Now I am going to solve the prob by the substitution u suggested ( going to be a bit longer but the final integration is easy )
Let z = x + sqrt ( x^2 + 2 x - 1 )
so , ( z - x )^2 = x^2 + 2x - 1
giving x = ( z^2 + 1 ) / 2( 1 + z )
dx = ( z^2 + 2z - 1 ) / 2 ( 1 + z ) ^2
sqrt( x^2 + 2 x - 1 ) = z - x = z - (z ^2 + 1 ) / 2 ( 1 + z )
= (z^2 + 2z -1) / 2 ( 1 + z )
Now put the values in terms of z in the integrand , giving
2 dz / (z^ 2 + 1 )
which on integration yields 2 arctan ( z )
= 2 arctan ( x + sqrt(x^2 + 2x - 1 )) (ans )