Did you know that every year about 300,000 people in the US alone undergo a total hip replacement with more than 90% of the people extremely happy with the results? Many individuals can get back to their active lifestyles within a few months or even weeks after the procedure.
Most patients would prefer to undergo conservative treatments such as taking pain medication and physical therapy before the hip pain becomes unbearable, which is when they consider hip replacement. This may not always be a good idea. Your hip disorder may get worse with time making it even harder to fix.
The advances in hip replacement have reached such an amazing level that the entire procedure may be performed through a single small incision in an outpatient setting. You could probably go home on the same day or the next day after the procedure. The following conditions may indicate it is time to undergo hip replacement:
- Deep groin pain: Pain deep within the groin that is caused by hip arthritis can be effectively relieved by hip replacement.
- Bone-on-bone arthritis: When X-rays reveal that the protecting outer cartilage of your hip bones have been worn away by degenerative joint disease, hip replacement should be considered.
- Inability to sleep with hip pain: Hip pain at the end of the day that does not allow you to get a good night’s sleep despite taking anti-inflammatory medication is a good sign that it’s time for hip replacement.
- Marked interference with activities of daily living: If your hip hurts with walking, climbing stairs, or doing your routine activities, that is an indication that you might need a new hip joint.
Although it is not without a few risks, hip replacement is an extremely successful procedure. In the majority of cases, patients that elect to undergo hip replacement report experiencing a new lease on life which makes the procedure extremely worthwhile.
Dr. Domb is a nationally recognized orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery of the hip, shoulder and knee. A noted pioneer in advanced new techniques in hip arthroscopy, he delivers innovative treatments for patients with hip injuries such as impingement and labral tears. Dr. Domb is also an expert in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder and knee, adept in specialized techniques including arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and all-inside ACL reconstruction.
