I had two hip replacements in my mid-50s. They gave me my life back, able to walk, sit, drive, etc., without pain. My recommendations:
First, get a test for Lyme Disease. It is very often what causes severe arthritis damage in relatively young people. Hip replacements used to be primarily for the elderly, but now there is a large, growing sector of people in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s needing it.
Second, go to a hip/orthopedics specialist and be evaluated. When the doctor showed me my x-ray, *I* could see vividly a hip replacement was the only option, and it was my first time seeing such an x-ray. When it is bone-to-bone, and the ball of the hip can be clearly seen to be worn away, that is a scenario where there are no other options to fix it. It only gets worse from there until you can’t walk at all and the pain is constant.
For the hip replacements, look for a surgeon who does direct anterior approach hip replacement. It is minimally invasive and allows for a very fast recovery with little pain. The physical therapy after this type of hip replacement is simple and easy. You will be up and moving about with less pain the day after the surgery, and back to a happy new normal in a few weeks.
Do know that search engines, google or others are great help. The advice below is good. My recommend is always to get all the rehab and PT help you can. They are masters at preventing complications. Speak with your MD, and surgeon before your surgery. You do not mention age, but in terms of the side effects of anesthesia it is an important factor to consider. My experience as a nurse when I worked ortho is positive; many people describe being pain free for the first time in many years. Do your research and learn all you can. Hope others have personal experience to share with you.
If this is for yourself you need to weigh the options. You are young (54 according to your profile) so you could probably tolerate the surgery and the rehab much easier than someone 74 or 84. A few suggestions for you though. 1. If you are overweight loose weight before your surgery. It will be safer for you going into surgery and safer during rehab. 2. If you smoke, stop now. And you should at least stop 3 to 6 months prior to your surgery and do not start again, but if you have to wait another 3 to 6 months. (and if you can stop for 9 to 12 months you can stop forever) 3. Do you have anyone to help you at home? It is MUCH safer to do rehab at home and go as often as you need to to a physical therapy appointment. A rehab facility is NOT where you want to be right now. Not just for COVID but it is very easy to pick up infections in a facility, much smaller risk at home and going to a free standing therapy office. If you do not have anyone to help you at home plan on hiring a caregiver to come in at least a few days a week but I would think you must have someone at home with you for at least the first week. Discuss this with the Orthopedic doctor before you set up an appointment for the surgery. I convinced my sister to have hip surgery when she was about your age and she has done very well. As a general rule the hip is easier than the knee, the knee easier than the ankle. The lower you go the more weight the replaced joint bears so the rehab is more difficult. the important thing is no one but you can make this decision. How is your life effected by the arthritis? If it is limiting what you want to do on a daily basis, or if you have had to adapt your lifestyle because of your arthritis then I would think it is the right time.
Do you have a question? Not enough info to respond...who is the hip replacement for? How old are they? Why do they need one? Have you spoken to an orthopedic surgeon yet? Etc. thanks.
First, get a test for Lyme Disease. It is very often what causes severe arthritis damage in relatively young people. Hip replacements used to be primarily for the elderly, but now there is a large, growing sector of people in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s needing it.
Second, go to a hip/orthopedics specialist and be evaluated. When the doctor showed me my x-ray, *I* could see vividly a hip replacement was the only option, and it was my first time seeing such an x-ray. When it is bone-to-bone, and the ball of the hip can be clearly seen to be worn away, that is a scenario where there are no other options to fix it. It only gets worse from there until you can’t walk at all and the pain is constant.
For the hip replacements, look for a surgeon who does direct anterior approach hip replacement. It is minimally invasive and allows for a very fast recovery with little pain. The physical therapy after this type of hip replacement is simple and easy. You will be up and moving about with less pain the day after the surgery, and back to a happy new normal in a few weeks.
My experience as a nurse when I worked ortho is positive; many people describe being pain free for the first time in many years.
Do your research and learn all you can. Hope others have personal experience to share with you.
You are young (54 according to your profile) so you could probably tolerate the surgery and the rehab much easier than someone 74 or 84.
A few suggestions for you though.
1. If you are overweight loose weight before your surgery. It will be safer for you going into surgery and safer during rehab.
2. If you smoke, stop now. And you should at least stop 3 to 6 months prior to your surgery and do not start again, but if you have to wait another 3 to 6 months. (and if you can stop for 9 to 12 months you can stop forever)
3. Do you have anyone to help you at home?
It is MUCH safer to do rehab at home and go as often as you need to to a physical therapy appointment. A rehab facility is NOT where you want to be right now. Not just for COVID but it is very easy to pick up infections in a facility, much smaller risk at home and going to a free standing therapy office.
If you do not have anyone to help you at home plan on hiring a caregiver to come in at least a few days a week but I would think you must have someone at home with you for at least the first week. Discuss this with the Orthopedic doctor before you set up an appointment for the surgery.
I convinced my sister to have hip surgery when she was about your age and she has done very well.
As a general rule the hip is easier than the knee, the knee easier than the ankle. The lower you go the more weight the replaced joint bears so the rehab is more difficult.
the important thing is no one but you can make this decision. How is your life effected by the arthritis? If it is limiting what you want to do on a daily basis, or if you have had to adapt your lifestyle because of your arthritis then I would think it is the right time.