Having a hip replacement can seem like a daunting and frightful notion, but if you knew more about what is involved when you have your hip replaced, that might make it a little less fearsome. So here is your pocket guide to what happens when you get have your hip replaced to help.
Where the pain started
Before you have your hip replaced, you would have started your journey way before you see a consultant for a further investigation and at the beginning where the pain or discomfort began. It is and can be a long journey to recovery, but at the end when you are pain free and able to do the things you love most again, it makes it all worth it.
The consultation process
The pain or discomfort you experienced would have brought you to your hip consultant who would have carried out a further investigation which can involve MRI scans and X-Rays. Following the investigation state, your consultant would have also talked you through the results and presented some non-operative and operative treatment solutions if you required further treatment based on those results.
Having a hip replacement?
If you and your consultant both decide that a hip replacement is the best solution, then here's what happens during a hip replacement. During a hip replacement your surgeon will make an incision in your hip area and remove the damaged hip joint and replace it with a prosthetic one, usually constructed of metal, ceramic and very hard plastic. This artificial joint (prosthesis) helps reduce pain and improve function of your hip!
How long does hip replacement surgery take?
The process itself can look brutal, but patients are under a general anaesthetic or have had an epidural so they won't feel a thing during the operation itself which takes approximately 90 minutes.
How long will it take to recover from hip replacement surgery?
Patient recovery times vary enormously. At six weeks most patients are considerably more comfortable and walking greater distances than prior to the operation and by six weeks, many patients will have returned to work by this stage.
Patient recovery continues until four to six months after they have had the operation, but during the recovery period all patients are brought back to be assessed in the clinic at six weeks.
Younger patients are kept under review for a number of years, but most patients over the age of 60 will be discharged with the expectation their hip is likely to last them for as long as they will need it.
We hope you found this post useful. If you have any questions about hip replacements, you can email us info@hipandkneeconsultant.co.uk or visit our hip replacement page with more useful FAQs here.