With many who suffer from hip pain, the battle can be a war of attrition. Eventually, after dealing with sustained or ever-increasing levels of pain, people finally make the decision to see an orthopedic specialist and one of the offered solutions might be total hip replacement. If this situation rings a bell for you, gaining a better understanding of this process may make it easier to take steps to get back to the life you want to live.
Pain Causes
As a specialist may be able to confirm, having pain in that area can be due to a number of different causes, such as an old injury that did not heal quite as it should have, a chronic health issue, regular wear that happens over the years, osteoarthritis, or injuries such as a fracture.
If a surgery is the best solution, you will be referred to an orthopedic surgeon, who will carefully look at the joints by performing a thorough physical exam. X-rays and/or MRI will be reviewed.
Benefits
The most obvious benefit of this procedure is relief from pain. Indeed, many individuals live with chronic pain caused by joint problems. This issue can become so big that it can impact their daily life, making them need more assistance than they should. In addition to enabling them to live their lives to the full, a replacement also provides more coordination, strength, and an improved ability to move, while helping individuals walk and climb stairs in an easier manner.
Risks
Just as it is the case with nearly anything, this surgery comes with a variety of risks such as blood clots and infection. Other risks include injury to the nerves and blood vessels, weakness, stiffness, dislocation, or fractures. Some of these complications may lead to the need for additional surgeries.
Those who have severe rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus have an increased chance of developing complications. Other patients with an increased risk include those with insulin-dependent diabetes and hemophilia.
These sorts of replacements won’t last forever. Typically, their lifespan is around 15-20 years. If the artificial joint starts to turn painful, one will need to replace it again. However, several factors affect implant longevity. Such factors include the strength of the bones and muscles as well as the general state of the patient’s health. Ensuring that one follows the rehabilitation steps closely is another huge determinant of the lifespan of the procedure.
Have questions?
Request a consultation with one of the hip specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute. Call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online.
OSI has convenient locations to serve you. The campus in Appleton includes clinics, a surgery center, MRI, physical therapy, and a skilled nursing facility, as well as a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.
OSI has outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere.
OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.