On the Road Again: Returning to cycling after two hip replacements

Two hip replacements later, Kevin Smith of McDermott, Ohio, is on the road again, taking part in the sport he has grown to love.

For years, his wife Julie encouraged him to take up cycling. She is a longtime cyclist and thought he would enjoy it. Instead, he preferred to ride in a cart on the golf course. He finally relented in 2018 and quickly discovered she was right.

“Cycling was a great way to connect with my wife, get exercise and make new friends in the process,” said Smith, who works as a mortgage loan originator at U.S. Bank in Ironton, Ohio. “I’ve grown a lot since I started cycling. I’ve met people I never would’ve known and done things I would never normally do.”

That includes rides in various states, through magnificent scenery, including Arches National Park in Utah. A former college athlete, Smith never imagined he would cycle competitively, but cycling reignited his drive to succeed.

“It made me test myself,” Smith added, noting he’s completed rides of up to 100 miles. “With each ride, each distance, each hill, I pushed myself. When you reach the top of that climb, the descent is amazing.”

However, during a ride on the Ohio to Erie Trail, Smith realized something wasn’t quite right. He developed a stiffness in his hips that wouldn’t go away. His son suggested stretching exercises that helped somewhat, but the pain persisted. Eventually, Smith’s hip joints were so swollen and frozen in place that he could barely stand from a chair after sitting, let alone cycle.

“It was so disheartening. I had never failed at anything when it came to sports. I was complaining to my older brother, and he knew right off what was wrong,” Smith said. His brother had hip replacement four years earlier. “He told me to get it done and not to wait too long, like he did.”

Smith immediately made an appointment with Orthopedic Surgeon Gerry Trinidad, M.D., at KDMS Portsmouth Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. It wasn’t his first visit. Dr. Trinidad previously repaired both of Smith’s shoulders.

“He said it was bone-on-bone, with severe arthritis, in not one, but both hips,” Smith said.

Smith would need hip replacement. At age 58, he was sure that his cycling days were finished. To his surprise, Dr. Trinidad encouraged him to keep going. In fact, Dr. Trinidad said cycling was a great way to “prehab” his muscles, making post-surgery recovery easier.

“I was apprehensive. But I did a lot of research, and took Dr. Trinidad’s advice to keep cycling,” Smith said. Two days after having his left hip replaced in December 2020, Smith was back on a bike – this time a stationary bike. It was easier to use than a normal bike since he could slide onto the seat without lifting his leg over the bike. He gradually worked up to greater distances until he could finally return to a road bike and get back outdoors.

Surgery on his right hip was scheduled for February 2021. This time he knew what to expect and wasn’t nearly as nervous – until a suggestion from his wife caught him off guard. She wanted the pair to compete in RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), the world’s largest bike-touring event. RAGBRAI, a non-competitive bicycle tour, spans roughly 468 miles across Iowa. It has been an annual event in the Hawkeye state since 1973. The 2021 RAGBRAI took place seven months following his right hip replacement.

Before agreeing, he consulted Dr. Trinidad. Again, he told him he could keep on cycling following the surgery. He advised him to be cautious during training, not overdo it, and limit hills.

“I’m from West Virginia and used to hills. Iowa is as flat as a waffle,” Smith said. “Still, that race is the most epic thing I’ve ever done on a bike. It was a big accomplishment.”

Of course, Smith didn’t stop there. Since then, he and his wife rode across Missouri using gravel bikes designed for rougher terrain and steeper inclines.

“You always worry what the outcome will be after surgery,” he said. “But you just have to get out there and do it. I’ve realized that you can do pretty much anything you set your mind to when your health is right.” He’s quick to add that it also helped to have good friends and a great life partner along for the recovery ride.

Smith encourages anyone who is experiencing pain in their joints to seek medical care. Don’t put it off.

“UK King’s Daughters is like a part of my family. Everyone has great bedside manner.” Smith said. “I’ve been treated with complete respect every time I’ve needed care.”

For more information regarding joint replacement, call (606) 327-0036 or (740) 351-0980.