Grant Regional | aspire to live well | Fall 2018

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, 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 report that the surgery made them feel better and improved their qual- ity of life. How does hip surgery help? Hip replacement surgery is performed with either regional or general anesthesia. It may involve a traditional open procedure or minimally invasive techniques. The open procedure usually involves a 6- to 8-inch inci- sion on the side of the hip. Minimally invasive procedures use smaller incisions and specialized tools. Even though there are some advantages to minimally 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 open and minimally invasive procedures, the surgeon removes the damaged bone tissue and cartilage from the hip joint. He or she then replaces the head of the femur (the thighbone) and the acetabulum (the socket in the pelvis where the femur sits) with metal 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 after surgery and dur- ing recovery, which may take three to six months. Physical therapy to help regain strength is often recommended. Is hip surgery right for you? If you’ve been dealing with hip pain that’s interfering with your life and isn’t improving with other treatments, ask your doctor if hip replacement surgery is a good choice for you. Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes of Health Surgery may be your best option for chronic pain We can . Schedule an appointment with our orthopedic surgeon, Brad Binsfeld, DO. 608-723-2131 . Sit on the edge of your bed or on a chair to get dressed — don’t get dressed standing up. In bed , don’t sleep on the side of your new hip or on your stomach. When going upstairs, lead with the leg on the side that didn’t have surgery. When going downstairs, lead with the leg on the side with your new hip. 5 FALL 2018