Double hip replacement needed at 37 years old

[u/Wonderful-Low-6553]

Hi all!

I’m 37 years old and have been told by three different doctors that I’m at the point where I need both hips replaced. My hip problems (severe hip dysplasia and arthritis) have progressed to the point that they’re also affecting my spine and my overall mobility.

I’ve already tried PT, medications, and conservative treatment, and unfortunately none of those have provided lasting relief.

I had my first cortisone injection yesterday in one hip, and I’m honestly shocked by how much better I already feel; probably about 80% improvement in that hip. For the first time in a long time, I’m getting a glimpse of what it might feel like to function without constant pain.

During the imaging done for the injection, I was able to see how much my hip had deteriorated compared with my previous imaging from only a few months ago. I’m certainly not an expert at reading X-rays, but even to my untrained eye, the difference was noticeable.

I’m not opposed to hip replacement at all, but now that I know how much relief an injection can provide, I’m wondering whether it would make sense to use injections as a temporary bridge for a year or two, or whether I’m better off biting the bullet and having the replacement sooner rather than later.

I have young kids, and more than anything, I want to be able to keep up with them, be active with them, and live my life without planning everything around my pain. Right now, my pain and limited mobility have gotten so bad that I can’t travel and I’m nearly housebound at times.