Our hips handle an immense amount of stress and strain over the years, and when coupled with poor posture or unfortunate genetics, you could find that you’re in need of a hip replacement. But what type of symptoms suggest that you may be an ideal candidate for hip replacement surgery? In today’s blog, we explore five signs that suggest you could benefit from a hip replacement procedure.
Who Can Benefit From A Hip Replacement Procedure
If you are dealing with one or more of the following issues, you should have a conversation with your primary care provider or a hip replacement specialist like Dr. Botero.
- Chronic Hip Pain – If every step is uncomfortable or painful, you may stand to benefit from a hip replacement procedure. Of course, hip pain does not automatically mean that you need to have your hip joint replaced, but pain tends to be the most obvious sign that there is an issue with your hip that warrants attention. Pain doesn’t always mean you’re due for a hip replacement, but almost all patients who end up undergoing a hip replacement procedure cite pain or discomfort as their reason for pursuing the operation. If you have hip pain when sitting or walking, consult with a professional.
- Decreased Quality Of Life – Another common reason that patients cite as to why they pursued hip replacement surgery is because hip dysfunction was decreasing their quality of life. If you’re regularly in pain, of course your quality of life is going to take a hit, but it’s not always about pain. If issues with your hip are keeping you from pursuing certain activities you once enjoyed, you owe it to yourself to have a conversation with your doctor about whether or not hip replacement surgery could get you back to doing all of these activities.
- Stiffness And Swelling – When you lay down at the end of the day, do you notice that your hip is sore, swollen or stiff? All of these symptoms could indicate that normal daily motions are putting excessive strain on the supportive soft tissues in your hip joint. A hip replacement procedure may be able to restore normal range of motion and reduce swelling and stiffness that makes life uncomfortable.
- Instability – Does your hip feel unstable during certain motions? Are you feeling unsteady on your feet? Not only is hip instability uncomfortable, but it could lead to a major injury if you end up falling. If instability is coupled with other symptoms on this list, be sure to reach out to your doctor.
- Unresponsive To Conservative Care – Finally, while all of the above symptoms suggest that you may benefit from a hip replacement procedure, that’s unlikely to be your first treatment option. There’s a good chance that you’ll find noticeable improvement in symptoms and overall discomfort by pursuing some simple non-operative treatment techniques like exercise, physical therapy, weight loss and posture improvements. However, if you pursue weeks of conservative care and don’t notice any improvement in symptoms, or symptoms actually become more severe, then it may be time to discuss your surgical options.
Dr. Botero and his team would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about your hip issue or a hip replacement procedure. For more information, give his office a call today at (865) 558-4444.
