The facts about hip replacements

A hip replacement is a surgical procedure to replace part or all of a damaged hip joint with an artificial substitute.

This type of surgery aims to relieve your pain and restore movement back to your hip joint.

Here are some great facts on what a hip replacement involves.

• Surgery can take between two to three hours.
• A surgeon will remove the damaged areas of the hip.
• Your hip joint will be replaced with a prosthetic ball and socket joint.
• The ball can be made of plastic or metal and is attached to a metal stem. This stem will be joined to your thigh bone while the socket is connected to your pelvis.
• The prosthetic joint will be attached to your bones with a specially formulated glue or cement.
• Two or three days after the surgery you can begin walking with the help of crutches or a frame. However the time it takes for you to recover will depend on your age, health and the strength of your legs.
• Your doctor and a physiotherapist can show you exercises to speed up your recovery and help you walk naturally with the new hip joint.
• After the surgery avoid bending over from the hips, crossing your legs or putting your knees up to your chest to ensure the new joint stays in place.
• Speak to a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist about how to live with your hip replacement to ensure it functions effectively.

If you suspect you need a hip replacement or will be getting a hip replacement in the near future speak to your doctor for more information.

Photo by John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash