OAM patient back on the court after a Zimmer total hip replacement
Taking a break from a hobby doesn’t sound that hard. But what about taking a break from a sport you’ve loved to compete in for the past 40 years? This was the choice long-time tennis player, Jan B. had to make at a time in her life she never saw coming.
“I just kept telling myself that I was too young for this type of pain,” said Jan. Only 50 years old and on a highly competitive travel tennis league, Jan refused to give in to the pain. “I pretty much denied it was happening for a solid year,” she recalled, laughing. “I even had a surgeon tell me I needed a hip replacement, and yet I still found a way to deny it.”
Jan spent the next year trying everything from acupuncture to general sports massage, with nothing to show for it but more pain. She didn’t understand why the incessant pain in her hip wouldn’t leave, but more importantly, why it was getting worse. A family friend finally spoke up and suggested she visit Dr. Gregory Golladay from Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan. “I was fearful at first, then excited, followed by the dread of post-surgical pain,” Jan admitted. “Dr. Golladay calmed my fears and finally I just told myself that I could do it!”
Soon after her visit with Dr. Golladay, Jan went in for a Zimmer total hip replacement. “The surgery was over before I even knew what happened. I had to rate my pain right after surgery and it was only a four out of 10,” she said. “And to be honest, it was a *zero out of 10 after that!”
Only three short months later, Jan was back on the tennis court and slowly but surely getting back in the groove. “I couldn’t wait for the three-month post-op restrictions to be lifted!”
The smooth recovery has continued to be a blessing that Jan remains thankful for. “I was relieved that it was done and amazed that the pain was gone,” said Jan. “I have no more hip pain and I am beginning the road back to playing tennis! Thank you for giving back such an important part of my life!”
For details on how Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan can help you live pain-free, call us today at 616-459-7101.
*The above results are based on an OAM client’s experience. Results may vary.
2 Comments
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My wife recently had a hip replacement and unfortunately it’s not going as well as Jan’s. Were there any other exercises you found helpful to ease the new transition? We were thinking about getting a walk-in bathtub as a precautionary measure, but were unsure whether or not we should invest that much money, or just wait it out.
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I’m sorry to hear things aren’t going as well for your wife. Recovery can be different for every patient, and sometimes people get discouraged early, not realizing that they are recovering perfectly normally. That said, exercises that help with the core, like abdominal crunches and bridges are helpful to stabilize the torso to the pelvis. This makes the hip muscles work more efficiently. Also, exercises for the glutes like wall slides and lunges can be helpful too. Of course, it’s important to check with your doctor to make sure what is safe for you to do, because the technique of the surgery can vary and different patients have different precautions.