An ailing hip can make everyday things challenging! With the advent of replacement procedures, it becomes a lot easier to treat people struggling with hip pain or stiffness, especially the ones having degenerative arthritis. Although there are no set rules for hip replacement, signs like excruciating pain, immobility, or structural damage may indicate the need for a surgery.
Not knowing what can lead you to get hip replacement done? Our expert reveals the signs that may indicate hip arthritis or other problems causing a worn hip joint. Read on to learn more:
1. Physical Therapy makes no difference
At first, routine physical therapy sessions help to improve the function, increase mobility and relieve pain from the damaged or diseased hip joint. Even if you have arthritis in your hips, physical therapy and exercise are encouraged as the more effective options than going for replacement surgery. For young people, it has shown great results as compared to aged ones. However, people with osteoarthritis found more relief after undergoing hip replacement surgery.
2. Pain in hip affects everyday activities
One of the major indicators related to the underlying problem with your hip joint is debilitating pain around the hip or groin area. Walking, going up stairs, and bending to get in and out of chairs turns out to be a task while dealing with hip joint pain. Anti-inflammatory medication or injections aren’t the ultimate cure to the condition but can improve function and make hip pain more tolerable. If that doesn’t work in your favor, replacement surgery is the effective solution!
3. Severe Arthritis in your hip
Considering hip joint, there are different kinds of conditions including osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis that can cause severe damage and intensify aggressively with aging. Hip replacement seems suitable for such patients to increase the life-span of the joint. Also, mild to moderate osteoporosis is typically okay, but “brittle bones” cannot support a weak joint nor can they support a new joint prosthesis. In addition, a patient may be asked to take steps to improve bone density before opting for hip replacement surgery.
4. Limits your normal range of motion (stiffness)
Experiencing joint stiffness is an alarming sign! If walking, bending, or even resting becomes difficult, then it is the time to consult your orthopedic surgeon, as the inflammation in the joint needs a serious fix. In some cases, a person finds it difficult to lift a specific leg that indicates a severely injured/ inflamed joint which can be treated well with a hip replacement surgery.
5. Torn-out Hip joint
Often, accidental injuries can damage or deform the hip joint which may make surgery necessary. In a healthy person, such injuries won’t straight away lead to a hip replacement, as conservative treatment can bring much relief. Advanced arthritis however, can make a normal injury dangerous for the survivor, in which damaged joint(s) can get worse over time. Delaying surgery may not be a good idea in such cases.
Struggling with severe hip pain? Ignoring persistent pain or discomfort may likely increase the complications affecting normal lifestyle. To find out an appropriate treatment option for you, contact a specialist. Dr Mayank Chauhan is a renowned Noida-based orthopedic surgeon serving patients with effective surgical and non-surgical procedures and can help you with personalized care plans for your hip pain. Book your appointment today!
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