After years of back pain that threatened to end her endurance racing career, Jeanine Latimer chose Dr. John Redmond's direct anterior hip replacement, then went on to complete three Ironman triathlons.
Jeanine Latimer was deep into another long training run when the ache in her lower back showed up again, the same one that had been showing up for three or four years now, a little sharper each time. She pushed through it, the way she'd always pushed through the miles that came with marathons and long distance triathlon. But this ache wasn't going away, and it was starting to take something from her that training alone couldn't fix.
Two Surgeons, Two Very Different Answers
By the time Jeanine went looking for real answers, the pain had turned into genuine mobility issues. She saw two other orthopedic surgeons over the following years, and their advice couldn't have been more different.
'One recommended to wait until I was ready & the other wanted to operate ASAP, replace my hip & right knee & put me on medications.'
Neither option sat right with her. She wanted a clear picture of what was actually happening in her body, not a default answer built for someone else's situation.
The Hip Nerd
That search led her to Dr. John Redmond, whose hip replacement practice in Jacksonville has built a reputation for exactly that kind of precision. Jeanine and her family have their own nickname for him now: the hip nerd, or the hip savant.
What stood out to her wasn't just his technical reputation. It was how his team treated her throughout the decision itself.
'The team let me make my decision based on the information they gave me. I never felt pressured to have surgery or not. They were patient with my questions and thorough in their answers. The PAs (Allen Kent) were excellent!'
That approach lines up with how Dr. Redmond's practice describes its philosophy more broadly: exploring every option first, and only recommending surgery once it's genuinely the right call rather than the most aggressive one available.
Home by 1:30
On Thursday, December 10, 2020, Jeanine had her hip replaced.
'My surgery was outpatient. I was at the surgery center at 5:30am & home by 1:30pm & walking before I left the surgery center.'
That fast turnaround is a hallmark of the direct anterior approach Dr. Redmond specializes in, a muscle-sparing technique performed without cutting through muscles or tendons, which allows most patients to go home the same day with no hip precautions required afterward.
Back in the Water
Jeanine started physical therapy the Monday after surgery and kept at it three times a week for a month, working through the same kind of structured recovery protocol built into every joint replacement Dr. Redmond performs. After that, she took her rehab into her own hands: stationary bike, strength training, walking.
From there, her comeback unfolded in stages. Two months post-op, she was back in the pool, swimming. Three months post-op, back on the road, cycling. Six months post-op, back to running. Seven months post-op, back to racing, triathlon and running both.
That seven-month return to competition tracks closely with what researchers have documented in other endurance athletes recovering from hip replacement. A case study following a master triathlete after hip arthroplasty found a similar return to competitive racing between seven and ten monthsÂ
Three Ironmans
Jeanine didn't just get back to racing. She got back to some of the hardest races in the sport. In October 2021, she completed an Ironman Memphis 70.3 distance. In September 2022, an Ironman Chattanooga 144.6 distance, qualifying for a World Championships roll down slot. In May 2026, an Ironman Jacksonville 140.6 distance.
Research on return to sport after total hip arthroplasty backs up what Jeanine experienced firsthand. One recent study found that 73.2 percent of patients who were active in sports before hip replacement surgery returned to that same activity within a year, regardless of which surgical approach was used.
'What stands out the most, is the immediate pain relief followed by being able to return to normal activities. Recovery is a process and you HAVE to do the work but the results are worth it!'
A Body in Motion
The ache that used to stop her mid-run is gone now. Jeanine says she can do everything she could do before her hip replacement.
'I am able to do all the things I did before my hip replacement! Other body parts hurt but that's just age. From a longevity perspective, I have adjusted training to less wear and tear on the hip while still being very physically active.'
The pain that once slowed her down on every run started in her back, but the answer, it turned out, was in her hip. Her motto sums up what came next simply: a body in motion stays in motion.
If years of pain have started chipping away at the activities you love, Jeanine's story is proof that the right diagnosis and the right surgical approach can do more than relieve pain. It can get you back to the start line. Read more patient stories like Jeanine's, or request an appointment with Dr. Redmond at his Southside or Beaches office to talk through your own hip pain.
This blog is intended for general informational purposes. Any health related information shared is not meant to provide or replace professional medical advice and does not establish a patient provider relationship. Individual outcomes vary. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
