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O r t h o p e d ı c s
GET HIP TO
A NEW HIP
Surgery may be your best
option for chronic pain
WHEN YOU’RE LIVING
with a painful hip, there’s a
good chance you’re not really living. It may be hard
to stand, walk or even bend over to tie your shoes.
The more challenging these simple tasks become,
the harder it may be to do activities you enjoy.
If this describes your life, then it may be time
to learn about hip replacement surgery.
WHY DOES IT HURT?
Most painful hips are
caused by arthritis, which damages the bone and
cartilage in the hip. But other conditions, such as
a fracture or a tumor or poor blood supply to the
bone, may also be to blame.
To help hurting hips, doctors typically first
recommend things like medications, exercise or
physical therapy. But if those treatments don’t ease
the pain, then surgery is a safe and effective option.
Most people who have had a hip replaced re-
port that the surgery made them feel better and
improved their quality of life.
HOW DOES SURGERY HELP?
Hip replacement
surgery is performed with either regional or gen-
eral anesthesia. It may involve a traditional open
procedure or minimally invasive techniques.
The open procedure usually involves a
6- to -inch incision on the side of the hip. Mini-
mally invasive procedures use smaller incisions
and specialized tools.
Even though there are some advantages to mini-
mally invasive hip replacements—smaller incisions
typically translate into a shorter recovery time,
for example—these surgeries tend to work best
in young, healthy people who aren’t overweight.
In both an open and minimally invasive pro-
cedure, the surgeon removes the damaged bone
tissue and cartilage from the hip joint. He or she
then replaces the head of the femur (the thigh bone)
and the acetabulum—the socket in the pelvis where the
femur sits—with metal, plastic or ceramic parts.
The surgeon decides which material is best to use and
whether the parts will be cemented in or left so that bone
can grow in around them.
Hip replacement surgery typically lasts an hour or two.
And most people remain in the hospital for several days.
Medication can help with the pain right after surgery and
during recovery, which may take about six months. Physi-
cal therapy to help regain strength is often recommended.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you’ve been dealing with hip
pain that’s interfering with your life and isn’t getting bet-
ter with other treatments, ask your doctor if hip replace-
ment surgery is a good choice for you.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes of Health
We can make your new hip
happen. To schedule an appointment
at the Shannon Orthopedic
Center, call
- -
.
Too young for a new hip?
If you’re younger than 60 and have chronic hip pain, you
don’t have to wait years for relief.
Surgeons used to be reluctant to offer hip replacement
to people under 60. They were concerned that younger
people, who tend to be more active than older ones, would
put more stress on the prosthetic joint and cause it to
wear out faster.
But you don’t have to put up with the pain. When it
comes to hip replacement surgery, your overall health and
activity level are more important considerations than your
age, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
And advances in medical technology have led to
replacements that are better and more durable than older
versions, the NIH reports.
WE’VE GOT
YOUR BACK
Tests can help reveal the
source of your back pain
A LOT CAN GO WRONG
with a complex struc-
ture such as your spine.
And when your lower back hurts, it may be
bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves
that are involved. It may take some examination
and investigation by your doctor to find out just
what’s wrong.
Lower back pain can be triggered by something
as simple as bending or reaching or by lifting
something heavy. It may also be related to being
overweight, smoking, sleeping in the wrong posi-
tion or having too much stress.
Kids may get back pain from an overloaded
backpack. Older folks may hurt from changes in
the disks between bones in the spinal column. A
bulging disk can put pressure on nerves in the
spinal cord. A dried-out disk may be an ineffective
shock absorber leading to pain.
Sometimes the spinal canal narrows, putting
pressure on nerve roots inside the canal. And
sometimes spinal pain is brought on by arthritis,
abnormal curving of the spine or a fracture caused
by osteoporosis.
PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM
A physical ex-
amination can help pinpoint affected areas of
the spine. Your doctor will check for sensation,
strength and reflexes in various parts of your body.
Tell your doctor which motions or positions
hurt and what seems to help relieve your back pain.
If the pain source is not obvious, your doctor
may recommend one or more of the following:
●
X-rays to check bones for wear, breaks or dis-
ease. A myelogram requires injection of a special
dye before the x-ray is taken.
●
A CT (computed tomography) scan to check
for a disk rupture, spinal narrowing or damage
to vertebrae.
●
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to look
for damage to soft tissue, disks and nerves. MRI
is also very good at showing infection, tumors
and fractures.
●
An electromyogram and nerve conduction
studies to find out if the nerve roots and muscles are
working properly.
●
Discography to identify damaged disks.
●
A bone scan to check for infection, fracture or other
bone disorders.
●
An ultrasound to look for tears in ligaments, muscles
and tendons.
ON THE MEND
Depending on your case, your doctor
may prescribe bed rest for one or two days.
You may also be advised to:
●
Apply hot and cold compresses.
●
Exercise to strengthen muscles.
●
Take medicines to reduce pain.
In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes of Health
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