Hip replacement surgery is a process to remove the painful hip joint. We replace the hip suffering from arthritis with an artificial joint made from plastic and metal components.
It is mainly the last option for doctors when other treatments cannot reduce the pain. The procedure releases all the pain from the hip joint and makes it easy to walk.
Keep reading to understand why you need hip replacement surgery and if it’s a painful treatment.
Why is it carried out?
It sometimes becomes necessary to go through a hip replacement procedure because of conditions like:
Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis mainly develops because of an overactive immune system. RA produces inflammation that can destroy cartilage and occasionally underlying bone, leading to damaged joints.
Osteonecrosis: If there is insufficient blood flow into the hip joint balls, it may cause dislocation or fracture. As a result, it may collapse or deform.
Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis mainly arises as a cause of continuous wear and tear and is the most common diagnosis for joint pain, amounting to 68%, according to a study. It damages the slick cartilage that wraps the bones end and helps the joints to move freely.
If you have such a condition and no other treatment option works, your doctor might suggest hip replacement surgery.
Is it safe to go through hip replacement surgery?
It’s been several years since the hip replacement surgery was first discovered and has improved over time. However, like any other surgery, hip replacement also has some risks. After going through the surgery, you are not allowed to move for a few days, mainly because of the chance of blood clots.
Your doctor will also try to prevent a blood clot condition by giving your blood thinners. Additionally, there is also a chance of bleeding or growing infection as a side effect of general anaesthesia.
Every surgery has some after-pain effect, and hip replacement surgery is no different. However, the extent of pain is not extreme. Also, the doctor will prescribe short-term pain relief medicines after the surgery. These medications will help you manage the pain like opioids, NSAIDs, local anaesthetics, and acetaminophen.
You may also have stitches or staples sutures beneath your skin or running around your wound. However, they will get removed approximately 2 weeks after surgery. So you must make sure to avoid any condition that may lead to the wound getting wet until it’s wholly dried and sealed.
Have queries or concern ?
What happens after the surgery?
After you have successfully gone through the surgery, you will be asked to stay in the hospital for a period of four to six days. Besides, you will have to stay in bed all day with a wedge-shaped cushion under your legs to keep the new joint in place.
Moreover, to avoid frequent walking to the bathroom, the staff will connect a drainage tube to your bladder. The doctors may also advise you to start physical therapy after a couple of days has passed. The treatment mainly includes crutches, a walker, or a crane which you have to continue for at least a month.
How long do the results last?
When hip replacement surgery was initially performed in the 1970s, it was believed that artificial joints could not last for more than ten years. But now, as the science has advanced, a study says that around 58% of the patients have their hip replacement surgery last for about 25 years. So you don’t need to be worried about going through it all over again. Also, if the joint does suffer from damage, you can cure it with the help of surgery. However, the surgery is much more complicated than the original one.
Conclusion
If you are suffering from a hip joint problem due to RA, OA or osteonecrosis, it is a high chance that the doctor will recommend hip replacement surgery. This is because the surgery will help you get rid of the pain, and also, the pain related to surgery is mild, which generally recovers in just a few days.
If you are dealing with hip joint pain, consult our hip joint experts today. You can also book an appointment to consult our experts directly.
For a quick response to all your queries, do call us.
