Active aging without pain: A former Buckeye athlete takes control of his health

Helping active patients enjoy life

When Dr. Beal began his joint replacement practice more than 15 years ago, his patients were “almost exclusively over age 65.” He and his colleagues are now seeing a growing trend of younger patients interested in joint replacements. Many have arthritis. Others have had developmental issues since childhood or have lingering damage from accidents. More important than age is the patient’s desire to keep active and reduce — or eliminate — pain.

Dr. Beal advises patients to pay attention to their bodies.

“Patients describe the pain as aching and throbbing at the top of the leg or in the groin,” says Dr. Beal, an assistant professor of Surgery in The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “Sometimes the pain is sharp.”

Doctors will often recommend an X-ray, which may show bone spurs, cysts or arthritis. The tell-tale sign that it may be time for surgery is the obvious loss of cartilage.

“We see patients where the X-ray looks like the ball is touching the socket,” Dr. Beal says. “When your pain interferes with enjoyable, quality activities, including work, exercise or just enjoying your life, you need to see your doctor. If you’ve tried other therapies, it may be time to consider joint replacement surgery.”

Miller appreciated Dr. Beal’s expertise as well as his understanding.

“Dr. Beal is a former athlete, too,” Miller says. “He was able to calm my nerves and help me understand the procedure and process.”

History of injuries leads to chronic hip pain

Miller, who turns 50 this year, began his football career as a third-grader in Springfield, Ohio. His first year in pee wee football was also his first major injury: a broken right tibia, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg.

His mother and great-grandmother worried when he wanted to return to the sport. They encouraged him to consider basketball or baseball, but he was adamant. He loved football.

“I felt lost watching [my friends] play when I couldn’t,” Miller remembers. His doctor suggested a compromise: using a knee brace to give his legs extra support. He wore them from fourth grade through junior high school. “They’d always slide down,” Miller says with a laugh.

In high school, he got noticed by recruiters from Michigan, the University of Southern California, Tennessee and Ohio State.

He chose Ohio State in part thanks to advice from his father.

“He said, ‘If you get a degree [from Ohio State], your life will be better after football,” Miller says.

Becoming a Buckeye

When Miller arrived at Ohio State and joined the football team, he was redshirted, which means he didn’t play for the team during his freshman year. When he was able to play in his sophomore year, he competed for his spot as a wide receiver. He played 50 games for the Ohio State Buckeyes, finishing with 2,090 yards and eight touchdowns on 132 catches.

Drafted to the NFL by the Green Bay Packers in 1999, he injured his knee in training camp and couldn’t play that year. After being traded to a different team, he was injured again. After his third trade and more injuries, he decided to stop training and return to school. Miller completed his degree at Ohio State in 2001.

Putting up with the pain of hip arthritis

Today, Miller is a married father of two who owns an insurance agency. He’s continued to work out and try to stay in good shape, but for the past few years, he’s endured constant back pain and hip pain.

“I had a hard time getting dressed,” Miller says. He found even sitting in the car painful, so he’d take a pillow with him to work to try to be more comfortable. “I delayed treatment and kept thinking it would get better.”

Traveling was especially painful. When he was obviously suffering during a family trip for his daughter’s cheerleading competition, his mother suggested trying arthritis medication. When that helped, he saw his family doctor for his back problems and was referred to a chiropractor, who recommended X-rays.

“She told me, ‘Your right hip looks like a much older hip,’” Miller says. After rounds of treatments that provided only temporary relief, he felt hopeless.

Then, he met Dr. Beal.

“Dee had end-stage arthritis in his hip. Bone on bone,” Dr. Beal says. “He was young and healthy, with a good attitude. I asked him, ‘How long do you want to put up with the pain?’”

Miller didn’t want to try injections, and he was tired of taking pain relievers. He was ready for a better solution to his pain. After talking with Dr. Beal, he opted for a full hip replacement. Dr. Beal reassured him it would be a smooth procedure. He would leave the hospital the same day as his surgery.

“About a third of our patients go home the same day,” Dr. Beal says.

Older patients or those with other medical issues may need monitoring overnight, but the advantages of outpatient, same-day surgery include lower risk of infection, reduced costs and increased comfort, since patients can recover at home.

Improving outcomes for younger hip replacement patients

There are other risk factors that patients can control to ensure a better outcome following surgery. Dr. Beal encourages patients to quit smoking, for example, and appropriately manage diabetes. Another issue is weight. Patients who maintain a healthy weight see more long-term success.

“Younger patients have lots of years left to live on that joint,” Dr. Beal says. “Getting to a safer weight for surgery will improve longevity [for the implant].”

Dr. Beal has seen a dramatic improvement in long-term success with hip replacements. The plastics and other material used in the newest implants cause fewer complications.

“We have changed out some of the parts in hips replaced 12 to 14 years ago,” he says. He recommends that patients be evaluated every three years.

“Sometimes patients will feel great, but the implant is wearing out, and we want to fix it before it starts hurting,” he says.

He expects Miller’s implant to last about 15 years, depending on his activity.

Back to active life after total hip replacement surgery

Miller worried about his postoperative care, even though Dr. Beal had assured him of a smooth procedure.

“I had Sarah on speed dial,” Miller says, referring to Sarah Babka, Dr. Beal’s physician assistant. He appreciated her willingness to reassure him and answer additional questions, as she and other clinic staff do with all their patients.

“We encourage patients to use their MyChart access, also,” Babka says. “It makes reaching us very easy and convenient.”

“The patient experience doesn’t end at the OR table. We aim to deliver comprehensive care through every patient’s journey,” says Katie Williams, the clinic manager.

Miller received his new hip on Oct. 28, 2024. Dr. Beal recommended regular walking immediately following the procedure.

“I recommend walking for all my hip replacement patients,” Dr. Beal says.

Walking promotes healing, restores mobility and improves circulation, helping to prevent blood clots.

“Walking is the most important activity. Some doctors don’t restrict activity, but I remind people that running causes more wear and tear on the implant,” he adds. “With patients who coach soccer, for example, I tell them they need to point and describe what players should do, not run around and kick the ball.”

“They wanted me to walk, and I wasn’t used to that,” Miller says. “I wanted more strengthening and started doing things on my own. But I did too much too soon, and had some pain. I had to listen to my body and slow down.”

Nearly a year later now, he feels great. He’s even back to golfing.