Your hip has been bothering you. It’s difficult to climb the stairs and even sit down in a chair. You’ve tried all of the conservative treatments like medication, injections, and physical therapy. You know you have arthritis. Is it time for a hip replacement?
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons with Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine perform many hip replacements every year. The operation helps our patients regain range of motion and enjoy a better quality of life. The following are signs that it’s time for a hip replacement.
Does your hip hurt every time you move the joint? Living with chronic pain can lead to a lack of quality sleep. Feeling constantly fatigued often leads to depression.
If you’ve had to give up favorite activities or sports, your overall mood may darken to the point that you can’t take pleasure in everyday life.
Modern medicine has made hip replacements a routine operation. You’ll join millions of others who have had hip replacements and now lead active lives.
If you’ve had arthritis for several years, the cartilage that cushions your hip bones may have deteriorated to the point that you’re bone-on-bone, which reduces the protective layer between the ball and socket.
An X-ray shows whether your cartilage has worn away. If you’re bone-on-bone, the only effective option for pain relief is a hip replacement.
Is it hard to get up from a chair or sit down because you’re in pain when you move your hip? Perhaps going up and down stairs is a real challenge. If this describes you, you’re at increased risk for a fall.
Perhaps you’re using a cane or a walker now rather than walking independently. It may be difficult to drive because it hurts to get in a car. You don’t have to live with hip pain that diminishes your quality of life.
Your hip pain causes you to bear more weight on the leg that’s not affected. Limping can cause joint pain in your “good” leg, along with poor balance. Your posture is also impacted, which can move your body out of balance.
Have you had cortisone injections and gone to physical therapy to try to resolve your hip pain? Perhaps you’ve been attempting one pain medication after another.
If pain medications don’t work well enough to allow you to engage in normal daily activities, it’s time to consider a hip replacement.
Call Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine or request an appointment through our online portal today if you have hip pain that interferes with your daily life.
