Do you also have hip pain or stiffness? Are you tired of the pain that comes from your hip when you get up from a chair, climb stairs, or even walk normally? Perhaps you have seen your mother, father, or an older relative have such difficulties. When the pain in this hip joint increases day by day and becomes so severe that you cannot perform daily activities, the doctor may have told you about a "Hip Replacement" surgery. So let's talk about this simply and kindly today.
Simply put, what is hip replacement surgery?
This is actually surgery. Doctors call it Hip Arthroplasty . In this procedure, your orthopedic surgeon removes your damaged, worn-out hip joint, or parts of it, and replaces it with an artificial joint, called a prosthesis .
Think of our hip joint as a hinge on a door. Over time, this hinge rusts and wears out, making it difficult to open and close a door. When our hip joint wears out, it becomes difficult to walk or bend our legs. So this surgery is like removing that old, worn-out hinge and putting in a new one.
This surgery is usually performed on people over the age of 50. However, sometimes younger people also have to undergo this surgery due to accidents or other medical conditions.
There are two main types of this surgery.
Depending on your condition, your doctor will decide what type of surgery you need.
| Type of surgery | What happens is simple. |
|---|---|
| Total Hip Replacement | This is the most common type. Here, your entire hip joint is removed and an artificial one is inserted. This means that both the ball-like part of the thigh bone (the femoral head) and the hip socket (the acetabulum) are replaced. |
| Partial Hip Replacement | This is a somewhat rare procedure. Only part of the hip joint is replaced. For example, it is only done in special cases, such as a hip fracture. |
Who needs this surgery?
If your hip pain is interfering with your daily life to the point where you can't do your daily activities, this surgery may be right for you. However, doctors don't immediately recommend surgery. They will try other treatments first.
Remember, surgery is always a last resort. Before that, things like painkillers, physical therapy, and using a cane are tried.
The main reason for needing this surgery is arthritis . There are several main types of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis: A common condition caused by wear and tear of the joints as we age.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: A disease caused by the body's own immune system attacking the joints.
- Psoriatic Arthritis: A joint inflammation that occurs with the skin disease psoriasis.
In addition, the hip joint may be damaged for other reasons and require surgery.
- Osteonecrosis: Bone death due to loss of blood supply to the bone.
- Accidents: Severe injuries, such as a car accident or fall.
- Other conditions that occur in the hip joint include benign tumors or cancer.
- Hip Dysplasia: Deformities of the hip joint that occur at birth.
What happens before the surgery?
After deciding on the day for surgery, your doctor will examine you carefully. He will ask about your symptoms and check your range of motion in your hip joint. You should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even vitamins.
You will need to do several tests:
- Hip X-ray: See how much wear there is in the joint.
- Blood tests: Know the general health status of the body.
- Urine test.
- Maybe an MRI or CT scan .
- An ECG test to check the functioning of the heart.
All of this is done to determine how ready your body is for surgery.
What happens during the surgery?
The surgery usually takes about one to two hours. This surgery is often performed without putting you completely to sleep, but with a regional anesthesia/spinal block. This means you won't feel any pain, but you will be awake.
The surgeon removes damaged bone and cartilage and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal, plastic, or ceramic.
What happens after the surgery?
Most of the time, you can go home the same day after this surgery (outpatient surgery). Some people have to stay in the hospital for about a day. After the surgery, you will see a physiotherapist who will teach you exercises to do, how to walk, and things to be careful about.
How long does it take to heal?
This varies from person to person, but it can usually take several months (about 6-12 weeks) before the hip is fully healed and you can use it without any restrictions.
- Day One: Within 24 hours of surgery, you may even be able to walk with the help of a physical therapist.
- The first few weeks: You will need to use a walker or crutches to help you walk. You will be taught simple exercises to do at home.
- After a few months: Your hip gradually becomes stronger, your range of motion increases, and the pain is almost completely gone.
The most important thing is physical therapy . It is essential for a speedy recovery to follow the instructions given by the doctor and physical therapist exactly. You need to do the exercises correctly without getting bored.
What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?
| Benefits | Risks - (These happen rarely) |
|---|---|
|
|
These risks are very low, and your doctor will take the necessary steps to prevent them.
How long does this artificial joint last?
The artificial hip joints used today are of very high quality. In most cases, they last for 15-20 years or even a lifetime without any problems. Therefore, the need for re-operation is very rare.
Take-Home Message
- Hip replacement surgery is a very successful and safe surgery. It will relieve your pain and make your life much easier.
- This is not something that can be done all at once. Other treatments are tried first.
- Your speedy recovery after surgery depends on you . It is essential to do the exercises given by the physical therapist exactly and without getting bored.
- If you experience severe pain, swelling, redness, or drainage from the wound after surgery, notify your doctor immediately.
- This surgery does not cure arthritis, but it completely eliminates the symptoms of the disease, such as pain and stiffness in the hip joint.
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