Advantages. Most people who have hip replacements notice an improvement in their overall quality of life and mobility. Freedom from pain is often the main benefit of surgery. You should expect to have some pain from the surgery to begin with, but you'll be given medication to help with this.
An artificial hip isn't as good as a natural hip. It has some limitations. For instance, extreme positions such as crouching aren't optimal because of the risk of displacement of the hip joint. Choose an orthopedic surgeon experienced in total joint replacements – your discomfort will be minimal to none.
Three Pros of Hip Replacement
The success rate for this surgery is excellent, with greater than 95% of patients experiencing hip pain relief. The success rate of hip replacements after ten years from surgery is 90-95%, and 80-85% after 20 years. Dr.
Even if you have osteoarthritis in your hip joint, you may not need hip replacement surgery. Our experts may suggest other treatment options. For example, injections are a better approach for some people. Injections can lessen inflammation and pain, or lubricate your joint so it functions better.
Improved mobility and long-lasting results are key advantages, but the main benefit is pain relief. An arthritic hip can affect all areas of your life. Easing hip pain following successful surgery can provide immediate benefits and a better quality of life.
Most patients have outstanding success following hip replacement. Your pain disappears after just one surgery, and movement returns to normal.
While most people can expect to resume the majority of their normal activities by this time, a full recovery can take up to 12 months. Even though your new hip joint can dramatically reduce the pain you felt before surgery you may wish to avoid certain high-impact sports like running or playing basketball.
People with the following conditions may not be good candidates for a hip replacement: Hip infection or sepsis. Morbid obesity. Remote, ongoing infection.
Severe Arthritis
If the arthritis - and the pain - is severe enough, total hip replacement surgery may be the best option to relieve pain and give you the option of getting back to a healthy, active life.
A total hip replacement is a major surgery. With walking and other physical therapy done daily, a patient can expect to be back in their usual routine in about six weeks. If you have more questions about recovering from total hip replacement surgery, contact Dr. Dan Albright at 919-863-6808.
Also called total hip arthroplasty, hip replacement surgery might be an option if hip pain interferes with daily activities and nonsurgical treatments haven't helped or are no longer effective. Arthritis damage is the most common reason to need hip replacement.
AGE. While most hip replacements are performed in patients between 60 and 80 years of age, older or younger age is not a contraindication to surgery. Hip replacement is occasionally performed in patients in their teens and early twenties.
Joint loosening, blood clots, change in leg length, dislocation, fractures and infection are common hip replacement complications.
You can expect to experience some discomfort in the hip region itself, as well as groin pain and thigh pain. This is normal as your body adjusts to changes made to joints in that area. There can also be pain in the thigh and knee that is typically associated with a change in the length of your leg.
It's normal for the wound to be slightly red and warm to touch while healing. However, if you feel unwell, the pain is getting worse or the wound starts to leak fluid, contact a GP straightaway or call 111.
Normally, driving should be avoided for the first 6 weeks and even travelling as a passenger is best avoided for the first three weeks (except for essential journeys), as getting in and out of a car can risk straining the hip and stretching the healing tissues.
Nonsurgical Treatment
People who have severe arthritis of the hip, but function adequately, can choose to live with their condition. In general, hip replacement surgery is not an urgent procedure, and most often there is no harm in delaying surgery until you feel the time is right.
Seniors should avoid hip flexion past 90 degrees — bending your hip too far or lifting your knee too high. This movement occurs when you lift your leg or your knee up towards your body. For example, when you put on socks or shoes. Generally, keep the knee below hip level.
Expect about one to four days of bed rest immediately after surgery, but physical rehabilitation usually starts the same day as your procedure. The process is slow and steady, barring complications, and each week should bring less pain, better balance and increased mobility.
The study put people through a 12-week exercise program. Six years later, they were 44 percent less likely to need hip replacement compared with a control group that did not exercise. Exercise can help strengthen the muscles that support your hips. It also may help you keep range of motion in your hips.