The process of making this decision typically begins with a referral by your doctor to an orthopedic surgeon for an initial evaluation. The decision whether to have hip replacement surgery should be a cooperative one between you, your family, your primary care doctor, and your orthopedic surgeon. If you are overweight, you should strongly consider losing weight. Weight loss can help decrease stresses on all of the joints. Even with treatment, it gets worse over time. These measures usually improve pain and function. Using a walker may help patients who have more trouble walking. This transfers weight away from the affected hip. Short-term physical therapy may help with strength and stiffness.įor more advanced arthritis, you may need to use a cane in the hand opposite the affected hip. Some nutritional supplements may also provide some relief. These include ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil® acetaminophen (Tylenol® or mild combination narcotics (Tylenol® with codeine). The first treatment your doctor may recommend is to take prescription or over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medications. The articular cartilage becomes damaged and, over time, causes hip pain and stiffness. A hip fracture can cause a condition known as avascular necrosis. Traumatic arthritis can follow a serious hip injury or fracture. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed, produces too much synovial fluid, and damages the articular cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness. The bones then rub against each other, causing hip pain and stiffness. In this form of the disease, the articular cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip wears away. It may be caused or accelerated by subtle irregularities in how the hip developed. Osteoarthritis usually occurs after age 50 and often in an individual with a family history of arthritis. Patients with arthritis may also have brittle bones (osteoporosis). Some bone diseases may contribute to the development of hip arthritis. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and traumatic arthritis are the most common forms of this disease. Arthritis slowly develops over a period of years. The most common cause of hip pain is arthritis which is the result of lifelong wear and tear, previous injury, or mechanical abnormalities related to how the hip developed. Unfortunately, some people develop chronic hip pain. Normally, all of these parts of your hip work in harmony, allowing you to move easily and without pain. In a healthy hip, this membrane makes a small amount of fluid that lubricates and almost eliminates friction in your hip joint. A thin, smooth tissue called synovial membrane covers all remaining surfaces of the hip joint. The bone surfaces of your ball and socket have a smooth durable cover of articular cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones and enables them to move easily. Bands of tissue called ligaments connect the ball to the socket and provide stability to the joint. It consists of two main parts: a ball (femoral head) at the top of your thigh bone (femur) that fits into a rounded socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis. The hip is one of your body's largest weight-bearing joints. More than 90 percent of hip replacements last for 10 years or more. Patients who undergo hip replacement are typically 60 to 75 years old. As the population ages over the next decade, this procedure is expected to become even more common. Today, more than 193,000 total hip replacements are performed each year in the United States. Since then, improvements in joint replacement surgical techniques and technology have greatly increased the effectiveness of this surgery. By replacing your diseased hip joint with an artificial joint, hip replacement surgery can relieve your pain, increase motion, and help you get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.įirst performed in 1960, hip replacement surgery is one of the most important surgical advances of the last century. If medications, changes in your activity level, and the use of walking aids such as a cane are not helpful, you may want to consider hip replacement surgery. If your hip has been damaged by arthritis, fracture, or other conditions, common activities such as walking, putting on your socks and shoes, or getting out of a chair can be painful and difficult.
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