In the Air Again After Hip Replacement Surgery — Everyday Health

In 2011, Michael Standish was only 44, but the cartilage in his hips had deteriorated to the point where he couldn’t complete simple tasks. Getting dressed in the morning became a challenge.

“He hasn’t been tested, but it’s likely Michael has a genetic condition that is causing degenerative arthritis,” explains William Hartley, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hartley first saw Mr. Standish in 2008, and knew total joint replacement surgery was the right course of action.

“Michael is young to have hip replacement surgery—it’s more common among 50 to 55 year olds—but I knew it could correct his condition,” Dr. Hartley says. 

“I’d put off joint replacement surgery because I didn’t want to take time off work for the procedure,” explains Mr. Standish, whose career as a business manager for a chemical company requires regular domestic and international travel. “But when it became so bad that I could barely tolerate flying, I knew it was time.”

In August 2011, he had his left hip replaced, and after a short recovery period, his right one was replaced in November 2011. Because of the complexity of joint replacement surgery, having one hip replaced at a time is common.

After each surgery, Mr. Standish attended twice weekly rehab sessions at Memorial’s Joint Camp. This program teaches patients what to expect before surgery and gets them on their feet, flexing their joints, immediately afterward. 

Today, thanks to Dr. Hartley’s surgical skill and the Joint Camp, Mr. Standish is pain-free. He’s back to activities he enjoys at home in Chattanooga and travelling for work again.