How to Know the Best Time to Have Hip Replacement Surgery

If you’ve been immobilized or experience severe pain from a bad hip, you might feel like you have no control over your body. Get your body back by considering hip replacement surgery. Here are some things to help you know the best time to have hip replacement surgery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet access
• Computer
• Doctor

1. Consult your insurance company. There may be circumstances that affect your coverage, such as if you’ve got a recommendation from your doctor. Many companies will not cover surgery unless a doctor recommends it to you as the only solution to your problem.
2. Try alternative treatments. Utilize walking aids, exercise and medication initially to counter pain and inflammation. When these fail or your symptoms affect your daily activities, surgery may be necessary.
3. Talk to your doctor and look at x-rays of your hip. Your doctor should run tests and take x-rays to clarify the advancement of arthritis or diagnose other problems. He will be able to show you where the hip is worn, and how much longer you can possibly wait for surgery.
4. Make sure your general health is good and you are free of infection. Your body must be able to tolerate surgery and anesthesia. Artificial parts present in the body increase your risk of infection and the rate it can spread through your system.
5. Evaluate your age and daily stresses. Doctors prefer hip replacement patients to be over the age of 50 with a more sedentary lifestyle. Regular manual labor and participation in strenuous sports will put too much stress on your false hip. You may want to wait until you are closer to retirement.
6. Assess your weight. Obesity increases your risk of infection and adds stress to your artificial hip. Hip replacement surgery may be reserved until you are at a normal weight.
7. Complete any dental work before surgery. Your risk of infection will increase once you have a synthetic part in your body. Any invasive medical procedures should be completed prior to hip replacement surgery.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have more than one joint that needs remedying, consult your doctor to determine the best order to have them done.
• Inform your doctor of all vitamins, supplements and drugs that you take in order to avoid dangerous interactions.
• Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen frequently for pain and inflammation should only be done under doctor supervision.