- You know it's time to get it when the pain keeps you awake at night, regardless of sleep position. Or if you need ibuprofen every day just to be comfortable, it might be time. Plus, if it hurts as much moving your legs while sitting down as it does standing up, it's time.
- A hip replacement only lasts 10 years, so wait as long as possible to get one.
+1 on item number one.
My wife has bilateral hip prosthesis and the left hip was completely reconstructed prior to having the hip replacement done. The right hip was replaced a year after the reconstruction was done and that was 15 years ago. Her orthopedic surgeon says she still has a few years on that hip before she needs it replaced again. The reconstruction normally has a 20 to 25 year life span but the arthritis came back much faster than they expected and they had to replace the hip. The insurance company paid for all of it including her flight to Detroit to have the reconstruction done. All we paid was our deductible. She doesn't ride an upright bike anymore, but she can move pretty good on her recumbent trike.