If you’re dealing with hip pain, you know the toll it can take on your life — suddenly, simple activities like climbing stairs, bending over to tie your shoes, and even walking through a grocery store become painful chores you need to contend with.
Unfortunately, chronic hip pain is common and it becomes more common with age. The good news: Today’s modern hip replacement surgery offers real relief for many people suffering from debilitating pain. In fact, more than half a million surgeries are performed each year in the United States.
At Powell Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Thomas E. Powell, MD, and his team help every patient find just the right solution for their hip pain. In this post, learn why chronic hip pain happens and how to tell if hip replacement surgery could finally help you feel and function like you want to.
Most of us have occasional hip discomfort, often after a long day on our feet or after strenuous physical activity. Discomfort also tends to be more common if a relatively sedentary lifestyle is disrupted by a sudden burst of activity, putting extra strain on muscles and ligaments that aren’t used to physical strain. In these instances, hip pain typically clears up with a little rest, sometimes accompanied by hot and cold therapy or gentle stretching.
Chronic hip pain is different. This is the kind of hip pain and stiffness that’s persistent, flaring up with even simple activities like climbing stairs, brief walking, bending, or even getting up from a chair.
Chronic hip pain is often associated with osteoarthritis, occurring when wear and tear take their toll on the joint, wearing down the protective layer of cartilage that helps your joint move smoothly and without pain. Persistent pain and stiffness can also be caused by problems like prior fractures, infections, or injuries in your hip, leg, or pelvis, as well as inflammatory arthritis or other degenerative conditions.
It’s important to note that some chronic hip pain may not be directly related to the hip at all, but rather caused by nerves in your lower back. Sciatica is a common type of spine-related pain that can cause pain in your hip, too. A comprehensive examination with diagnostic imaging can help determine the underlying cause to make sure you receive the best and most appropriate treatment.
Like any invasive surgery, hip surgery is rarely the first option considered for treating pain and other symptoms. In most cases, Dr. Powell recommends conservative therapies, like medication, physical therapy, or joint injections as first-line therapies.
For some people, these conservative approaches provide long-term, meaningful relief. But for others, conservative therapies fall short, offering only minor, temporary improvement or no improvement at all. That’s when it may be time to consider hip replacement surgery.
Generally speaking, surgery could be a good choice for you if you have persistent, debilitating pain that significantly affects your mobility and your daily activities. It may also be worth considering if your pain affects your emotional wellness and your overall quality of life, especially if your hip pain has forced you to limit or give up activities you enjoy.
While there’s no “ideal” age for hip replacement surgery, you should also be in good general health — healthy enough to undergo surgery and participate in rehabilitation therapy afterward. You also need to be ready and able to commit to rehab, which plays an essential role not only in healing, but in restoring lost function in your joint.
Hip replacement surgery can be a life-changing experience for many people whose lives have been limited by painful symptoms. That said, the surgery itself is a major procedure, and recovery can take some time.
The best way to decide if surgery is the right choice for you is to schedule an evaluation so we can find out what’s causing your pain and develop a treatment plan squarely focused on your individual needs and goals. To schedule your own evaluation, request an appointment online or over the phone with Powell Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, today.
