What Is Hip Replacement Surgery? When Do You Need It?

If you experience an ailing hip, it becomes difficult and next to impossible o do things you love. Suppose you are struggling with hip pain or stiffness, which prevents you from performing any of the regular activities. In that case, you will realise that hip replacement has a profound impact on your life, relieving you from painful symptoms and increases your mobility as well as the ability to function around. However, for some people, conservative treatment works.

When do you need a hip replacement?

So, how to recognise the right option? What are the signs which prompt you for surgery? Following are the reasons –

Chronic and significant pain

Damage to your hip joint can cause massive pain not only to your hips but anywhere between the hips and knees. You could be taking painkillers for reducing the pain, keeps you awake in the night, becomes a task to walk around, resting does not help during day or night, conservative treatments are not helpful, you compensate the pain with limping, and reliable on a walking aid for relieving the pain.

Severe pain is one of the reasons people opt for total hip replacement. But it is not the only symptom which indicates you need surgery.

Hip disability makes the completion of tasks challenging

One of the deciding factors of hip replacement surgery is how much the injured hip affects your life. Even if you can handle this pain, massive disability of the hip can make even the most routine task a daunting one like putting on your shoes or socks, walking an average distance, or standing one leg.

Limits the normal range of motion

Stiffness is another reason for surgery. If you experience joint stiffness which makes normal walking or bending difficult, or if you cannot lift your leg, approach an orthopaedic specialist soon.

Conservative treatments do not help all the time

Many who have conditions affecting their hip joint, such as arthritis, do not require surgery immediately. Doctors might opt for conservative treatments such as physical therapy, steroids injection, and anti-inflammatory medications. Although they might not cure hip conditions, they make you go about with the daily routine and more tolerable towards the pain. However, there are chances these treatments might be less effective and fail to offer relief. This is when doctors recommend surgery.

Tests reveal significant arthritis

Massive joint damage owing to arthritis or other joint conditions can cause inflammation, resulting in the cartilage wearing away. Without the cartilage, there is no cushion between the bones rubbing together, and they start wearing down. Advanced cases of joint damage may need some form of surgery.

What is hip surgery?

A hip replacement surgery is where the doctor removes a painful hip joint with arthritis and replaces them with an artificial joint that are made of metal and plastic components surgically. It is a treatment opted when other options have failed to provide enough relief from the pain. The surgery should relieve you from a painful hip joint, making the walking easier.