7 Healthcast: Rock climbing and hip replacement surgery

Day Acheson, 56, started rock climbing in his early 20's and he was hooked!

By 35 he started to notice his hips were beginning to cause him some trouble.

"For some reason they chose to ware out a little bit, earlier than they were meant to," said David "Day" Acheson.

He was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and suffered for years.

Day knew without surgery he would have to give up rock climbing for good, but he feared the long term problems often associated with hip surgery.

But for Day, it was a good day!

Doctors at the Kaplan Joint Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital told him he was a candidate for a mini-hip.

"It's especially good for the young active patient," said Doctor Dan Snyder.

The mini-hip is designed to preserve a patient bone and overcome the limitations of both hip resurfacing and standard hip implants.

Doctor Dan Snyder explains how most hip surgery involves going in through the patient's side or backside. But for Day, he went in through the front.

"To do the anterior approach is new and different.

You don't cut any muscle at all, and therefore the restrictions are zero," said Snyder.

That was music to Day's ears!

"I loved the idea of the direct anterior approach, cause it didn't cut any muscles, which meant the rehab would be faster, the dislocation would be basically non-existent from day one," said Day.

Just weeks after surgery, Day saw a huge improvement.

"After three or four weeks I was realizing I was off my cane, I was riding my bicycle, I was riding my motorcycle, I was back to the climbing gym in five weeks and it was just getting better and better," said Day.

And for Day, his new hip is like a new life.

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