This Fact About Hip Arthritis Will Shock You
When you hear “hip arthritis,” chances are your mind jumps straight to “hip replacement.” But what if that pain and stiffness in your hip doesn’t have to end in surgery? Today we’re sharing the surprising story of Bob T.—and what happened when he pressed pause on surgery and gave exercise a try.
Bob’s Story: From Daily Hip Pain to “Wait… It’s Gone?”
Back in 2020, Bob was dealing with severe pain in his left hip. He tried an injection—no relief. He was confused, especially because a previous injection in his spine had worked. The doctor’s response? “Yeah… it happens. We don’t know why.” That left Bob in the same position as so many others: frustrated, in pain, and thinking surgery was the only way out. But then he found some of my videos on hip pain. Around the same time, he also came across a gym in Australia called Unity Gym, where they recommended trying exercise first.
So he did something radical in today’s medical world: he pressed the pause button on hip replacement and committed to exercise. For six to eight months,
Bob worked consistently on his hips. And then one morning… something weird happened.
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Bob had a very specific way of knowing he was fully awake in the morning: the pain in his left hip. That’s how his day started. Every. Single. Day. Until one day… it didn’t.
He noticed his right hip had a little discomfort—but his left hip? The one that always hurt? Totally fine. Cue the mental double take. He hadn’t changed how he slept.
He hadn’t swapped his hips out during the night. Nothing had changed except his commitment to exercising regularly. That’s when it hit him: the pain wasn’t from the arthritis itself—it was from how his body was functioning.
Can Hip Arthritis Really Flip Sides?
Nope. Arthritis doesn’t migrate like a bird looking for warmer weather. So how could pain just… disappear from one side and show up on the other?
The answer lies in the research. Multiple high-quality studies (linked in the YouTube description) show there’s no reliable correlation between the amount of arthritis seen in an x-ray and the amount of pain a person feels.
You can have “bone-on-bone” arthritis and feel nothing. You can have “mild” arthritis and be in constant pain. The pain you feel is more about how your muscles are functioning—not just what the x-ray says.
Why Exercise Deserves a First Try
If you’ve been told your hip is doomed and only surgery will help, Bob’s story should make you think twice. He saw a complete turnaround just by exercising—no surgical risks, no downtime, and no medical bills piling up.
And even when he slacked off and the pain crept back, he knew exactly what to do: get back to moving. At nearly 70 years old, Bob’s still choosing exercise over surgery because… it works.
Lessons from Experience: Why You Should Build Hip Strength
From my own experience working with clients over the years, I’ve seen the ups and downs of hip replacements. One client in his 90s had surgery that left him with a prosthetic leg an inch and a half too long—no easy fix there.
And in my own family, my grandfather and father both broke hips late in life and never fully recovered. The common thread in all these stories? Muscle weakness and lack of stability made everything worse.
It’s simple: if your muscles aren’t strong, your hips are vulnerable.
The Takeaway: You’re Not Powerless Against Hip Arthritis
The number one thing to remember from Bob’s story? Just because you have arthritis doesn’t mean you have to live in pain—or rush into surgery.
Exercise isn’t a miracle cure, but it is a low-risk, high-reward strategy that can help you take control of your body again. You can improve strength, reduce pain, and move better, no matter what your x-ray says. If you want help getting started, check the links in the description of the video above. You’ll find free videos and resources to guide you toward stronger, healthier hips. And if you’re ready for a full program to follow at home, check out the Healthy Hips Program.
