Dawn’s rapid recovery following anterior hip replacement

My hip injury occurred twenty-two years ago at my second baby’s birth. My leg was pulled back too far, tearing my labrum and thereafter my hip wasn’t properly supported in my hip socket, often causing my back to “go out.” Only recently a surgeon confirmed I needed a whole hip replacement. I had never had surgery and knew surgery is a last resort. Things can go wrong. I needed to find a good surgeon. It took time, many surgeons sounded good, but one stood out—Dr. Mast was recommended by a personal contact; a widely respected specialty hip surgeon who had recently retired. He knew many good surgeons—but pointed to Dr. Mast’s track record. I’ve seen Dr. Mast in surgery. I’ve seen his work, the results of his surgeries. He’s the best. He does hip replacement routinely—and that’s what you want.

When I first checked Dr. Mast’s website, something felt different. He was exceptionally thorough….he addressed information which allows patients to make realistic decisions about care, understanding the costs. The entire team at the Hip and Pelvis Institute is organized, knowledgeable, patient and efficient.

Dr. Mast’s bio describes a curious man; driven to acquire knowledge beyond the traditional accomplished hip surgeon. After his own father underwent hip replacement and recovered at an accelerated rate, despite being a difficult patient, Dr. Mast noted that his father returned to activities when traditional hip replacement patients were just giving up their crutches.  So, Dr. Mast took it upon himself to further study under the mentorship of his father’s surgeon.

After two decades, I can bend over without my back going out. It makes me tear up with gratitude. I love this surgeon. I feel grateful that he worked so hard, learned so much, and cares so deeply about healing people.

This was a gift to me—and to you if you are reading this. When I first checked Dr. Mast’s website, something felt different. He was exceptionally thorough, he posted his fees for everyone to understand costs, he made a video on his many accepted insurances. He addressed information which allows patients to make realistic decisions about care, understanding the costs. The entire team at the Hip and Pelvis Institute is organized, knowledgeable, patient and efficient. Their friendly nature and detailed literature packet all made me feel I was in good hands. Their packet included updated American Dental Association’s research and guidelines with important protocols for joint replacement patients.  (Antibiotics vs non antibiotics, info my own dentist did not know.)

At my pre-op appointment Dr. Mast asked if I had any concerns—so I told him about my surgery-anxiety dream. He said, “That’s not a dream—that’s a nightmare.” He quickly assured me that my active imagination wouldn’t come true. On the day of surgery, Dr. Mast visited and reassured me a few times. He told me how everything went, and his wonderful PA Evar, also checked on me, answering questions. This is an exceptionally attentive, skilled, kind and caring team!

The post-surgery PT had me climbing stairs 4 hours post-surgery. There was little pain and I was off painkillers in 4 days. The ice machine helps healing and pain. The 3” bikini line incision is its own success story. This is the only surgeon I’m aware of who does this type of incision. In fact, it was shorter than a 4.5” incision down a friend’s front thigh.

PT (which you can start after 2 weeks) makes an immediate difference in healing, flexibility, strength and ease of movement. People talk about hip replacement being successful—I was living it. I moved around well on a walker the first 5 days. There are no positional restrictions with this surgery and you can get going so soon—but I may have broken protocol when after one week, I walked my dogs a half mile using only a cane. But walking felt so incredibly good! I am only 6 weeks in as I write this and I can move freely and I walk without a limp. I did not need a cane after 2 weeks. My neighbors clap for me as I pass by and some jotted down Dr. Mast’s name. I am particularly amazed that after two decades, I can bend over without my back going out. It makes me tear up with gratitude. I love this surgeon. I feel grateful that he worked so hard, learned so much, and cares so deeply about healing people. My husband actually renamed him, Dr. Perfect, and he suspects Dr. Perfect is also a scratch golfer who climbs Mt. Everest in his spare time.”

Nicholas Mast MD is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in conditions of the hip and pelvis.

Trained in pelvic and acetabular trauma and reconstruction by some of the best in the field, his treatments range from non-replacement options for the management of hip osteoarthritis to complex revision surgeries and hip preservation techniques including periacetabular osteotomy.

He is the most experienced surgeon in the region in the use of the anterior approach for hip replacement and regularly uses this minimally invasive, fast recovery anterior approach to treat a wide variety of hip conditions.