Relieve Pain With This Hip Replacement Approach
When an injury or disease affects the hip joint’s normal functioning, it can result in pain and limited mobility. Several hip replacement approaches can relieve your pain and restore the hip’s function. Learn what a hip replacement is and the types of treatments a hip specialist offers to help you perform everyday movements without pain.
What Is a Hip Replacement?
A hip replacement — or arthroplasty — is a surgical procedure in which the diseased parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts called a prosthesis. These parts mimic how a normal hip works and can be made of plastic, metal, ceramic, or a combination of these materials. The goals of hip replacement surgery are to improve the hip joint’s function and improve mobility by relieving pain.
The most common reason people have a hip replacement is the wearing down of the hip joint due to osteoarthritis. Other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, and bone tumors may also lead to a breakdown of the hip joint and the need for hip replacement surgery. Additionally, athletes who engage in high impact activities — like running or contact sports — are more susceptible to hip degeneration, making a hip replacement the best treatment option.
Do You Need Surgery?
Your doctor may encourage you to try alternative options before suggesting a hip replacement if you are experiencing hip discomfort. These alternatives include painkillers, maintaining a healthy weight, exercise, or a steroid injection into the hip joint. You may want to consider surgery if you have pain that:
- Worsens with walking
- Persists despite pain medication
- Interferes with your sleep
- Affects your ability to go up or down stairs
- Makes it difficult to rise from a seated position
Keep in mind replacement joints wear out eventually, so the younger you are when you have surgery, the more likely you will need another surgery in the future.
Hip Replacement Treatment
Hip replacements are among the most common treatments performed by orthopedic surgeons. At NY Orthopedics, we specialize in minimally invasive posterior and direct anterior approaches to hip replacements. The most common procedure is a total hip arthroplasty. This involves replacing a worn-out or damaged hip joint after a hip fracture or due to arthritis.
During the surgery, worn-out or damaged sections of the hip are replaced with artificial implants. The socket is replaced with a durable plastic cup, which may include a titanium metal shell. The femur head is then removed and replaced with a ball made from a metal alloy or ceramic. The new ball is attached to a metal stem that is inserted into the top of the femur.
Additionally, our hip specialists also specialize in ambulatory joint replacements at SurgiCare of Manhattan, an affiliate surgery location. Patients are discharged home shortly after surgery avoiding inpatient stays in hospitals and other facilities.
How quickly you recover from hip replacement surgery varies on several factors, such as your overall health and fitness level before surgery. For many people, much of their recovery occurs in the first few months after surgery. Keep in mind that the road to full recovery continues as you get stronger and more active over time.
If you have long struggled with hip pain or have just started to notice a change in hip function, several hip replacement approaches can help you resume a pain-free lifestyle faster. NY Orthopedics is home to some of the top hip specialists in the field. Our “Centers of Excellence” offer top-level orthopedic care for any hip concerns you may have. Make an appointment at one of our locations in New York City to start your healing journey today.
