WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY

When a hip joint is damaged by arthritis, the pain can be unbearable. That's the time to talk to an orthopedic surgeon about hip replacement. Close to 200,000 Americans choose this joint pain treatment every year. The success rate is high: Only about 2% of patients have surgical complications such as joint infection. Hip replacement is one of the safest surgeries. Now it's getting even safer. Incisions are smaller, recovery time faster, and there are more surgical options to choose from. The newer operations, called minimally invasive surgeries, no longer require incisions of 6-9 inches. Now, relatively small incisions of about 3 inches are made. These techniques cut through less muscle and soft tissue, so recovery time is faster. Not only is the surgery less invasive, but pain-management methods are also safer. More surgeons use spinal anesthesia, which numbs from the waist down, instead of general anesthesia.

Another less-invasive joint pain treatment is hip resurfacing, which has fewer post-operative limits. Instead of cutting away the bone, the head of the femur is reshaped and a cap is placed onit. This fits into a socket, similar to those used with other hip-replacement surgeries. Good hip-resurfacing candidates are under 50, have good bone quality and participate in athletic activities.

In traditional approaches to total hip replacement surgery, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage, then places a metal stem with a ball on top into the center of the femur. A metal socket fits into the hop bone you were born with, allowing the ball to move. The socket's liner can be made out of plastic, metal or ceramic.

Most hip replacement patients are hospitalized for about three days. A day after surgery, a physical therapist reviews precautions for the next six weeks. Plan on using a cane or crutch for the first 4-6 weeks. You may also have to give up work for one month to six months or more, depending on job activity. Most people with desk jobs can return to work in a month or so. And forget driving, which is one of the worst hip positions. You should plan to have someone drive you around for several months. The therapist will also ask you to avoid crossing your legs until the replacement sets solidly in place. From day 1, you will be doing a lot of exercises. Some patients may work with a physical therapist at home. At about six weeks, most patients return to the surgeon for x-rays to see how they are healing. The doctor may prescribe outpatient physical therapy for 6-8 weeks. Three months is typical for good recovery, but most full recovery takes a year.

Your arthritis pain will likely be gone right after total hip replacement surgery, but you may have surgical pain for two to four weeks. How bad it will be is tough to estimate. How fast you heal depends on your health. If you haven't moved your hips for years before surgery, you may never return to a full range of motion. It's not just the hip but the muscles around it that are affected. If they haven't been used, they atrophy.

Hip replacement is hardly fun, but the results can be. Most people can't believe the pain is gone. They can start doing things that they haven't been able to do for years. Most people see progress every week after surgery. Most hip replacement patients can't return to high-impact sports like running, but they can play golf and do yoga.

source: www.lifescript.com