My Comeback Story: Jim C.

After having increased hip pain over the past year, and having tried exercise, chiropractic, and massage therapy, nothing was making a difference. So I went to my doctor, who ordered hip X-rays, and discovered osteoarthritis that had become fairly advanced. I then asked my doctor for a referral for an orthopaedic surgeon, as this wasn’t going to get better on its own. I met with Dr. John Swartz, and we concluded that total hip replacement was my best option. We ran this by my insurance, and they agreed that this was my best option. My surgery was scheduled for 10/13/25 at Holland Hospital. The day of the procedure went flawlessly from the moment I hobbled into the hospital in severe pain, to walking out of the hospital with a walker at 2:30 p.m. that same day. I immediately felt relief and knew that it was a life-changing moment for me. The days following passed quickly, and my pain level was very easily kept in check, and I was off all narcotic drugs within 4 days following my procedure. I used a walker mostly for precaution for a week or so, and soon became comfortable walking without any aid. If you are otherwise healthy and are contemplating this procedure, my experience was nothing short of amazing. So here we are in mid-February following my procedure, and I just did the Epcot round-the-world walk covering 18,000 steps in a single day. I did have to take a few rests, but had no hip pain throughout the day. Just do it!