This week, I’m featuring Lorna Kleidman, 8x World Champion Kettlebell athlete, Professional trainer, Woman of a Certain Age(ncy), and personal owner of two replacement hips. She specializes in working with our cohort to improve and maintain healthspan and mobility. And her message, which is a vital one, is that with the right preparation you can have an excellent recovery and reactivation from hip replacement surgery. Put it off at your peril.
The truth about hip replacement surgery
Being told you need hip replacement surgery can leave you feeling incredibly overwhelmed … so many questions, conflicting advice and fear of missing out on the activities you love.
I know these feelings well because I've been there, twice, due to osteoarthritis.
It wasn’t just about the procedure itself, that seemed like the easy part. It was the looming uncertainty, the fear of being unable to continue in a sport I loved.
As a now 8-time World Champion athlete, who is days from turning 60 as I write this, the idea of having my joints replaced was completely daunting.
But through the process, I discovered the strategic focus and planning that shaped my success was the same approach I could use for maximizing my recovery.
It's not about being fearless, but about having the right roadmap.
I want you to know:
You CAN prepare your body before surgery to make recovery easier.
You CAN rebuild your strength and mobility.
You CAN come back even stronger.
I had my first hip replaced at 50
While many associate joint surgery with advanced age, my condition, driven by genetics influencing hip structure, affects many younger individuals, even in their 30s and 40s.
And despite years of high-level training, including competitive Kettlebell Sport, I was never in pain. Even when my x-rays showed I was bone-on-bone.
I attribute the avoidance of pain to lifting weights, which kept my hips and legs strong, supporting the hip joint even while it was deteriorating.
What I did experience was progressively limited motion.
My physical ”capital” was diminishing: simple acts like tying shoes, picking up items from the floor or sitting comfortably in a theater seat or on a flight became challenging.
At this point it was an easy decision to get my surgery booked.
Yet, at the same time, I struggled with the idea of possibly needing revision surgery years down the road. I began to consider whether I should wait.
Face the fear and do pre-hab for the win
The reality is that the fear of a potential revision surgery in later years prevents many folks from experiencing their 50s and 60s free from chronic pain and limited movement.
The fact is that 10-year revision rates for primary total hip replacement are typically less than 10%, much smaller than the risks associated with 15-20 years of pain and inactivity due to severe hip issues.
These risks include:
Musculoskeletal decline
Reduced cardiovascular health
Metabolic dysfunction
Compromised immune function
Reduced mental health
Reduced digestive health
Increased risk of chronic diseases
For me, the choice to get back my mobility was significantly more important than enduring years of avoidable suffering.
Some misconceptions about the procedure are that:
Joint replacement is for those of advanced age. Hip issues truly don't care about your birth year. In fact, more active adults in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are increasingly choosing surgery earlier to enhance their quality of life proactively and avoid years of pain and limitation.
Another false notion is the need to rest as much as possible after surgery. While rest is crucial for healing, the body also needs progressive movement to rebuild strength, mobility, balance, and confidence safely. This active approach is why pre-operative rehabilitation, or "pre-hab," is a game-changer.
Many individuals also worry they'll never truly be able to trust their body again after such a significant procedure. However, with the right support, expert guidance and a rehabilitation plan, folks can move better and stronger than before surgery.
It's also important to know that surgeons approach recovery in their own, individual way, so their post-operative guidance can vary widely. It's critical to ask the right questions and actively advocate for yourself throughout the process.
Finally, a key factor often underestimated is the impact of one’s overall fitness and body composition on recovery. Strength, composition and general fitness influence healing speed, the risk of complications and your long-term outcomes. Proactive preparation makes a huge difference.
The more you know, the better your experience and the more successful your outcome will be.
Activate your best comeback
So, just as you would conduct due diligence before making a major financial investment, you can approach hip replacement as a strategic opportunity to maximize the ROI for your health and well-being.
Today, along with personal training, my mission is to help other midlife women prepare for and recover from hip replacement surgery with ease and confidence.
I don't just want you to get through the procedure, I want you to return to the active, full life you love, whether that means pickleball, weight lifting, hiking, golfing or chasing after grandchildren.
Don't treat or imagine your body like a depreciating asset.
Smart preparation is your best initial deposit.
And, I'm creating something special to give you precisely the investment roadmap I wished I had before my own first surgery.
Stay tuned for 𝑯𝒊𝒑-𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒆™, your complete roadmap for a drama-free hip replacement.
Coach Lorna
LornaFit.com
@LornaKleidman
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-kleidman-423b464/
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Copyright Madrina Molly, LLC 2025
The information contained herein and shared by Madrina Molly™ constitutes financial education and not investment or financial advice.
Sherry Finkel Murphy, CFP®, RICP®, ChFC®, is the Founder and CEO of Madrina Molly, LLC.