Episode 19 - Overcoming the Stigma and Embarrassment of a Hip Replacement

September 11, 2025

Hip Replacement Stigma Ends Here: How to Reclaim Confidence, Identity, and a Full Life After Surgery

Life After Hip Replacement: Overcoming Stigma, Shame, and Rebuilding Confidence After Surgery

Hip replacement recovery, life after hip replacement, and overcoming the stigma of a hip replacement are topics that rarely get discussed honestly—yet they deeply affect nearly every hip replacement patient.

In this powerful episode of The Hip Replacement Podcast, Chris Bystriansky opens up about the emotional, mental, and social challenges that follow hip replacement surgery, especially the often-ignored stigma patients feel long after the incision heals.

Many people preparing for hip replacement surgery or recovering from a hip replacement expect physical pain, limited mobility, and rehabilitation challenges. What they don’t expect is the embarrassment, shame, or sense of being “broken” that can quietly creep in. Chris shares his own experience feeling defective, hiding a limp, avoiding social situations, and struggling with how others viewed him after surgery. These emotions are far more common than most patients realize.

This episode dives into the emotional recovery after hip replacement surgery and explains why feelings of stigma, embarrassment, or self-doubt are normal—but not permanent.

Chris discusses how long hip replacement recovery truly takes, why patience is difficult but essential, and how mindset plays a critical role in long-term success after hip replacement surgery.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “just getting by” after a hip replacement instead of thriving, this episode challenges that narrative. Life after hip replacement is not about limitation—it’s about rebuilding confidence, reclaiming identity, and choosing how the surgery will shape your future.

A hip replacement does not define who you are, nor does it cap what you can accomplish physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Whether you’re facing hip replacement anxiety, struggling with confidence after surgery, or trying to move past the social stigma of joint replacement, this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and motivation.

You’ll hear why adversity can become a source of strength, how to move past embarrassment, and how to step into a bigger, healthier, more confident version of yourself after hip replacement surgery.

If you’re searching for honest conversations about hip replacement recovery, mental health after hip replacement, or how to live fully after joint replacement, this episode is for you.

New hips. New you. Let’s go.

Thanks for joining THE HIP REPLACEMENT PODCAST.

-Chris

LINKS & RESOURCES

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Episode Transcript

Episode 19 – Overcoming the Stigma of a Hip Replacement - Transcript

Welcome to the Hip Replacement Podcast, where recovery meets motivation and healing leads to a whole new lifestyle.

I'm Chris Bystriansky, your host. I'm an author, athlete, and double hip replacement patient. I've been through the surgeries, the setbacks, and the comebacks, and I'm here to help you do the same.

Each week, I'll bring you tips, tools, expert advice, and inspiring stories to help you take back your life one step at a time. Thanks for joining the Hip Replacement Podcast. New hips, new you. Let's go.

Welcome back to the Hip Replacement Podcast. I'm Chris Bystriansky, your host. I'm also a double hip replacement patient, one more than 10 years ago and the other more than 12 years ago, and I'm here to share my experiences with you.

First of all, I want to say thank you very much for listening. It really means a lot to me. I see a lot of downloads coming from many different countries around the world, and I just want to say thank you for trusting me to share this information with you. The fact that you care enough to listen and pay attention is what fuels me to produce these podcasts.

When I started this podcast, I wanted to help people who were in the same position I was in when I had my hips replaced. I remember it was a pretty scary experience. I was terrified of the future. I didn’t know what the future would hold or if I would be able to accomplish anything afterward.

Basically, the surgeon did his thing, the physical therapist did their thing, and after that I was kicked out into the world. I had follow-up appointments with physical therapists and surgeons, but I still felt like that was it. You do the surgery and then leave and try to put your life and physical health back together. It was a scary experience.

That future I was afraid of, I’m in it now. I want to show you the path I took so you can have great results and live a great life. Hopefully, this podcast is helping you do that.
One thing I wanted to raise is that in regular conversations I hear people say things like they’re “hanging in there” or “getting by.” I don’t want you just getting by or hanging in there. That’s not good enough. You’re way better than that.

I started this podcast to help you have a great recovery and dominate the rest of your life—to be the healthiest and happiest you can be. I want your mindset to be that you’re doing great, progressing, and that the future looks brighter.
If you need extra motivation, I send out a weekly video series called 52 for Life, short for 52 weekly lessons for a better life. It’s totally free. You can sign up at 52forlife.com, and I’ll also put the link in the show notes.

In this episode, I want to talk about the stigma of a hip replacement. I didn’t realize this would be an issue until I started feeling ashamed and embarrassed. I felt defective. I felt like people were looking at me differently. People at work gave me condolences and asked, “What are you going to do?”

I felt less than the person I was before, and less than the people talking to me. It’s irrational, but it still happened. I realized if I didn’t stop feeling sorry for myself, I’d be miserable and never accomplish what I wanted.

I didn’t go out much. I was embarrassed to walk with a limp. I wanted the recovery to go faster. It took about a year before I felt confident walking without a limp. That limp was an outward sign—a reminder of the surgery and a signal to others that I had mobility issues.

At work, I wore my ID on a lanyard instead of my belt. When it swung side to side, it reminded me I was limping. It was embarrassing, but it made me more aware.

Those feelings of embarrassment actually drove me to do more physical therapy, get healthier, and get active. They pushed me to reclaim my life.

I eventually realized a hip replacement is not a life sentence of pain, shame, or embarrassment. It’s what you make of it. It can grind you down or make you stronger.

In a way, it’s like superheroes. They didn’t fit in. They felt different. But they were capable of great things. We are too. A hip replacement doesn’t define us. There’s more to our story.
Overcoming stigma is a form of victory. It makes us stronger. Not everyone gets the opportunity to overcome adversity like this.

If you’re feeling shame or embarrassment, you’re not alone. You’re with your people here.
My daughter recently started gymnastics, and it reminded me of a video of a coach cheering wildly from the sidelines while the gymnast performs. That’s me. Even though I’m not physically with you, I’m cheering for you.

Any stigma can pass. You decide how fast. I believe in you. You have a great future ahead of you.

Thank you for being here. Thanks for tuning into the Hip Replacement Podcast.

Until next time, I wish you the best recovery possible.

Episode 19 - Overcoming the Stigma and Embarrassment of a Hip Replacement

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