After hip pain threatened his active lifestyle, Andy Bizub turned to Dr. Richard Berger for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. Just 28 days after his first procedure, he was back on the golf course—and today, after two hip replacements, he’s enjoying life without the limitations that once held him back.
For Andy Bizub, staying active is more than a pastime. It’s an essential part of who he is. Whether he’s working out at the gym, playing a round of golf, skiing in the winter, or tending to his ranch in Central Texas, Andy has always embraced a lifestyle that keeps him moving. “I really enjoy working out,” Andy says. “Keeps me vital and active.”
But when hip pain began interfering with the activities he loved, even his daily routine became a challenge. What started as discomfort on the golf course eventually affected his ability to walk long distances and handle the physical demands of ranch life. After learning that he needed a hip replacement, Andy turned to Dr. Richard Berger at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH in Chicago. The experience would help him return to the active life he valued—and ultimately bring him back for a second hip replacement years later.
When Hip Pain Gets in the Way of an Active Life
Andy had always prioritized physical fitness, enjoying regular workouts, outdoor activities, and golf. Walking was also an important part of his daily routine, particularly the five-mile walks he and his wife enjoyed together. But as his right hip began deteriorating, those activities became increasingly difficult. “I love to play golf,” Andy recalls. “It was starting to get to be painful to play. I couldn’t walk 18 holes.”
The pain wasn’t limited to the golf course. “My wife and I, we walked five miles every day. Leading up to my surgery, I couldn’t do that.” For someone accustomed to an active lifestyle, losing the ability to enjoy these everyday activities was frustrating. And there was another important reason Andy needed to stay mobile: his ranch in Central Texas.
Ranch work requires consistent physical effort, from climbing on and off equipment to carrying supplies and tending to the property. “I also have a ranch in Central Texas,” Andy explains. “That’s another reason for the importance of having the surgery and being mobile, because I work on the ranch all the time.” As his hip pain worsened, Andy realized he needed to address the problem before it further limited his independence.
Finding a Solution with Dr. Berger
Andy sought an evaluation at Midwest Orthopaedics at RUSH, where imaging revealed the extent of his hip problem. “They X-rayed me, and they said, yeah, you’re going to need a hip replacement,” he remembers.
Andy ultimately chose Dr. Richard Berger, an orthopedic surgeon recognized for pioneering minimally invasive outpatient hip and knee replacement techniques. Dr. Berger’s approach is designed to preserve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the joint, minimizing tissue disruption and helping appropriate patients begin moving again soon after surgery.
For Andy, the goal was clear: he wanted to return to the activities that made his life enjoyable and productive. In May 2020, he underwent his first hip replacement, on his right side, and wasted little time getting back to the things he loved.
Back on the Golf Course in Just 28 Days
For Andy, returning to the golf course after surgery was an important milestone. Just four weeks after his right hip replacement, he was playing again. “May of 2020, I got my right hip replaced, and I played golf exactly 28 days after the surgery,” Andy recalls. “I played my first round of golf.”
After struggling to walk an entire course before surgery, being able to return to the game so quickly was especially meaningful. And golf wasn’t the only activity he resumed. The following winter, Andy returned to the ski slopes. “I went skiing the following winter with no problems.”
The experience reinforced his confidence in the procedure and allowed him to continue enjoying the physically demanding activities that had always been part of his life. But several years later, Andy faced a familiar challenge. This time, it was his left hip.
A Second Hip Replacement, an Even Better Recovery
Approximately six years after his first procedure, Andy began experiencing pain in his left hip. Having already gone through hip replacement surgery with Dr. Berger, he knew where to turn. “Fast forward six years, my left hip started to bother me,” Andy explains. “Went for an evaluation, so I called, scheduled the surgery.”
He returned to Dr. Berger for his second hip replacement, and according to Andy, the experience was even better than the first. “I had the left hip done, and this recovery was even better than the first one.”
For Andy, undergoing a second hip replacement wasn’t simply about addressing pain. It was about maintaining the active lifestyle he had worked hard to preserve. With both hips replaced, he could once again focus on living his life rather than accommodating his limitations.
Back to Golf, the Gym, and Life on the Ranch
Today, Andy is enjoying the activities that once became difficult because of hip pain. He’s back in the gym, playing golf, and handling the everyday responsibilities of his Central Texas ranch. “Now I’m back to doing everything that I was able to do,” he says. “Back in the gym, back playing golf.”
But some of the most meaningful improvements are found in the practical demands of ranch life. Andy can climb on and off his tractor, move equipment and supplies, and carry heavy bags of cow feed without the hip pain that once interfered with his mobility. “I can jump up and down from the tractor. I’m carrying supplies around, carrying bags of cow feed, and it’s all pain-free.”
For someone who takes pride in being active and independent, these accomplishments are just as important as returning to the golf course. “It’s pretty amazing what I’m able to do,” Andy reflects. After two hip replacements, Andy is once again enjoying the freedom to move through his day without constantly thinking about his hips.
A Surgeon Who Made a Lasting Impression
While Andy is grateful for his physical recovery, his appreciation for Dr. Berger extends beyond the operating room. He is particularly impressed by Dr. Berger’s background in mechanical engineering and the technical expertise he brings to orthopedic surgery.
“When I tell people about my surgery, I always talk about Dr. Berger being not only an orthopedic surgeon, but having a mechanical engineering degree, which is incredible.”
For Andy, that combination of engineering knowledge and surgical expertise is one of the things that makes Dr. Berger’s approach distinctive. But just as important is the personal experience he had with Dr. Berger and his team. “I’m one of Dr. Berger’s biggest fans,” Andy says. “He’s a great surgeon.”
He also credits the entire practice for making both surgical experiences positive. “I’ve never dealt with anybody in the medical profession like Dr. Berger and his staff. They’re just all such great people.” For Andy, the combination of innovative surgical techniques, attentive care, and successful recoveries has made a lasting impression.
25 Years of Helping Patients Get Back to Life
As Dr. Richard Berger celebrates 25 years of pioneering minimally invasive outpatient joint replacement, Andy’s story demonstrates how restoring mobility can make a meaningful difference in everyday life.
For Andy, success wasn’t measured solely by how quickly he returned to golf after his first surgery. It was about being able to maintain the lifestyle he loves—working out, skiing, walking with his wife, and taking care of his ranch. And when his second hip began causing problems years later, he knew he could return to the surgeon who had helped him regain his mobility the first time.
Today, with two hip replacements behind him, Andy is back to living life on his terms. From the golf course to the ski slopes to his Central Texas ranch, he’s doing the things he loves without the pain that once held him back.
“It’s pretty amazing what I’m able to do.”