To know if a hip replacement might be needed, key signs and symptoms include:
- Chronic and significant hip pain that affects daily life, cannot be relieved by rest or painkillers, and may keep you awake at night. The pain may radiate anywhere from the hip to the knee and may cause a limp or reliance on walking aids.
- Difficulty completing routine tasks such as putting on shoes, walking normal distances, bending, or standing on one leg due to hip pain or stiffness.
- Hip disability or stiffness severely limiting mobility and quality of life.
- Imaging studies showing advanced arthritis, joint damage, or collapse of the femoral head.
- When non-surgical treatments like medications, physical therapy, and injections have failed to relieve symptoms.
- Other symptoms include hip swelling, disturbed sleep due to pain, and emotional or mental strain from chronic pain.
Common medical reasons leading to hip replacement include end-stage osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis from injury, osteonecrosis, and displaced fractures of the femoral neck in older adults. Ultimately, a decision to undergo hip replacement surgery is based on the severity of symptoms, the extent of joint damage confirmed by imaging, and the level of impact on everyday activities, in consultation with an orthopedic specialist.