.

If you’re preparing for hip replacement surgery, in the first days or weeks of hip replacement recovery, or years into life with a hip replacement, this episode is a reminder that simple recovery instructions can still be useful long after surgery.

Don’t ignore your hip replacement recovery instructions.

Go back to one thing that helped you early in recovery and start there.

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

Hip Replacement Recovery Harder Than Expected? Pain, Setbacks & What No One Tells You

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

Hip replacement recovery problems, pain after hip replacement surgery, setbacks, and what to expect after hip replacement surgery are the focus of Episode 62 of The Hip Replacement Podcast, “Hip Replacement Recovery: Pain, Setbacks & Unrealistic Expectations.”

Chris looks at the side of hip replacement recovery that doesn’t get talked about enough. We hear plenty of success stories and reassurances that recovery will be easy, fast, and life-changing—but what happens when your experience doesn’t match that promise?

Chris shares why a successful hip replacement can still include pain, sleepless nights, stiffness, muscle and soft-tissue issues, frustration, slower progress, and unexpected setbacks. He also explains why recovery is rarely a straight line, why comparing your recovery timeline to someone else’s can hurt more than help, and why a new hip doesn’t instantly fix everything around it.

If your hip replacement recovery is harder than expected, this episode offers a more realistic look at what to expect after hip replacement surgery—without taking away the hope of a great long-term outcome.

Were you overpromised about your hip replacement? Was recovery slower, harder, or more painful than expected? Share your experience, subscribe to The Hip Replacement Podcast, and join the conversation.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!  Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST!  

►What is 1 thing included in your hip recovery plan? To send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

►►Download my Top Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

 Realistic Advice for Hip Replacement Recovery

3 Keys to Hip Replacement Recovery

Hip Replacement Recovery: What to Do Instead of Merely Listening to Your Body

Hip Replacement Recovery Plan: 3 Keys to Stay Active for Life

Hip replacement recovery takes more than vague advice like “listen to your body.”

A successful hip replacement recovery plan needs direction, consistency, and long-term thinking.

In Episode 61 of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris shares three practical guidelines to help you recover from hip replacement surgery, rebuild strength and flexibility, and protect your new hip for an active life.

First, set a meaningful recovery goal. Whether you want to walk without pain, travel, exercise, play golf, hike, or keep up with your family, a clear goal gives your physical therapy, walking, stretching, and hip replacement exercises a purpose.

Second, be consistent. Small actions repeated over time can help you maintain mobility, strength, balance, and overall health long after the early recovery period ends.

Third, think long-term. Instead of only asking, “Can I do this?” consider whether an activity supports the long, active life you want with your new hip. Follow your recovery plan, listen to your medical team, and learn from hip replacement patients who have successfully traveled this road before you.

What is one thing in your hip replacement recovery plan? Share it in the YouTube comments or contact Chris through the link in the show notes.

Subscribe to The Hip Replacement Podcast for practical hip replacement recovery tips, patient experiences, and encouragement for life after hip replacement surgery.

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here – available in Hardcover, Paperback, eBook and Audio versions

Worst Hip Replacement Recovery Advice Ever

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

The Most Dangerous Hip Replacement Recovery Advice? “Listen to Your Body.”

“Listen to your body” may sound like smart hip replacement recovery advice—but what if your body is giving you incomplete, delayed, or misleading information?

In Episode 60 of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris challenges one of the most common clichés heard after hip replacement surgery. He explains three reasons this advice can work against a successful recovery:

pain medication, adrenaline, or relief from pre-surgery pain can make you feel better than your healing tissues actually are;

warning signs such as dehydration, fatigue, swelling, and pain may arrive only after you have already overdone it;

and hip replacement rehabilitation often requires movement when your body would rather stay in bed.

Chris also discusses walking after hip replacement, post-surgery pain, physical therapy, activity limits, and why feeling good in the moment does not always mean your new hip, muscles, and femur are ready for more.

Whether you are preparing for surgery, beginning hip replacement recovery, or trying to regain strength and mobility, this episode will help you question vague recovery advice and better understand what your body may—and may not—be telling you.

Subscribe to The Hip Replacement Podcast for practical information, honest recovery experiences, and encouragement to help you live your best life after hip replacement surgery.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!  Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST!  See you next time.

Travel soon after hip replacement

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

Travel After Hip Replacement: Flying, Driving, Blood Clots, Swelling & Recovery Risks

Travel after hip replacement surgery can feel exciting, but traveling too soon after a hip replacement can put your recovery, mobility, and new hip at risk.

In Episode 59 of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris talks about travel soon after hip replacement surgery—days, weeks, or the first month after surgery—and why the biggest question may not be how to make the trip comfortable, but whether you should travel at all. This episode covers surgeon clearance, risk tolerance, blood clot and DVT concerns, swelling and pain during long sitting, wound care and infection concerns, medication timing, compression stockings, walking aids, luggage, fatigue, airport wheelchair assistance, and the challenges of flying, driving, trains, boats, hotels, and unfamiliar places during early hip replacement recovery.

Chris also shares practical things to consider before a wedding, graduation, business trip, vacation, road trip, or flight after hip replacement. If travel is optional, timing may matter. If travel is necessary, planning matters even more. Talk with your surgeon, protect your incision, keep medications accessible, schedule movement breaks, stay hydrated, and think about how every part of the trip affects your recovery.

For anyone asking “Can I travel after hip replacement?” or “How soon can I fly after hip replacement?” this episode helps you think through the risks before you go.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!  Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST!  See you next time.

Traveling After Hip Replacement: Long Flights, Long Car Rides, Stiffness, Swelling and Staying Mobile

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

How to Travel Comfortably Years After Hip Replacement Surgery

Long Flights After Hip Replacement

Travel – Long After a Hip Replacement

Travel after hip replacement can feel completely normal—until hours in a plane seat or car remind you that your body still has limits. In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris shares what he noticed during several weeks of travel that included long flights to Hawaii, extended drives, cramped seats, limited movement and the stiffness that can show up even more than a decade after hip replacement surgery.

If you are planning a long flight after hip replacement, a long car ride after hip replacement or any trip requiring hours of sitting, this episode will help you think through the challenges that may affect your comfort, mobility and recovery. Chris discusses hip stiffness, tight hip flexors, glute and hamstring tension, lower back discomfort, leg and ankle swelling, dehydration, reduced flexibility and the difficulty of taking those first few steps after sitting for a long period.

You will also hear why movement matters during travel, including walking when possible, changing positions, flexing the ankles and contracting the calf muscles. Chris explains why blood clot awareness is important, especially as we age, and why travelers should speak with their doctor if they have concerns about deep vein thrombosis, compression stockings or medication before a long trip.

The episode also covers airplane seat comfort, limited legroom, sitting unevenly, hydration, nutrition and the risks of lifting heavy luggage or twisting in tight spaces. Chris shares a travel discovery involving an inflatable seat cushion, along with a humorous warning about suitcases that somehow contain enough belongings for a five-year expedition.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that hip replacement recovery does not end after the first few weeks or months. Years later, travel can still create temporary stiffness, weakness and discomfort—but smart planning, regular movement and patience can help you stay active and enjoy the trip.

Whether you are flying across the country, driving for ten hours, visiting family or heading on vacation, these hip replacement travel tips can help you feel more prepared before you leave, while you travel and after you return home.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!  Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST!  See you next time.

Still limping after hip replacement? Your new hip may be fine—but your gait may still need work.

►► Download my Top 12 Tips for Hip Replacement Patients here

►Get my book, NEW STEEL here - available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audio versions

►For more information, or to send a question or comment, visit The Hip Replacement Podcast website

Why Your Limp May Continue After Hip Replacement Surgery

Why Am I Still Limping? Gait – Part 2

Why am I still limping after hip replacement surgery? In this episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris explains six common gait problems that can affect walking after a total hip replacement, including weak hip muscles, short strides, poor balance, leg length discrepancy, altered foot position and the lingering walking habits developed before surgery.

Hip replacement surgery may remove the damaged joint, but it does not automatically correct years of muscle weakness, compensation and poor walking mechanics. Chris shares his personal experience with uneven leg length, reduced balance, numbness, weak stabilizer muscles and a foot that turns slightly outward after surgery.

You’ll also learn why getting rid of a walker, crutches or cane too quickly may reinforce a limp, why walking farther is not always better and how physical therapy, strength exercises, flexibility and gait training may help improve your walking pattern.

The goal is not just to walk more. It is to walk safely, evenly and confidently. A new hip can remove the reason you learned to limp, but it may not automatically remove the limp you learned.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If you liked this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review!  Your support helps us reach more hip replacement patients who need these insights and inspiration. Thanks for tuning into THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST!  See you next time.