Total Hip Replacement surgery will make you love your life again

 

Total hip replacement surgery is a common treatment for those with hip arthritis. This article is about how it can change your life for the better even if you took good care of your hips before you had to have them replaced.

What is a total hip replacement

Total hip replacement is a procedure to replace the ball-and-socket joint where the thigh bone meets the hip. A damaged joint can cause pain, decreased range of motion, and instability. The procedure requires general anesthesia, and takes approximately four hours to perform.

Total hip replacement surgery involves removing the damaged parts (the ball and socket) and replacing them with prosthetic components made of metal and plastic. The surgeon makes an incision near the groin, removes the damaged parts of the joint, and replaces them with prostheses. The prostheses are then implanted into the pelvic bones, and attached to the thigh bone and other neighboring joints (e.g., knee or ankle).

Total hip replacements generally improve quality of life for people suffering from hip pain due to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. However, total hip replacement is not without risks--blood clots, infection, reactions to anesthesia, damage to nerves or other soft tissues, dislocation or breakage of implants--and these risks increase with age.''

How will you live your life again after a hip replacement?

If you are reading this now, you may have just gone through total hip replacement. You may be wondering now what will happen to your life. It is a life-changing event, to have both hips replaced, one after another. But it can be an amazing experience as well.

It will take time to adjust to the idea that your new hips are permanent. During that time, you will likely face many challenges and difficulties that will seem unpleasant at the time but which you will ultimately appreciate having overcome. Once you come to accept your new hips as part of your identity, you may find yourself far happier than you were before the surgery.

Most people can expect strong improvements in their abilities to do the things they want or need to do. Most will regain full use of their legs, including walking without assistance if they choose, ability to climb stairs with minimal assistance, ability to perform normal activities of daily living such as dressing and grooming with little assistance if at all, and ability to engage in sports and recreational activities with less fear of injury than before their hip replacements. Your new hips may not be as strong as the original ones were; but then again they don't need to be any more than they need to be for whatever it is that you want or need them for.

Questions to ask your surgeon before having Total Hip Replacement surgery

Before you choose a hip replacement surgeon for your hip replacement, ask them the following questions:

1. How many total hip replacement surgeries have you done?

2. Which prosthetic hip implant do you recommend for me?

3. What are the pros and cons of that implant?

4. What happens if I need to have the same surgery again in the future?

5. Can I walk to my car right after surgery? What physical therapy will I need?

6. How long will it take me to get back to work? Will I be able to drive myself there or will someone else need to drive me?

7. How long will it take me to get back up to full speed of walking around, climbing stairs, etc.?

8. Will I be on pain medication after surgery? Are there any alternatives that don't involve taking pills every day for weeks or months?

9. Are there any exercises or stretches I can do at home after surgery to help with recovery ?

Things to Know Before Having Total Hip Replacement Surgery

If you have been diagnosed with a hip problem, the first thing to do is to try and understand what is going on. You can do this by getting a full physical exam by a doctor who specializes in hips. They will be able to examine your hip and give you a diagnosis.

You will probably learn that you have osteoarthritis. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that OA is the most common form of arthritis. An estimated 27 million Americans live with it as confirmed by their physicians. Another 8 million to 12 million people may have undiagnosed osteoarthritis. It occurs more often in women than men. This is not surprising as women tend to outlive men and the prevalence of OA increases with age.

Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage that protects and cushions joints wears down over time and then gradually disappears, exposing bone ends that rub together to cause pain, stiffness and eventually disability if left untreated.

Remember that your surgeon cannot predict your outcome; only time will tell how successful the surgery has been for you.