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. Once people have hip pain that affects their daily lives - climbing stairs, getting up froma chair, difficulty walking - it's time for a consulatation. 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.

The newer operations, called miminally invasive surgeries, no longer require incisions of 6-9 inches, which were necessary in the past. Now, relatively small incisions, about 3 inches, are made. And smaller instrumenst to use during surgery have been designed. 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 also are 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 bone, the head of the femur is reshaped, and a cap is placed on it. That fits into a socket, similar to those used with other hip-replacement surgeries. Women, especially those over 55, face a higher risk than men of fracture near the top of the thigh bone from hip resurfacing.

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 crutch or cane 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.

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. Some patients can get by with over the counter acetaminophen. But most people need something stronger, like Vicodin for about a month afterward. How fast you heal depends on your health. If you don't have other conditions, like diabetes, recovery is usually quicker. As you build new muscle and the replacement area firms up, you can do more.

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.

source: www.lifescript.com