At this point, people can seek any way to reduce their pain. They may have cortisone injections or hip resurfacing procedures that “clean out” the torn or frayed cartilage. They likely are giving up certain sports or activities they love.
But when the pain continues, as it usually will when the damage is within the hip socket, it could be time to consider a total hip replacement with the experienced team at Summit Healthcare Orthopedic Center.
What is a hip replacement?
Hip replacement is one of the most successful operations performed in the medical world. As we age as a population, the need is growing all the time. Hip replacement can make a real difference in the life of the patient, in effect allowing the person to return to a pain-free life once again.
Hip replacement involves addressing both the bone and the socket. The damaged ball of the thighbone is replaced with a metal ball; the socket is ground clean of damage and a metal socket is inserted into it for the new metal ball to pivot within. By having this surgery with our healthcare providers you can greatly improve your quality of life.
How will I know if I need hip replacement surgery?
There are no absolute age or weight restrictions with hip replacement. Whether or not you and your doctor feel this surgery is the way to go will be based on your level of pain and how your damaged hip is impacting your daily life, not some arbitrary age. Most patients who undergo their procedure at Summit Healthcare Orthopedic Center are between the ages of 50 and 80.
People considering hip replacement surgery usually have been dealing with the pain for a long time, possibly decades. The question is — how badly is the pain affecting your life? Your doctor and our entire Summit Orthopedic team will walk you through the decision.
These are some of the common issues people have when considering hip replacement:
- Hip pain is limiting activities such as walking or bending.
- Hip pain is impacting sleep.
- Pain continues even when resting.
- There is stiffness in the hip that limits movement.
- Other avenues to address the pain have not been effective — physical therapy, band-aid procedures such as hip resurfacing, cortisone injections, and other options are not stopping the pain.
What Our Patients Say
“Fantastic results on my hip replacement” – Keith H.
Causes of Cronic Hip Pain That Lead To Total Hip Replacement
What is the average age for a hip replacement?
There is no average or “set” age for these procedures. Teenagers can sometimes have juvenile arthritis, and seniors have degenerative osteoarthritis. If you were to average out this procedure, you would see patients between the ages of 50 and 80.
Benefits of Hip Replacement
If you are one of the many people suffering from hip pain, total hip replacement surgery can change your life. Patients who have this orthopedic surgery experience:
- A reduction or complete stop from hip pain
- An increase in leg strength from your prosthesis
- An improvement in the quality of life from being pain-free
- More mobility leading to a happier daily life
Preparing for Total Hip Replacement
The morning of your hip surgery, you will likely arrive at the hospital early. Once at the hospital, we will check your temperature, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure prior to surgery. Follow all of your surgeon’s instructions before surgery:
- Do not eat or drink 10 hours before surgery
- Speak to your provider about your medication
- Attempt to sleep as much as possible
- Make sure you have a driver after surgery
Hip Replacement Procedure
You will be brought to the operating room once your surgeon and surgical team are ready. The anesthesia given will help you sleep through your hip replacement surgery. In the surgery, an incision is made, which allows your surgeon to access the hip joint. The damaged hip is removed, and the socket is prepared to hold the prosthesis. With the new joint in place, the incision is closed with a specific surgical glue.
Preparing the Bone
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball is cut from the thighbone, and the surface of the old socket is smoothed. Then the new socket is put into the pelvis. The socket is usually press-fit and may be held in place with screws. A press-fit prosthesis has tiny pores on its surface that your bone will grow into. Cement or press-fit may be used to hold the ball-and-stem portion of the total hip replacement.
Joining the New Parts
The new hip stem is inserted into the head of your thighbone. After the stem is secure in the thighbone, the new ball and socket are joined. The stem of the prosthesis may be held with cement or press-fit. Your surgeon will choose the method that is best for you.
Hip Replacement Recovery
After the total hip replacement surgery, the patient is brought to the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit). Once you are fully awake, a nurse will move you to your room. Then they give you medications to lower your pain. An SCD (Sequential Compression Device) may be used to prevent blood clots by gently squeezing then releasing your legs. You may be given medication to prevent blood clots.
Our skilled orthopedic team will help you get up and moving after surgery. They know precisely what they’re doing and how to help you recover, heal, and get back to life in the fastest, safest way possible. You may also have physical therapy or occupational therapy after your hip replacement surgery.
After total hip replacement surgery, you will probably be hospitalized for one-to-three days. Recovery time varies following hip replacement surgery, but most people are able to drive after two weeks, garden after three-to-four weeks, and golf after six-to-eight weeks. Your hip doctor will tell you which activities you can return to, and when, and which activities you’ll need to avoid.
How soon after my surgery will I feel relief from my hip pain?
Your pain will be immediately gone, as the areas of your hip that were creating the pain have been replaced by artificial parts. Of course, you’ll have the pain of your recovery from the procedure, but the pain from your damaged hip is gone for good. Usually, within just six to 12 weeks after your replacement surgery, you’ll be able to return to all of your normal activities, only now you can do them pain-free. At Summit Healthcare Orthopedic Center one of the first things we often hear when the patient’s recovery is moving forward is “Why did I wait so long to have this done?”
How long before I can walk normally after hip replacement?
Scarring After Total Hip Replacement
You will have scarring after hip replacement, but most patients are more than happy to simply be able to move again. The method used affects the size of the scar. With an anterior approach, the incision runs down the front of the thigh starting at the pelvic bone and will be approximately 3-6 inches. With a posterior hip replacement, the incision tends to be behind the hip, down the outer buttocks. If this can be done with a minimally invasive technique, the incision will be from 3-5 inches. If a traditional posterior method is used, the scar will be longer, from 8-10 inches.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgery, hip replacement surgery does have potential risks. These complications could be:
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Dislocation of the joint
- Prosthesis becomes loosened
- Fracture
- Damaging nearby blood vessels, nerves, or bones
- Thigh pain
- Bad reaction to anesthesia
When to call your Orthopedic Surgeon?
After you are home safely, make sure to call your doctor if you experience these symptoms:
- An increase in hip pain
- Pain or swelling in a calf or leg
- Unusual redness, heat, or drainage at the incision site
- Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or higher
- Trouble breathing or chest pain (call 911)
