Many of us are turning to more physical activities for health and entertainment. We love the idea of walking through beautiful nature scenes, jogging or hiking on serene trails, participating in regular dance and yoga classes, and so much more. But sometimes our enjoyment can be tempered by pain in the hip area.
Hip pain can be caused by any number of factors including aging, arthritis, bursitis, osteoporosis, injury or fractures, repetitive motions, incorrect sleeping position, muscle and ligament conditions, disease and cancer treatment, or skeletal misalignment due to conditions in other areas of your body. When the pain becomes sufficient or makes it difficult to enjoy your normal activities, you might turn to an orthopedic specialist like Huntington Orthopedics for assistance.
When you visit our office with hip pain, we will first perform a complete examination, ask you about your pain levels, and assess your range of motion. We may utilize our in-house MRI to look for any underlying conditions that could be causing your pain. In some cases we might recommend physical therapy or joint injections to determine if they can reduce your pain and restore normal, pain-free functioning. In other cases, though, here are some signs that it might be time for a hip replacement:
One: Severe Pain: If the pain in your hip is so chronic or so intense that it keeps you from walking or performing other activities, our orthopedic surgeon might recommend a hip replacement. In extreme cases, you might even feel pain when not moving at all. Don’t ever think that you should just “learn to live” with pain. While some patients are able to continue performing normal activities while experiencing pain, others may find that it keeps them from enjoying life, and that is simply not necessary.
Two: Other Causes Have Been Ruled Out: In some cases, hip pain is related to problems in the ankle, knee or back that cause uneven weight distribution as you walk. In these cases, we might first work to address the other issues before turning to hip replacement.
Three: Failure to Respond to Other Treatment Methods: Your damage might be so severe that medication, physical therapy, walking assistance aids, or other forms of treatment have not improved your functioning.
Four: Underlying Damage is Too Severe: Arthritis, osteoporosis, or cancer treatment may erode the underlying soft tissues in your hip region to the point where there is only “bone on bone” contact. This is severely painful, and may indicate a need for more aggressive action.
Five: It Affects Your Mood and Social Activities: Dealing with pain or lack of mobility can be a lonely experience. Instead of going out and enjoying life, you may find yourself staying home and “resting” because of your pain. Before you know it, these short rest periods have turned into a way of life. You become more depressed and may turn to medication to alleviate your mental state, while the underlying cause may actually be physical. At this point, you may begin to isolate yourself from family and friends who can provide a crucial emotional support network.
During a hip replacement surgery, our orthopedic surgeon will remove the damaged cartilage and bone in your hip, and replace it with metal, plastic or ceramic pieces that simulate your natural body parts. The goal is to restore comfortable joint movement so you can return to your normal daily activities after a period of recuperation and physical therapy.
Huntington Orthopedics is a leading orthopedic clinic in Pasadena, CA that provides orthopedic services, orthopedic surgery, joint and hip replacements, physical therapy, and MRI services. We offer state-of-the art techniques for the treatment of orthopedic injuries in patients of all ages. Visit our website at http://localhost:10003 or call 626-795-0282 and schedule an appointment to discuss whether it is time for you to get a hip replacement and restore motion for your life.