Christopher Patsos

I was diagnosed with severe arthritis (bone-on-bone) of the left hip in 2023. I ultimately decided in late 2024 to have a total hip replacement performed by Dr. Jason Blevins, who had done one on a very close friend of mine in early 2024. Dr. Blevins recommended that I have physical therapy for my left hip before my surgery and I did for about 2 months. I sincerely believe this helped me a great deal in my recovery from the surgery, which took place on March 20, 2025. I also lost 15 pounds (at 6'1", I was at about 205 before and am about 190 now) before my surgery. My experience with Dr. Blevins, his staff, and the staff at HSS was wonderful. HSS works like a machine, and I say that in the nicest way. The personnel remain very personable, but they are incredibly organized with their portal, emails, texts, etc. They cover everything and check on you regularly.

My surgery went very well and my recovery (it has been 6 1/2 weeks since my surgery) has gone even better. I attach two photos, one taken the day after my surgery (watching cartoons - they generally discharge you on the day of surgery, after you have walked with a walker back and forth to the bathroom) and another taken NINE DAYS LATER when I walked along the Hudson River (carrying and sometime using a cane) for over 3 miles.

I highly recommend using the NICE1 compression machine if the rental fee (for 2 weeks) is not too exorbitant. I used it every day for about 30 minutes every hour for about 6-8 hours, then elevated my leg (it is great if you have a bed that does that) for 20 minutes, then would walk for 5-10 minutes, and repeat.

The NICE1 machine available for rent through the recovery shop is a remarkable little piece of machinery. You place a wrap around your entire thigh (they ask for you height and weight so they can give you the right size), and turn on the machine and cold water circulates around your thigh immediately. You may also have the machine apply constant or intermittent compression as well. For those with small freezers or who just don't want the annoying task of switching out multiple ice packs (which are not very easy to wrap around your whole thigh like this machine's wrap does), this machine is well worth renting.

By day 5 I had replaced the walker with the cane. By about day 10 I was only using the cane outdoors. The cane was gone soon thereafter and I took my first local drive (it was my left hip) after about 2 weeks.

I also started outpatient therapy about 2 weeks after the surgery, twice a week, and will likely discontinue it soon. I went to JAG in Bay Ridge and I think the staff there are also wonderful.

I did not have anyone come to my home after the surgery, I used the HSS virtual services and I thought they were great. It is a personal decision. Some people prefer and maybe will do better with a LIVE person in their home. I did not want nor need that and it worked out great for me.

Some things to keep in mind: the hospital provides you with a walker, but not a cane (we had a cane from my wife using one years before). You may need a high toilet seat which you can buy online, but you may not (especially if your hip was done using the anterior approach). Frankly, I bought one, anticipating I may need it, and then never used it, and returned it. I did buy and use compression stockings for about 2 weeks (they will come in handy on long flights, so the money was not wasted). It is helpful to have Skechers or another brand of shoe that is a STEP IN, but if you want to save money and you have a significant other, you probably will not need them for very long. But they still are convenient to have anyway.

It is now 6 1/2 weeks out, and I had my follow up with Dr. Blevins. The x-rays look good, I have no limp, and I have just slight pain when I walk long distances, but that has been decreasing each week.

Luckily my other hip looks very good, but in the (hopefully) unlikely event I needed to have that hip done, I would call up Dr. Blevins and make arrangements to have it done with him, at HSS, without hesitation.

If anyone needs any advice about the surgery, prep for surgery, post-surgery issues (from a patient's point of view, NOT medical advice), feel free to email me at patsoslaw@aol.com. I am happy to share my experience with others, if it is potentially helpful to them.