Frisco & Dallas Hip Replacement

Osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis, is the main reason for a hip replacement surgery. Other conditions, including trauma, may also cause the need for hip replacement.

Arthritis is a progressive and degenerative disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Arthritis can occur for many reasons, including aging, “wear and tear,” injury, disease, and developmental abnormalities of the hip structure. 

There are over 100 different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are all types of arthritis that most frequently develop in the hip. Arthritis causes the protective cartilage in the hip to wear away, which can cause painful bone-on-bone rubbing.

While the symptoms of hip arthritis can be tolerable with medications and lifestyle adjustments, there may come a time when surgical treatment is necessary. Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, involves removing the damaged portion of the hip and replacing it with artificial implants called prosthetics. These devices are a replacement for the natural joint and allow pain-free movement.

There are many symptoms that may arise that indicate a need for hip replacement surgery.

The main symptom of severe hip arthritis is a dull and aching pain. You may feel pain in your hip, groin, thigh, buttock, and sometimes in the knee. The pain may occur both while you are moving or resting and may even keep you awake at night. Your hip may also feel stiff, creating difficulty in moving or lifting your leg and completing everyday activities.

As your arthritis progresses and becomes more severe, medication, rest, and physical therapy may fail to relieve your symptoms. Hip arthroplasty is recommended when non-surgical treatments do not provide relief for your symptoms.

Hip arthroplasty involves removing your damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial one.  This is an inpatient procedure, and you will most likely be admitted to the hospital on the day of your surgery. You can expect to stay at the hospital for a few days after. The procedure itself typically takes one to two hours to complete.

The most common types of anesthesia for the surgery are general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. The general anesthesia will put you to sleep, while the spinal anesthesia will numb your body from the waist down. With spinal anesthesia, you will remain awake but sedated, so your memory will be blurry. Your doctor will help you decide which anesthesia is the best option for you.

Your surgeon will make an incision on the side of your hip to access your joint. Your hip joint will be opened to allow your surgeon to remove damaged bone, cartilage, or connective tissue. Then, the femoral head and the cartilage or bone from the hip socket will be removed.

Your hip joint will then be replaced with an artificial joint. There are a variety of artificial joint types; your surgeon will choose the most appropriate one for you. A highly-polished, strong metal ball will be implanted or attached to the top of your femur. A durable socket made of plastic or a combination of plastic and metal will be attached to your bone with either surgical screws or surgical cement. This new artificial joint will allow you to perform most of the pain-free movements that you were once able to perform.

You will likely stay in the hospital for two to five days following your Dallas hip replacement surgery. You’ll be receiving pain medication to make you as comfortable as possible during this time. A V-shaped pillow may be placed between your legs to position your hip while it heals. It is recommended that you sleep with this pillow between your legs for about six weeks. 

Your physician will temporarily restrict certain movements to prevent your artificial joint from dislocating. These movements may include crossing your legs, bending your hips at more than a 90-degree angle, and pointing your feet inward or outwards depending on the surgical approach to your hip.

The success of your surgery will depend, in part, on how well you follow your instructions during the first few weeks following surgery. You will likely need help from another person during the first few days at home. If you do not have family members or friends nearby, ask your doctor about possible alternative arrangements. In many cases, doctors will recommend time in a rehabilitation center following the surgery. 

You should be able to resume light activities soon after your procedure, but the total healing will take three to four months. Overall, the majority of people experience a dramatic reduction of hip pain and gain the ability to resume functional activities in the months following a hip arthroplasty.

You may have to change the way you do some activities, such as bending, to protect your new hip. What not to do after hip replacement surgery includes crossing your legs at the knees, leaning forward while sitting, and bending at the waist beyond a 90 degree angle. You should also avoid bringing your knee up any higher than your hip. 

There are many simple things that may be of second nature to you that you should be wary of. For example, if you drop something, you need to be extremely careful when picking it up and you should avoid picking something up off the floor while sitting down altogether. You also need to be extremely cautious when bending, and do not turn your feet inward or outward excessively when doing so. 

You will be advised to avoid high-impact sports, such as jogging, for the rest of your life.  High-impact sports or weight gain can put stress on your artificial joint, causing it to become loose or wear faster. However, it is very important that you continue with your recommended exercise program.