I have arthritis in my hip and knee on the right side. In addition to my pain, there is shortening of my right leg compared to my left leg. I have been told that I need a hip and a knee replacement. Because of my emphysema, I only am able to endure one surgery at a time. Which surgery would you do first, the knee or the hip?

I would select the joint that is most symptomatic. If both joints are equally as painful, I would recommend the knee replacement as the initial procedure. The hip replacement would follow once a full recovery of the knee is achieved in two to three months.