Hip replacement surgery isn’t the same procedure as 10 years ago. Minimally invasive surgery has entered into many aspects of the medical field, including orthopedics with great success. If you’re considering a hip replacement, you want to assess your lifestyle and health in determining whether joint replacement will help you.Almost anyone, regardless of age, could be a candidate for hip surgery. If you’ve suffered traumatic injury or have a disabling condition affecting one or both hips, immediate treatment might be necessary. Additionally, many candidates for this type of surgery have osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative arthritic condition typically brought on with age.
When Is It Time for Hip Replacement Surgery ?
Your lifestyle can be a good indicator of whether or not hip replacement surgery is needed. If you’ve always been an active person but find yourself slowing down because of a disabling hip condition, then consider these questions:
- Is your pain level difficult to manage?
- Does pain wake you up at night?
- Is it painful getting up and down from a chair or your car seat?
Answering “yes” to these questions could mean it’s time to seek medical advice. Consulting a physician now could save you from more pain and extensive surgery in the future.
Are There Health Risks?
While hip replacement surgery is often greatly beneficial, there are some risks associated with the procedure, especially for individuals with health issues.
Today, there are new medical tools and resources that orthopedic surgeons have available to them. A recent study presented at the 2014 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons introduced a tool for measuring surgical suitability in patients. Rather than assessing eligibility for surgery strictly by age, the new toolwe measures a patient’s frailty factor (health risk). This tool helps surgeons identify a patient’s ability to recover from surgery. This resource is particularly useful for assessing fitness for surgery with seniors.
Contact a Hip Replacement Specialist in Beverly Hills
Are you suffering from chronic pain due hip joint problems? Don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia at 310.430.1310. Dr. Ahluwalia is top orthopedic surgeon in Los Angeles who is dedicated to providing the best possible care to his patients. Contact his office today to schedule a consultation.