Hip pain can vary from mild to very severe and the pain can come on either gradually or very suddenly. Hip pain can have a huge impact on the quality of your life and wellbeing.
If you have the following signs then you may need a hip replacement:
1. You have severe pain in your hip joint – this may be felt anywhere between the hip and the knee but most often it is just localised to the groin area. The pain may be just an ache or a sharp pain during or after exercise. This pain may continue even when resting.
One of the signs may be that you begin to walk with a limp or need a walking stick and require regular painkillers.
2. You have stiffness in the hip joint – with difficulty putting on your shoes or socks and often stiffness when getting up from sitting for a period.
3. Your mobility is greatly reduced – your hip pain can reduce the amount of physical activity you are able to do and even everyday tasks, such as shopping, getting dressed, driving, or getting out of the bath, may become difficult.
4. Non-surgical options no longer help – nonsurgical treatments such as medication, physiotherapy, and the use walking aids no longer help alleviate the pain.
5. Your quality of life is reduced – your hip pain is so severe that it interferes with your quality of life. It can be difficult to sleep, to work, to enjoy hobbies and activities, or to have a normal social life.
What do these signs and symptoms indicate?
These signs and symptoms indicate that your hip joint is worn or damaged for whatever reason and that you may benefit from hip replacement surgery.
Most common cause is osteoarthritis but it can be rheumatoid arthritis, a hip fracture, septic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and bone growth disorders,
How do I get a diagnosis for hip replacement surgery?
Your GP will refer you for an Xray to confirm the diagnosis and then may suggest a short course of physiotherapy to alleviate the symptoms. If the pain is very severe they will refer you on to a hip specialist who will decide if it is the right time to do a hip replacement.
The hip specialist may request an x-ray or MRI scan to determine the condition of your hip and to see if a hip replacement or other non-surgical treatment options are recommended. They will also talk through the benefits and disadvantages of having or delaying hip replacement surgery taking into consideration your age, general health, your lifestyle and the amount of activity you would normally do.
What is hip replacement surgery?
A hip replacement is major surgery and so your doctor will generally try other measures first such as painkillers, physiotherapy and/or walking aids, or steroid injections into your hip joint before deciding with to go ahead with a replacement.
Hip replacement surgery involves removing your damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint made of metal, plastic or ceramic. This surgery typically takes around 60 to 90 minutes to complete and is performed under general anaesthetic or an epidural.
Extracts from Berkshire Independent Hospital