Bilateral Hip Resurfacing Returning to Sport

[Rylowe24]

First post here. I had both hips resurfaced at 31 and wanted to share what recovery actually looked like for someone trying to stay athletic, plus the gear that made the biggest difference.

Background

I had bilateral resurfacing with Dr. Edwin Su. He wouldn't do both at once, so my first hip was done in August 2023 and the second in December. I was 31.

I chose resurfacing because of my age. It solves a lot of the same problems a THR does, but it's less disruptive to your whole leg and your gait, and it let me stay athletic. Today I cycle, lift, hike, and play some pickleball, padel and tennis, with the focus on low impact and building muscle for longevity.

Short version: I recommend it.

The timeline, honestly

Driving: after about a week
Off crutches: 3 weeks
Back on the bike: 2 months
Back to sport: 6 months
Actually feeling normal: about 18 months

The gap between 6 and 18 months is the main thing I want young, active people to hear. You'll be back doing your sport well before your body feels fully normal. Plan for the long game.

Setbacks

My recurring setback was straining my hip flexors, over and over. The cause was that I was under-using my glutes, so my hip flexors were doing work they shouldn't have been doing. If you take one thing from this post: train your glutes, and keep training them after formal PT ends.

The gear

Early recovery:

Raised toilet seat: https://link.amazon/B0is22Y71. Not glamorous, completely necessary. Getting up and down from a standard-height toilet is tough in the first few weeks, especially if your surgeon gives you hip precautions. Get one with handles and set it up before surgery.

Rebuilding (where my setbacks came from):

Glute bands (https://link.amazon/A0iK29qtE). Mini loop bands for clamshells, bridges, lateral walks, whatever your PT assigns. This is the root-cause tool for the hip flexor problem above. They're cheap, and they travel.
Hip flexor release tool. There are two options: the Aletha Hip Hook (I would get the offbrand version and save $100+ (https://link.amazon/B0coM2zpb) or Psoas Release Tool (https://link.amazon/B0cD0CSlr). Both can be helpful. One is good for psoas release and the other (Hip Hook) is good to just release your hip flexors and let your hip "relax". Both let you put sustained pressure into the hip flexors when they lock up. Ask your PT before you start using one, and go easy, because it's deep pressure into the front of the hip.
Yoga Stretching band for hamstring (lying on back) and hip flexor (lying on stomach) (https://link.amazon/B07m5Ewfw). For hip flexor, quad and hamstring stretches. It pairs with the glute work: strengthen the back of the hip, keep the front from getting tight.

Other stuff worth having:

Ice or a cold therapy machine. Follow the time limits and keep a layer between the pad and your skin.
A shower chair and a non-slip mat.
A pillow between your knees for sleeping.
A firm chair with arms. Skip deep, soft couches early on.
Slip-on shoes.
A foam roller. Stay off the incision until you're cleared.

What I'd tell anyone young considering it

Pick the surgeon first and the device second. Look for someone who does a high volume of resurfacings. The surgeon list on the Surface Hippy site is a good place to start.
If you need both hips, talk to your surgeon about staging them. Mine wouldn't do both at once.
Your surgeon's protocol beats anything you read online, this post included.
Return to sport isn't the finish line. I was back to sport at 6 months and didn't feel normal until 18.
Glutes, glutes, glutes.
Long term, low impact and building muscle is the play.

Happy to answer questions here or by PM, especially from anyone young and active weighing resurfacing vs. a THR, or anyone facing both hips. And thanks to Pat for keeping this place running for 20+ years.

[Pat Walter]

Rylowe24

Thanks for sharing your story.  Very inspirational.  I shared your story on the main website so more people can read it under Dr. Su Stories   https://surfacehippy.info/rylowe24s-bilateral-hip-resurfacing-with-dr-su-2023/    

If you every have updates or photos, I will be happy to add them.

Thanks again for sharing.

I wish you the very best!

Pat