5 Signs You’re Headed Toward Hip Replacement Surgery

5 Signs You’re Headed Toward Hip Replacement Surgery

Is hip pain impacting your everyday life? Do you feel like you’ve exhausted all your other options? Hip replacement surgery might be headed your way, and you won’t be the first. About 400,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States, making it one of the most common joint replacement surgeries. 

Our team at LA Orthopaedic Specialists wants you to know if it’s time to consider hip replacement surgery.

What will a hip replacement accomplish?

A hip replacement surgery is going to be able to give you back your mobility by giving you a whole new hip. This is done by removing all the damaged tissue surrounding the hip joint – from the head of the femur to the socket – is removed. A prosthetic hip joint is then put into place, and these are typically made up of ceramic, metal, and hard plastic.

Signs of readiness for hip surgery

Many health conditions can lead up to the need for hip replacement surgery; even a hip injury can send you towards this treatment option. Osteoarthritis is the most common health reason, but rheumatoid arthritis or avascular necrosis can also be the culprits. Because all of these conditions cause the protective cartilage around your hip to wear down over time, you might eventually find yourself experiencing one or all of the following symptoms that will point you in the direction of surgery.

You experience a lot of stiffness

Your hips help you move up and down, run, jump, and walk. If your hip is stiff, it will become nearly impossible to complete any physical activity with ease. Because of this, getting a brand new hip is going to be a great solution for the stiffness in your hip.

You have pain when you’re not moving

Your hip pain may have gotten to the point where even sitting or lying down can still cause a lot of pain. Sometimes, the pain may even keep you from getting a good night’s rest. If this is the case, surgery could give you the relief you need.

Your hip is damaged

If you’ve fractured your hip or damaged it somehow, due to osteoporosis or another traumatic injury, you will probably need hip surgery to replace it. Even stress fractures in your hip can be serious medical conditions that need to be treated immediately.

Your quality of life is low

Pain in any capacity can keep you from living life to the fullest. If your hip pain keeps you from completing everyday tasks like getting dressed or climbing stairs, you may need to consider a hip replacement.

Other methods aren’t working

Taking pain medications and attending physical therapy regularly are great options for combatting hip pain and stiffness. However, if these methods are no longer working, surgery will probably be your next move.

If you’re fighting against hip pain regularly and are ready to move toward taking back your quality of life, LA Orthopaedic Specialists wants to help you take that next step. You can get more information by calling us at 213-455-8448 or booking an appointment online today.

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