Do I Really Need a Hip Replacement?

Your hip joints play a pivotal role in your movement and independence, but many people experience hip joint deterioration with age. Your hips may also sustain damage from an injury or underlying medical condition such as osteoarthritis. 

When your hip joints break down, you suffer from chronic pain and reduced mobility. A bad hip can keep you from completing daily life activities or meeting personal goals.

You have treatment options for restoring worn-out hips, including surgical hip replacement. At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, orthopaedic and sports medicine specialist Dr. Michael Blackwell evaluates your joints and recommends the best treatment approaches for you. 

Dr. Blackwell helps you determine if you really need a hip replacement at this point in your life. He treats new and existing patients from his locations in Tomball, Kingwood, and Conroe, Texas.

Determining if you need hip replacement

Hip replacement surgery involves some risks, as do all surgical procedures, and you should plan on taking time for recovery. In short, it makes sense that you want to be sure a hip replacement is the right choice for you before committing to this path.

Dr. Blackwell bases his recommendation for your treatment on factors including the level of pain and dysfunction you regularly experience, and the less invasive treatment approaches that may still potentially work for you. 

If you suffer from chronic hip pain and dysfunction, hip replacement could be a positive way to improve your quality of life. Further, if you’ve already tried more conservative treatment approaches like physical therapy or medication and haven’t found sufficient relief, surgery may be your next step.

Depending on the condition of your damaged hip joint, you could need a total hip joint procedure. With less severe damage, you may be able to select a partial hip replacement. In that case, you keep either the ball or the socket of your natural hip joint, and only the other part of the joint is replaced with artificial elements.

You don’t have to make this decision on your own. Dr. Blackwell discusses your condition and likely outcomes with you, ensuring you have all of the facts toward making an informed choice.

Technological advances in hip replacement surgery

You should also know that technological advances make hip replacement surgery less and less of a physical ordeal seemingly by the year. At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Blackwell and his team use Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Technology. 

This technology makes it possible to operate with a higher degree of precision while minimizing the impact on tissue in and around the hip that needs replacement.

As you weigh the decision of how to address your chronic hip pain or dysfunction, consult with Dr. Blackwell and the highly skilled team at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Call now to arrange your appointment, or book one online.