I've tried glucosamine and could tolerate it, but it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Perhaps it was because cartilage wasn't my problem.

As to the hip surgery, my mom had both of hers done at different times. The results included adverse effects: the ball/femur side of her second one was loose and moved. It was painful, but said it was still better than her pre-surgery hip. Then again, her hips had deteriorated so badly that the new-to-us doctor who referred her to the surgeons was amazed she could walk, since the bone in the first hip's joint was virtually non-existent and her muscles were functioning as a joint.

Recovery was difficult, but she was positively giddy once she realized she could do things she hadn't been able to do for more than 20 years. Walk without limping, ride a bike, run (just a little bit)...