Hip Pain
Hip Pain can be local, due to damage to the bones, ligaments, joint capsule, muscles and tendons associated with the hip joint, or it can be referred from the lumbar spine therefore you doctor should rule out a referred source of hip pain.
Hip pain is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as joint stiffness, decreased range of motion in all planes and locking of the joint.
If there is severe hip pain in the middle aged to elderly, associated with arthritis or avascular necrosis affecting daily activities such as gardening or going to the market and not relieved by pain medications, then a Total Hip Replacement may be right for you.
In order to properly diagnose you, if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, your doctor will take a detailed history and do a thorough physical examination. Your doctor will also do investigations such as Blood tests, X-rays, CT scan, MRI, etc. to confirm the diagnosis or underlying cause for your symptoms.
The hip joint is susceptible to wear and tear as we age. The most common cause for hip pain is arthritis affecting the hips, hip fracture, avascular necrosis, and lumbrosacral radiculopathy.
If you are moderately active (do gardening, take walks or jog) and the diagnosis is severe arthritis not amenable to analgesics, weight loss and physiotherapy, then your doctor may recommend a total hip replacement (THR) or total hip arthroplasty. The THR is aimed at removing the worn hip socket and ball and replace with smooth artificial prosthesis which help to restore flexibility and relieve pain.
For younger, more active people needing a hip replacement there is a high chance that a traditional hip replacement will wear out during their lifetime and need to be replaced again. A second replacement (called a revision) is much more difficult.
The complication rates for a THR are very small and patients can do their part to keep complications rates low by following their doctor’s instructions before and after surgery. Possible risks or complications associated with anaesthesia, include respiratory or cardiac malfunction. There are also risks associated with the surgical procedure itself and these include
- Infection requiring antibiotics and in some cases hospitalization. Infection can sometimes occur around the hip joint years after the surgery.
- Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), which can dislodge and move to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
- Injury to nerves or blood vessels.
- Fracture or dislocation of the new hip joint may necessitate additional surgeries. With time - sometimes as long as 15 years - the artificial joint will loosen and revision surgery will become necessary.