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David Dodgin, M.D. By David Dodgin, M.D. • April 3, 2018

7 Signs It May Be Time for a Hip Replacement

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Did you ever think about how many times you stand up or sit down during an average day? Probably not. Sitting and standing, walking, climbing stairs, turning around, stooping down - these are all pretty common activities that most of us take for granted. That is, unless you’re suffering from hip arthritis.

Arthritis of the hip is a degenerative disease that occurs when the protective layer of cartilage that lines the hip joint components starts to wear away over time. At first, you might notice some stiffness in your hip, maybe accompanied by some mild discomfort when you move your hips. For those who lead active lifestyles, discomfort and stiffness might be most noticeable during sports like tennis, golf, bicycling or running. Even swimming, long touted for its “gentleness” on most joints, can cause aching and pain in your hips, especially if swimming laps is part of your regular routine.

Over time as the cartilage continues to break down, those symptoms will become more noticeable, and at some point, the pain most likely will become so insistent, you’ll find yourself limiting your activities or even completely avoiding activities you once deeply enjoyed. Finally, even the simplest activities are painful - standing up and sitting down, for instance, or getting into or out of a car - even getting up from the toilet. All of these activities, as commonplace as they are, place some strain on the hips, and when your hip joints are already compromised by arthritis, it’s not surprising the movements will be accompanied by some pain.

The Quality of Life Factor

Of course, everyone has their own limits of what they’re willing to put up with. The problem with arthritis symptoms is that they become gradually worse over time, and as we adapt our own activities to help avoid pain, eventually we may find we’ve given up more than we should have. Maybe we start golfing or playing tennis a little less often. We avoid long hiking or biking trips, or stick to paths that are flat and paved instead of heading to the more “natural” paths. Then, we find we need to give up those activities entirely. At some point, we may even find ourselves relying on friends and family to help us with certain tasks. Our autonomy and our independence are compromised. And that can take a big toll on our sense of self-reliance, not to mention our enjoyment of life.

"The problem with arthritis symptoms is that they become gradually worse over time, and as we adapt our own activities to help avoid pain, we eventually find we've given up more than we should have."

Multiple studies have shown that people who suffer from chronic pain, including pain from hip arthritis, can have a vastly diminished quality of life and even fall victim to depression and pervasive feelings of sadness and hopelessness. The key to avoiding both the physical and emotional tolls of chronic hip pain is to recognize when it’s time to consider hip replacement surgery.

When to Get a Hip Replacement

Because each of us is unique, the answer of when to get a hip replacement will always vary from one person to the next. Some of the most obvious indications that hip replacement surgery could be a good choice include:

  • Chronic pain that won’t go away, even with pain medication
  • Severe pain when using your hips during physical activity, including sports
  • Severe pain when performing routine activities, like chores, climbing stairs or even putting on footwear
  • Pain that persists even when lying down or sitting
  • Pain that’s so severe or pervasive that it interferes with normal daily activities
  • Pain and stiffness that reduce or affect your own independence
  • Feelings of sadness, anger or hopelessness as a result of painful symptoms and/or reduced mobility and reduced independence

Interestingly, for many people, the reluctance to have hip replacement surgery has a lot to do with misconceptions surrounding recovery. Many would-be patients hold back from surgery because they worry about how they’ll be able to cope following their surgery, or how they’ll adapt during the rehabilitation period. The good news is that not only have surgical techniques and implant technology advanced during the past decade, but so has our understanding of how to optimize the post-op recovery period.

Muve Health has created a unique hip replacement program designed specifically to leverage a deep understanding of the individual needs of hip surgery patients during both their surgery and their recovery period, especially during the very early phase of recovery. These initial days and weeks can set the tone for the entire recovery process, and providing patient-centered support, care and guidance during this time can be vitally important for helping patients get back to the activities they enjoy, not to mention helping them maintain their autonomy and independence.

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Take control: Know your options.

Does all hip pain mean you might need hip replacement surgery? No - there are many conditions that can cause pain in or near the hip joints. The key to relieving pain is, of course, to understand what's causing it so your treatment plan can be customized for your needs - now and as they evolve over time. A step in relieving your painful symptoms, regaining your mobility and maintaining your independence is to have your hip symptoms evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon. Someone who specializes in joint reconstruction also has training and experience in evaluation and various treatment options for hip arthritis, including non-replacement and replacement surgical options.

 If you are ready to hear more about the Muve Health program, or you want to learn more about how to take the next step in scheduling a consultation with me or Dr. Henrich, who are affiliated orthopedic specialists practicing Total Joint Replacement at Muve Lakeway ASC, connect with us

 -David Dodgin, M.D.

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*Professional services are provided by indpendent corporations and not by Muve Health.

**This blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.