Pain anywhere in your body can range from annoying to debilitating. Hip pain is no exception, sometimes making it difficult to walk, stand, or even rest comfortably. Millions of people who suffer with hip pain know the desperation of trying to find lasting relief from their agony.
Armed with the knowledge that more than 450,000 successful hip replacement surgeries are performed every year, you might be wondering whether you’re a candidate for this approach.
Dr. Michael Blackwell and his experienced staff at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Tomball and Shenandoah, Texas, specialize in identifying your symptoms, creating tailored treatment plans, and addressing your pain with their state-of-the-art hip replacement surgery if necessary.
Your hip is one of the largest joints in your body. This ball-and-socket joint is made up of a part of your pelvis called the acetabulum (the socket) and the upper part of your thigh bone, known as the femoral head (the ball).
These bones are covered in cartilage, a smooth tissue that helps the ball and socket glide smoothly against each other as you move. In addition to cartilage, your hip joint also has a synovial membrane. This thin tissue creates a fluid that acts as a lubricant to essentially eliminate any and all friction.
When you lose those protective substances, or injury and damage leads to friction between your bones, you start to feel excruciating pain and inconvenient mobility issues.
Because your hip joint is such a large joint, bears the majority of your body weight, and is always moving, it’s extremely vulnerable to painful conditions.
Some of the most common causes of hip pain are:
Many conservative methods, therapies, and interventions are effective in treating your hip pain, but sometimes Dr. Blackwell’s surgical expertise is the only way to truly relieve your pain.
Dr. Blackwell knows the decision to undergo surgery can’t be taken lightly. That’s why he carefully evaluates your symptoms and medical history when making his recommendations. His thorough evaluation also helps him decide whether you need a partial or total hip replacement.
Here are a few things he takes into consideration:
If your pain is so severe that you find it hard or even impossible to accomplish basic tasks or keep up your normal routine, you’re likely a good candidate for surgery. Hip pain that keeps you up at night or continues even as you attempt to rest might well be a warning sign of a hip in need of surgical intervention.
Tell Dr. Blackwell about hip pain that doesn’t go away despite the use of over-the-counter pain medication or physical therapy, or keeps you from walking even with the use of assistive devices. This could mean you need surgery rather than conservative methods to address your symptoms.
Dr. Blackwell also assesses your basic mobility and range of motion. It’s possible that surgery is right for you if you can’t lift or move your leg because of significant stiffness and pain in your hip joint.
Hip replacement surgery ranks among medicine’s most successful procedures, with a success rate 10 years after surgery of 90-95% and 80-85% some 20 years after surgery.
Dr. Blackwell is proud to use the best in hip replacement technology, Mako robotic-arm assisted science, to both prepare his surgical plan and carry out the surgery itself.
The 3D imaging capability allows him to see exactly what is causing your hip pain before he ever makes an incision, while the Mako system gives Dr. Blackwell complete control over the surgical device and makes your surgery far more accurate than traditional surgery.
Don’t let your hip pain go untreated. Come see Dr. Blackwell and see what his expert advice, guidance, and treatment can do for you.
To get more information or an evaluation for your hip or other orthopedic needs, call our friendly staff at either location in Tomball or Shenandoah, Texas. You can also send a message to Dr. Blackwell and the team here on our website.
