The largest joint in our body, the hip, can become painful over time due to a variety of factors, including sports injuries and daily activities. In many cases, the pain subsides with time and can be controlled with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
If your hip is extremely painful, swollen, stiff, or has a restricted range of motion. Because of how uncomfortable your hip is, it is affecting your sleep and quality of life. In this situation, you should speak with your doctor to determine whether hip replacement surgery is necessary.
Below, you will find useful information about hip replacement surgery and signs that the procedure is right for you.
Read more: What Can You Never Do After Hip Replacement: 8 Things! – Elder VIP
What is a Hip Replacement?
In a hip replacement, a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial one (referred to as an implant).
Any adult can be considered for a hip replacement, though most procedures are performed on patients between the ages of 60 and 80. A contemporary artificial hip joint is made to last for at least 15 years. Most people experience a significant decrease in pain and an increase in their range of motion.
When the hip joint is worn out or damaged, it is usually necessary to have hip replacement surgery because this reduces mobility and causes pain even when you are at rest.
The most common reason for hip replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other conditions that can cause hip joint damage include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hip fracture
- Septic arthritis
- Disorders that cause unusual bone growth (bone dysplasias)
The Signs of Needing a Hip Replacement
How do you know when you need hip replacement surgery? Here are some signs to look out for and to discuss with your GP:
Chronic and Significant Pain
Damage to your hip joint can cause chronic and significant pain anywhere between your hip and knee. If you experience any of the following, you should talk to an orthopedic specialist immediately:
- To manage the pain, you frequently take painkillers.
- Despite taking painkillers, your pain keeps you up at night.
- You rely on a walking aid to ease hip discomfort.
- Walking or bending over is painful for you.
- Resting during the day or night does not lessen your pain.
- Your pain has not been relieved by conservative treatments.
- You walk with a limp to hide your pain.
A primary reason patients avoid hip replacement surgery is that the recovery period causes limited activity. Therefore, it makes more sense to have surgery to restore function to your hip joint if your pain is already significantly restricting your activity. One of the main causes of hip replacement surgery is severe pain, but this isn’t the only sign that you might need the procedure.
Cannot Stand on One Leg
If despite using a door frame or table top for balance, you are unable to stand on your problematic leg for more than a minute, you may have a hip issue.
To see if hip pain treatment would be beneficial for you, you can try some additional exercises at home. For instance:
- Can you put your knee to your chest while sitting or lying on your back? Whenever necessary, lend a hand.
- Can you shift your leg out to the side while lying on your back without shifting your trunk?
- Can you put your ankle on the opposite knee while seated in a chair and allow the knee to droop as much as possible?
Hip Stiffness
Stiffness is another indication that your hip may be severely injured and need hip replacement surgery. Consult an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible if you notice that joint stiffness is preventing you from lifting your leg, walking, or bending your hip joint. Chronic hip stiffness necessitates immediate medical attention, whereas acute hip stiffness following an injury is normal. Acute hip stiffness appears out of the blue and disappears quickly. Hip stiffness that is chronic, however, never goes away.
The Side Effects of the Drug Cannot Be Suppressed
The painkillers your doctor has prescribed for you, like NSAIDs, are generally safe as long as you only use them occasionally. However, side effects can develop with prolonged use, including:
- Stomach irritation
- Ulcers
- Increased risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attack
- Weakened immune system
- Tolerance, which is when your body needs increasing amounts of the medicine to achieve the desired effect
- Addiction, which is when you experience notable withdrawal symptoms whenever you aren’t taking the medication
Conservative Treatment Options Don’t Work
Depending on the underlying cause, there are various hip pain treatments. Hip pain is frequently temporary and can be treated with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if the pain is ongoing you should see your GP who may refer you for treatment or surgery.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Hip Replacement?
The time it takes to recover from hip replacement surgery can range from six months to a year, depending on a number of factors. Some factors that influence how long it takes to recover from hip replacement surgery include:
- Your physical health, age, and diet.
- The type of procedure — whether it was partial or total hip replacement surgery.
- Whether any issues arise during or following surgery.
- The power of your bones and how well they can cling to the prosthesis.
- What your eligibility is for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery.
Summary
You should talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms and are concerned. Unless your symptoms are very severe and debilitating, your GP may first recommend pain relief and/or physiotherapy before recommending hip replacement surgery.
