A hip replacement is an increasingly common orthopaedic intervention. It’s a surgery which involves taking out your hip joint and replacing it with an artificial substitute. Like many medical interventions, this is something that’s attracted its share of myths and assumptions over the years. Some of these are based in fact, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth skewering.
Myth 1: Hip Replacement is for Seniors
If you’re putting strain on your joints, then you’ll cause them to wear out prematurely. This point of failure is obviously more likely to occur in an older person, since they’ll have put their joints through more stress than a younger person. But hip problems can develop at any age. Risk factors include regular jogging and other activities that are likely to strain the joint repeatedly.
Myth 2: Pain is a Normal Part of Aging
As we get older, we’re more likely to experience random aches and pains. But not all of these pains are an inevitable consequence of aging. If you’re experiencing pain in your hip that won’t go away, then the chances are good that you’re suffering from one form or another of arthritis. Intervening early will give you the best possible chance of dealing with the problem.
Myth 3: I’ll need a long recovery
Unlike other forms of surgery, hip replacements won’t commit a patient to months of bedrest. In fact, in many cases, the earlier that you get up and start moving, the better – provided that your physiotherapist is there to support you. They’ll teach you the exercises you need to strengthen your hip, and help to establish your limits. In most cases, you’ll be home within a few days of the operation, and back after six or so weeks to ensure that everything’s gone okay.
Myth 4: Surgery should be delayed
The longer that you wait before having surgery, the more unnecessary pain you’ll feel, and the more complicated the surgery will ultimately be. To limit the risk, it’s worth intervening as soon as possible. Your hip bone isn’t like a car – there’s no sense in running it into the ground before you go for an upgrade.
Myth 5: I won’t be as active after a hip replacement
In most cases, you’ll be able to do all of the things that you did before the surgery – and a little bit more, besides. That includes sports and intense exercise.
