Cars may need fixing, houses may need repairs, and the occasional broken bone needs to mend. You’re used to fixing things and waiting for things to heal! That’s the nature of life – that things will certainly break and you must decide how to fix what you can. When it comes to your joints, it’s no different. There are many treatments available today that can put you back on the path to recovery without invasive surgeries, but there are times when things are beyond fixing and need to be replaced, like a hip. Each year in America, there are 332,000 hip replacement surgeries performed, and for good reason. It can be a great solution to a problem that can’t be fixed with traditional therapy. But how do you know when it might be time to take that next step? Here are 4 things to consider before making the decision to have a total hip replacement.

Quality of Life

If the pain is affecting your daily activities and moods, it may be time to consider a hip replacement, especially if the pain is persistent at times when you aren’t active, like at night. Chronic pain will quickly decrease your quality of life and may even lead to depression.

Alternatives Haven’t Helped

For most people who decide to have a joint replaced, they’ve usually explored every other option and have found other treatments ineffective. Common treatments include physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, and exercise.

Deformity and Severe Damage

Some joints may begin to deform with arthritis, and waiting longer is no longer helpful. Other people may have bone deformities that are the cause of hip problem, in which case, traditional therapies aren’t enough to correct genetics. There is also the case of trauma, where the hip is severely damaged to the point of needing to be replaced after an accident.

Chronic Swelling and Stiffness

If you can no longer perform daily activities like walking due to  swelling and pain in your hip joint, and you’ve tried every alternative to surgery, then it’s probably time to consider a replacement.

Whatever decision you choose to make about your joint health and mobility, OSC is here to help you make the next step. Whether it’s therapy or total joint replacement, we have the knowledge and resources to get you where you need to go!