The most common reason that someone undergoes hip replacement surgery is to address pain or an altered gait. However, fixing pain and restoring a normal walking pattern aren’t the only benefits of a hip replacement operation. There are a number of little known benefits of the replacement procedure. In today’s blog, we shine a spotlight on five little known benefits of hip replacement surgery.
Oft-Overlooked Benefits Of A Hip Replacement
Could a hip replacement operation solve or back pain or save your marriage? Read on to learn about some of the overlooked benefits associated with a hip replacement operation.
- Bye Bye Back Pain – If your hip joint has seen better days, oftentimes it is your back that ends up handling extra stress as your gait changes. A recent study found that more than 80 percent of people who reported back pain prior to their hip replacement operation saw their discomfort decrease or vanish after their procedure. Take a load off your spine by having your hip joint replaced.
- Happy Wife, Happy Life – A hip replacement operation can help your spouse feel less like a caregiver and more like a partner, which helps their mental health. They also tend to be happier when their spouse is in less pain after a hip replacement operation. A successful hip replacement can help bring happiness to both you and your spouse.
- Independence – A hip replacement operation often helps the patient regain some independence and in turn see a positive increase in their quality of life. Nobody wants to feel like a burden or incapable of tasks they used to be able to perform, and a hip replacement operation can help you get back to doing the things you love.
- Weaning Off Pain Medications – As you get older and likely begin to take daily or weekly medication for your health, it can start to feel normal to have a daily pill regimen. While a hip replacement operation won’t resolve your need to take a Vitamin D supplement, it can decrease daily pain and in turn lower or eliminate your reliance on painkillers. Pain medications can have harmful side effects and can lose their effectiveness if taken long-term, so any procedure that reduces your need to take painkillers is beneficial for your health.
- Save You Money – Obviously a hip replacement operation will come with a bill, but what doctors and patients often overlook is the money the operation can save you over time. With a successful surgery and rehab, you can eliminate the need for long-term physical therapy, repeated visits to the doctor, in-home health services, assistive devices like walkers or a wheelchair and more. There are so many additional costs associated with a deteriorating hip joint that can be avoided by having the joint replaced.
For more information, or to talk to a hip specialist to see if an operation may be right for you, reach out to Dr. Botero’s office today.
