Signs you need a hip replacement
Wear and tear of the hip joints may seem like an inevitable part of aging, but the excruciating pain that comes with it feels far from natural.
Sufferers are robbed of sleep and the activities they love; they can also grow reliant on anti-inflammatory medication that can have longterm effects on digestion.
Worse still is being reliant on strong pain killers like opioids which can have serious effects on health and can be addictive.
Here Kenan Dehne, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Emersons Green, looks at the signs it could be time for a hip replacement.
There are a number of tell-tale signs that the usual aches and pains of aging could be more worrying.
As joint cartilage wears away, bones begin to rub against each other, causing both damage and pain. As surgeons, here are some of the signs we look for that indicate surgery may be necessary:
Persistent or recurring pain in your hip over a period of time, or pain which may also flare up in rainy weather or changes in temperature. It is worthwhile noting that hip pain is felt in the groin towards the side of your hip;
Aching in your hip during and after exercise, with progressively limited hip motion or degree of bend in the joint;
■ Increasing immobility such as difficulty getting in and out of chairs, walking or climbing stairs or doing own shoes;
■ A ‘grating’ feeling in the hip joint; ■ Stiffness in the hip joint when you get out of bed;
Continual pain even with medication and using a cane, and pain that keeps you awake at night;
Unexplained pain elsewhere, such as in the knees or groin.
The good news is that surgery to replace joints these days is much simpler than it was in the past.
Keyhole surgery together with regional block anaesthetics means that not only are scars and bruising minimal, but there is no ‘hangover’ from a general anaesthetic. In fact, many people can leave hospital the next day.
We recommend hip replacement surgery for patients who are in so much pain that it interferes with everyday living, such as walking, driving and getting dressed, because a new hip joint can not only relieve pain but also improve function, increase mobility and contribute to a better quality of life.
And, on average, a modern artificial hip will last for at least 15 years, giving you lots of time to do the things you love.
A pre-operative assessment is our opportunity to ensure the procedure is right for you.
We’ll explain your treatment and you’ll meet the team and have the opportunity to ask any questions, all on the day that you have your tests, cutting down on unnecessary trips.
Now there are three ways to receive the same high-quality care – as an NHS patient, as an insured patient or, when treatment is not available on the NHS or you want to receive treatment more quickly, as a self-pay patient.
To find out more about your treatment options visit www.emersonsgreenhospital.nhs.uk/bristolpost or call 01179 061 800.