Tim's Story

How hip replacements led to pain relief and better quality of life.

Tim Haigh, 65, enjoys his active lifestyle. Through the years, he has spent his free time playing soccer, running triathlons, golfing, downhill and cross-country skiing, playing tennis and hiking. “I have been active my whole life,” Tim says. “I played soccer in college and was always pushing my body to the limit. I have still tried to remain as active as possible, but as I have gotten older, the arthritis in my hips was beginning to affect my ability to stay as pain-free and active as I would like.”

Fourteen years ago, Tim began to notice more pain in his hip, along with reduced flexibility and range of motion. “My quality of life was slowly deteriorating,” Tim says. “I had to stop jogging and playing tennis. I slowly limped around the golf course and just had a general feeling of discomfort that was affecting my everyday life.”

Tim endured his hip pain for years before he decided it was time to meet with a hip surgeon and get to the bottom of what was causing his pain.

A Diagnosis and a Plan

“I first met Tim 12 years ago,” says William L. Healy, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Kaplan Joint Center. “He complained of hip pain, which limited his activities. His hip was stiff on exam, and his X-ray showed advanced osteoarthritis,” which is the most common cause of hip pain, especially in older adults. “Arthritis leads to inflammation of the hip joint and breakdown of cartilage,” Dr. Healy explains. “Hip pain gradually gets worse as arthritis progresses, and patients may report stiffness and reduced range of motion in the hip.”

Tim and Dr. Healy decided a hip replacement was the best course of action. During a total hip replacement, the surgeon replaces the joint with a joint implant. The damaged sections of the hip joint are removed and restored with parts usually constructed of metal and plastic. This artificial joint (prosthesis) helps reduce pain and improve function.

Tim’s first hip replacement with Dr. Healy was successful. “I couldn’t believe the pain relief I had immediately after my hip replacement,” Tim says. “As I recovered, I was able to take part in many of the activities that I hadn’t been able to do in years. When my other hip started bothering me, I knew that I couldn’t wait as long to get it taken care of.”

A Second Successful Surgery

Tim scheduled an appointment to meet with Dr. Healy to discuss another hip replacement. “Based on his history, physical exam, and X-ray, I recommended a second hip replacement operation,” Dr. Healy says.

On March 19, 2014, Tim underwent his second hip replacement surgery. “My experience at Newton-Wellesley was amazing. The entire team was dedicated to making the process as smooth as possible. I went to the orientation session before my surgery, and I felt like I had all my questions answered before my procedure. I was so prepared.”

Tim listened closely to his medical team in order to ensure a successful recovery from his hip replacement. “In the months after my surgery, I did everything Dr. Healy told me to do,” Tim says. “I didn’t do too much too soon and completed all of the physical therapy exercises. Exactly 10 weeks after my hip replacement, I was able to walk three miles a day and play golf — walking the first nine holes. It felt great to be back out there without any pain!”

Don’t Wait to Get Relief from Your Hip Pain

Dr. Healy tells patients the two reasons for hip replacement are intolerable hip pain and unsatisfactory function. “It is important to care for our bodies as we age,” he explains. “Pain can be avoided or minimized by maintaining a normal weight, avoiding obesity, eating a balanced diet, and exercising routinely. It is important to see a medical professional if hip pain causes discomfort or gets in the way of taking part in everyday activities. We can help you get back in the game and live a pain-free life!”

Tim encourages patients with hip pain to have a hip replacement and not put it off too long. “I waited so long before I had my first hip replacement. I kept thinking my pain wasn’t that bad, but now that I’ve been through it twice, I would tell people not to wait. Don’t make tradeoffs in life. You can live without pain and take part in the sports and activities you love. The team at Newton-Wellesley will help you every step of the way. My experience at Newton-Wellesley was a 20 on a 10-point scale!”