If every move you make throughout the day is wrought with pain in your hip area, you should see a skilled orthopedic doctor for an evaluation. If the physician says that conventional, nonsurgical methods of treatment will not help your condition, then it may be time to consider getting a hip replacement.
Some people suffer from arthritis in the hip or even osteoporosis, and these conditions can make each day feel harder than the previous day. If your orthopedic surgeon recommends hip surgery, then a prosthetic hip should allow you to return to your normal lifestyle again.
Why Would I Need a New Hip?
There are many reasons why you may need an artificial hip. You may have broken your hip in a fall because of osteoporosis. You may suffer from osteonecrosis, where the bone may deform, collapse, and break due to the lack of a healthy blood supply.
Maybe you have an advanced case of rheumatoid arthritis, and your hip joint has irritation and inflammation that has worn away all the cartilage. This can cause a weakened, deformed hip joint that is about to break at any moment, so a hip replacement can prevent this from occurring.
If these symptoms are familiar:
- Unrelenting hip pain
- Hip pain that worsens when trying to walk
- Pain in the hip when putting full or partial weight on that leg
- Hip pain that keeps you awake at night
- You can only fall asleep on the side of your good hip
- Difficulty going up and down stairs
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position
Then it is a good time to investigate hip replacement surgery as your doctor has recommended.
Signs Your Orthopedic Surgeon Will Look For
A skilled orthopedist will first evaluate your medical history and the medications you are currently taking. The doctor will then likely order certain scans, including:
- Bone density test/bone scan
- MRI
- X-rays
These scans will show the presence (or lack) of fractures in your hip. The scans will also reveal whether your hip joint is losing its protective cartilage and causing arthritis.
What Happens in a Hip Replacement Surgery?
If your surgeon recommends that you have hip surgery, it is now a very straightforward procedure. The surgeon will first remove the damaged sections of your hip joint and then replace them with prosthetic materials. The artificial hip joint is made out of several materials, including metal alloys, ceramic, and medical-grade plastic.
Hip Surgeons in North Dakota
If you are experiencing chronic hip pain or pain in the hip that becomes worse whenever you move, see an experienced orthopedic hip surgeon. The doctor may recommend a partial hip replacement or a full hip replacement; rest assured, most orthopedic surgeons perform this surgery every day.
Once you are fully healed and are following your physical therapist’s instructions, your new hip should work just as your natural hip always has.
If you are ready to do something about that hip pain, contact our friendly team at The Bone & Joint Center Orthopaedic Center of Excellence today. Call us at (800) 424-2663 or request an appointment online, and get that hip treated so you can get back to enjoying life!
