Sarah Lane

"As I write this it is hard to believe that almost a year has gone by since my bilateral total hip replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery. I’ve been meaning to write this for a few months now but I’ve been busy getting out and living life, I mean really living it, in a way that I could not have a year ago. A year ago I was in severe chronic pain that I had become accustomed to. It was my normal. Pain kept me up at night and had taken me out of activities that I had once loved. As I saw passions of mine becoming less and less a part of my life I felt sad and hopeless. I felt like a lazy, lousy auntie because getting down on the floor to play with my two beautiful nieces was so uncomfortable that I would avoid it. I was also exhausted.

I knew that bilateral THR was my best chance, but as a runner it also seemed like a death sentence. I also knew that if I did nothing, I would still be in pain and probably wouldn’t be running in a year anyway. What if one day I decided to have kids of my own? I couldn’t take care of anyone else when I could barely manage myself day to day. With these points in the forefront of my mind, I decided it was time.

At 4:45am on October 1, 2015, I walked one NYC block from my hotel to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Saying that I was nervous is an understatement, but I was resolved to what was about to happen. I knew that I was at the right place and in the best hands possible. I put on my brave face but when my parents were no longer in site I cried as I was wheeled back to the OR. When I got in there I saw the man with the plan, my surgeon, Dr. Bryan Nestor. He smiled at me and looked confident, cool and collected. I was right to trust him. I was asked to move myself onto the operating table. Even now, I can barely believe I was able to. The anesthesiologist and I had a quick chat before he put me under and the last thing I remember him saying to me was, “When you wake up you’ll be all done and you’ll have two new hips.” I knew this was my last chance to back out, and believe me I seriously considered it.

Some days I still sit back and think, “Did that really happen?” Yes, it did. Thank God! Today I am healthy and back in the game! I will not say it was an easy road, but to tell you the truth it wasn’t that bad either. While there were days that I would become impatient and get upset, it makes me laugh now to think back on that time. At one point I had convinced myself that one of my legs was significantly longer than the other because I was limping when I walked without a walker (only three weeks after surgery). The unwavering support of my family, friends and HSS during recovery has been everything. Ultimately it has been a thrill to see how my body has healed and strengthened so quickly. My results are better than I ever dreamed.

It is safe to say that I have more appreciation for what my body can do now than I ever have in my life. I am grateful to be living pain free. Life is different these days but it is good. So good.

Thank you, Hospital for Special Surgery, especially Dr. Nestor, for giving me my life back!"

Sarah Lane is a fitness and wellness professional living and working in the DC area. She manages a fitness center, personal trains and teaches group exercise classes. Since her surgery she has resumed yoga and is giving swimming and cycling a shot. Though running is not recommended for her these days, she claims that if someone were chasing her she’d “run like hell,” and has been known to get in a good game of tag with her nieces.