If you heard my decision to have a hip replacement at 49, this is the update you've been waiting for. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, we recommend starting there first: Should You Keep Living With Hip Pain? My Decision to Have a Hip Replacement at 49. Then come back for this honest recovery update.
Hip replacement surgery isn't just about what happens in the operating room—it's about everything that comes after.
In this episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, Alli shares a candid update on her first three weeks after total hip replacement surgery. Recovery didn't go exactly as planned. There were unexpected setbacks, frustrating moments, and questions about whether she was "behind" compared to where she thought she should be. But there were also incredible wins that reminded her why she chose surgery in the first place.
Alli and Shawna discuss:
- What the first three weeks of hip replacement recovery were really like
- The unexpected breathing complication that sent Alli to the emergency room
- How she was initially misdiagnosed with bronchitis and acute asthma
- The surprising discovery that the real problem was atelectasis (collapsed air sacs in the lungs) and how treating it changed everything
- How improved breathing led to better sleep, more movement, and a major turning point in recovery
- What movements and exercises Alli is already able to do after surgery
- Why recovery isn't always a straight line—and why comparing yourself to others can be misleading
The conversation also takes an important turn as Alli shares one of the biggest obstacles she faced before surgery: having her insurance company deny coverage just days before the procedure. Even after an appeal was denied, she made the difficult decision to move forward because the pain, loss of mobility, and declining quality of life had become too great to ignore.
Together, Alli and Shawna discuss what it means to truly value your body, advocate for your health, and make informed decisions with your physician rather than allowing someone far removed from your care to determine your future. Sometimes investing in your health today is what makes the next several decades possible.
Having undergone both hip replacements herself, Shawna brings the perspective of someone who has already walked this road. She reminds Alli—and every listener—that while recovery can feel all-consuming in the moment, it's only a small chapter in a much bigger story of strength, mobility, and living fully.
And yes...it's official.
Shawna and Alli are now bionic twins.
Whether you're considering hip replacement surgery, recovering from one, caring for someone who is, or simply want to keep moving well as you age, this episode offers encouragement, practical insights, and hope for what's possible on the other side of pain.
Also check out: In Episode 3, Shawna shares her own hip replacement journey, what she learned from replacing both hips, and why she'd make the same decision again.
If this episode encouraged you, please follow the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, leave us a five-star review, and share this episode with a friend, sister, or workout partner. Together, we can help more women get stronger, healthier, and live with confidence through every stage of midlife and beyond.
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📧 Email: sapodcast23@gmail.com
Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski
Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com
Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).
Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com
