Do you sometimes have difficulty walking or doing daily tasks with severe pain coming from your hip? Do you feel pain so much that you say "Aah" when getting up from a chair or climbing a flight of stairs? Does your hip joint feel stuck and you are tired of not being able to go on long journeys? We know how difficult it is to live with such problems. So today we are going to talk about hip replacement surgery, which can be a good solution for this.
Simply put, what is hip replacement?
Think of it like putting new tires on our car when they get old and worn out. Our hip joint is one of the main weight-bearing joints in our body. Over time, due to various diseases (especially arthritis), the cartilage in this joint wears down and the bones start to rub against each other. That's when that unbearable pain and stiffness comes.
So, in this surgery, your damaged and worn-out natural hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint, or prosthesis . This is a type of joint replacement surgery.
Who needs this surgery?
Your doctor will usually not immediately recommend surgery. They will first try other treatments, such as painkillers, physical therapy, and using a cane/walker. But if none of these things help your pain, or if it is so severe that you are unable to function in your daily life, your doctor will talk to you about surgery.
You should consider surgery if you have these main symptoms:
- Severe hip pain: Pain that does not subside despite taking medication or resting.
- Joint stiffness: Difficulty in bending or straightening the hip joint. Difficulty in things like putting on shoes and socks, and getting up from a chair.
- Loss of range of motion: The range of things you can do using your hip joint gradually decreases.
- Difficulty walking: Having to walk with a limp or being unable to walk without a walking aid.
The main cause of these conditions is arthritis of the hip joint. Apart from that, this condition can also occur if the hip bone is damaged in an accident.
What types of surgeries are there?
This surgery is performed by an orthopedic surgeon. There are two main types.
| Type of Surgery | Description |
|---|---|
| Total Hip Replacement | This is the most common surgery. Here, your entire hip joint is removed, meaning both the top part of the thigh bone (the ball) and the socket in the hip bone where it fits (the socket) are replaced with artificial parts. |
| Partial Hip Replacement | This is done very rarely. Only the damaged part of the hip joint is replaced. This surgery is usually done in cases of hip fractures or to remove certain cancers. |
How do you prepare before surgery?
Your surgeon will examine you carefully before the surgery. They will ask about your symptoms and how much movement you can get in your hip joint. It is important to tell your doctor about any medications and vitamins you are currently taking.
Your injured hip will be compared to your healthy hip. Your hip will also be moved through different positions to check the strength of the muscles that support your hip and leg.
In addition, you may need to undergo several tests before surgery, such as:
- Blood tests: For example, tests like the Basic Metabolic Panel.
- Hip X-ray:
- Urinalysis:
Sometimes, in addition to X-rays, special tests such as these may be needed:
- CT scan
- MRI scan (MRI)
- EKG test (checks heart function)
What happens during the surgery?
Typically, hip replacement surgery follows these steps:
1. Anesthesia: You will be given anesthesia before the surgery. The most common type of anesthesia is regional anesthesia . This involves numbing a large area of your body, usually below the waist. You will be conscious, but you will not feel any pain. Some people also call this a 'spinal block' .
2. Removing the damaged parts: Next, the surgeon will very carefully remove the damaged bone and cartilage parts of your hip joint.
3. Implantation of the artificial joint: Then, a previously prepared artificial joint (prosthesis) is implanted in that place. These artificial joints are usually made of materials such as metal, plastic, or ceramic.
4. Suturing the wound: After the artificial joint is properly fixed, the surgeon closes the wound with stitches.
The entire procedure usually takes about one to two hours . Your doctor will explain how long it will take in advance, depending on the type of surgery you need.
What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?
In fact, hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgeries to date, so don't be unnecessarily afraid of it.
Benefits:
- Pain relief: Many people experience significant reduction in severe pain and stiffness in their hips after surgery.
- Improved mobility: Once you are fully healed, you will be able to walk, climb stairs, and engage in other physical activities with ease. You can live your life with ease again.
Risks:
As with any surgery, there are some minor risks, but these are very rare.
- Blood clots: Blood clots in the legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis - DVT) or those blood clots traveling to the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism - PE) .
- Infection: Infection at the surgical site.
- Problems with the artificial joint: The implanted joint may become loose or dislocated.
- Joint stiffness: Joint stiffness occurs after surgery.
- Fractures: Breaks in the bone surrounding the artificial joint.
Your medical team will take all necessary steps to minimize these risks.
What happens after the surgery? How is the recovery time?
After the surgery, the anesthesiologist will wait for you to regain consciousness. Most of the time, you can go home the same day (outpatient surgery), or you may need to stay in the hospital overnight.
The amazing thing is, less than 24 hours after surgery, a physical therapist will come and tell you to start simple exercises. They will monitor the strength and flexibility of your legs and hips. They will also check if you can sit up and stand up.
Recovery time varies from person to person. It can take several months to fully recover. Physical therapy is definitely needed for several months.
You should be able to use your hip without major restrictions within 6 to 12 weeks . During this time, you should continue to do exercises that strengthen the muscles around your hip. Gradually, you should learn to climb stairs, bend over, and walk. Over time, your range of motion and strength will return.
People over the age of 70 may take a little longer to recover. But age is not always a factor in determining the speed of recovery. What matters is your dedication and the correctness of the exercises.
What should you not do after surgery?
Your medical team will give you a list of things you can and can't do. These are not permanent restrictions, but only until you are healed.
| Avoid in the Early Recovery Period after surgery | |
|---|---|
| ❌ | Sitting with legs or ankles crossed. |
| ❌ | Driving until cleared by the doctor. |
| ❌ | Pulling the knees above the waist level (deep bending). |
| ❌ | Excessive inward or outward rotation of the legs or ankles. |
How long does this artificial joint last?
This is a problem for many people. In fact, the artificial joints used today last a very long time . Many people have this joint throughout their lives without any problems. It is very rare that they will need to have surgery again in the future. Your surgeon will explain this to you.
When should you call the doctor immediately?
If you experience any of these symptoms when you go home after surgery, call your surgeon immediately.
- Bleeding from a surgical wound or other fluid .
- Discoloration or redness of the skin around the wound.
- Pus draining from the wound (especially if it has a foul odor).
- Severe, unbearable pain .
- Unusual swelling .
Any surgery is a little scary, especially when it involves removing a part of the body and replacing it with an artificial one. But hip replacement surgery is one of the safest, most successful, and most effective surgeries available today. If you're suffering from hip pain or stiffness, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Hip replacement surgery involves replacing a worn-out, damaged hip joint with an artificial joint.
- If you have unbearable hip pain, stiffness, and difficulty walking, this may be the best solution when other treatments have failed.
- This is a very successful and safe surgery today, so don't have any unnecessary fears.
- Physical therapy and exercise are essential for complete recovery after surgery.
- It is very important for a speedy recovery that you follow the instructions given by your doctor and physical therapist exactly.
- If you experience any unusual symptoms (severe pain, swelling, pus oozing from the wound) after surgery, seek medical advice immediately.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න