What Are the Signs of Needing Hip Replacement? Hip pain is hard to deal with. It can cause pain, stiffness, and inflammation. It can also make it hard to do essential things like walking and moving. If your hip has been bothering you for a long time, consider surgery. But how do you know if you need surgery to fix your hip?
How Do You Know You Need a Hip Replacement? As with most types of care, you should try less invasive methods before surgery. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help ease hip pain, and walkers and crutches can help you get around and walk better. But if physical therapy, exercise, and painkillers haven’t helped your hip pain or made it easier for you to move around, you might want to think about getting a hip replacement. Pain medicine and physical therapy don’t work Some people who have hip pain find that taking painkillers helps. But medicines can have harmful side effects, like making you sleepy or less hungry. It can also turn into a routine. If the medication you take doesn’t help, it can be hard to deal with these side effects. Hip pain makes it hard to do everyday things Does hip pain make it hard for you to walk, bend, shop, or go up or down stairs? Because of your hip pain, do you feel sad or angry most of the time? Here are some signs that you might need hip replacement surgery. Your hip hurts when you’re at rest You can hurt your hip joints when you walk or go up and down stairs. Most hip pain goes away when you stop moving. But if your hip hurts when you rest during the day or at night, you should think about surgery. Back or knee pain can sometimes cause pain in the hip area. When these things happen, hip replacement surgery won’t help. Instead, your doctor can numb your hip to figure out what is causing the pain. If your hip still hurts after that, it’s probably coming from your back or knee. Your hip joint is damaged If your doctor says your hip joint is damaged or not in the right shape, consider getting a hip replacement. Damaged joints can get worse over time. If you wait too long, it may be harder for a doctor to help you.