Renee’s Story
After having both hips replaced, Renee shares how she returned to an active life and walking without hip pain.
In Her Own Words
Life Before Surgery
Renee Simpson is a physical education teacher from Elk Mound, Wisconsin. Her work keeps her moving, participating in activities and sometimes demonstrating them for her students. As hip pain increased, even bending over to pick up a ball became difficult.
She tracked busy days of 10,000 to 11,000 steps, but teaching and everyday tasks were taking more effort. After a long walk with her dogs, sitting down for half an hour could leave her so stiff that standing up was difficult.
At first, Renee thought her discomfort might be a medication side effect. When she saw Dr. Stewart, she says X-rays showed bone-on-bone changes in both hips. The visit helped her better understand what was causing the pain.
Renee was apprehensive about seeing a surgeon. Researching Dr. Stewart’s experience and talking with him one-on-one helped her feel more confident about moving forward.
The Surgery & Recovery
Renee and Dr. Stewart discussed replacing both hips during the same operation using an anterior approach. This is called bilateral hip replacement. Dr. Stewart explains that both of Renee’s hips were severely affected and painful, while her overall health and active lifestyle made her a suitable candidate.
For Renee, treating both hips together meant one operation and one recovery period rather than returning for a second surgery. She liked the idea of doing rehabilitation exercises for both sides together, with the goal of returning to teaching and the activities she enjoyed.
Dr. Stewart explains that the anterior approach allowed him to replace both hips without changing Renee’s position during surgery.
Choosing an approach that suited her
Dr. Stewart emphasizes that replacing both hips together is an individual decision. Both hips must need treatment, the patient must be medically suitable, and the plan must fit their preferences and circumstances. Replacing one hip at a time is also a reasonable option.
He notes that recovering from two hip replacements can make the early weeks more demanding. Renee and her care team considered that alongside the benefit of one recovery period.
Knowing what to expect
Renee describes thorough preparation, including written information, a video before surgery, and conversations with Dr. Stewart, nurses, and billing staff. She says the team explained what to expect immediately after surgery and arranged for an overnight stay.
During her stay, Renee practiced getting up and down stairs with physical therapy. Because she has stairs at home, being able to manage them was an important part of preparing to leave the hospital.
Dr. Stewart reports that Renee went home the next day and resumed her active lifestyle within about four to six weeks. That timing reflects his account of Renee’s recovery; each patient’s recovery is different.
Life After Surgery
Before surgery, Renee says she moved more slowly and felt stiff at the end of a teaching day. In her interview, she contrasts that with coming home from a day at school and taking a 45-minute walk of about three miles, including a couple of hills.
She says she is not in pain and no longer needs to ice her hips the way she used to. Looking back, she wishes she had investigated her symptoms sooner instead of assuming they were medication side effects.
Renee encourages people considering surgery to ask questions. She speaks warmly about the staff at Oakleaf and says having family and a medical team she could count on made a difference throughout surgery and rehabilitation.
You’re in really, really good hands with all the staff at Oakleaf. … I wish I would have done it a lot sooner.
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