Hip replacement surgery is necessary for some people to get relief from pain, but it’s something that you want to avoid if you can. In 2020, I started having significant hip pain in my right hip and had hip replacement surgery to get relief, and there was nothing I could have done to get rid of my pain because I was born with my hips completely dislocated, and surgery was my only option. If there were a non-surgical option that would have gotten me enough relief to the point that I didn’t need the surgery, I would have done that because surgery should always be a last resort. Hip replacement surgery can significantly improve pain in some people, and there is no shame if you need or want it, but it is a big decision to make because it’s one of those surgeries you can’t undo once it’s done. I would never recommend that someone go through hip replacement surgery if there were a way to completely avoid it, because it’s a long recovery. Should you be considering hip replacement surgery? In this post, I am going to share a few questions you should ask yourself before considering hip replacement surgery.
Are you exercising too much or not enough?- When you are in pain, sometimes people think that they need to avoid exercise at all costs because it’s often believed that you shouldn’t be exercising if you live with pain. If the pain is unbearable that you can’t move without crying, that is a red flag, and you shouldn’t be hitting the gym, but sometimes your lack of exercise is the reason you are in pain. I started experiencing hip pain in my other hip and was afraid I was going to need a second hip replacement, so I started exercising more because I was already resting, and it wasn’t improving my pain. My hip pain is not cured, and at some point, I may need a second replacement because I can’t change my disability, but it has slightly improved. If my pain levels change in a negative way, the first thing I look at before scheduling an appointment with my surgeon is my exercise routine. Are you exercising enough or too much? Movement can improve pain, and sometimes your exercise routine, or lack thereof, is a contributing factor to your increased pain levels. Make sure you are exercising enough and tweak your exercise routine if you have to, because you want to make sure you are exercising in a way that supports your pain. Don’t overtrain because more exercise is just as bad a not enough and can cause more pain. Movement is one of the most overlooked ways to improve pain, and a lot of the time, you can significantly improve your joint pain by moving more.
Can physical therapy help?– Surgery is not always necessary for everyone experiencing hip pain, and sometimes working with a physical therapist can help you identify weaknesses contributing to your pain. Physical therapy was not an option for me personally because my hips are completely dislocated and there aren’t any stretches that I could have done that would have gotten rid of my pain, and pretty much all hip stretches do nothing for me. People without hip dysplasia may benefit from physical therapy and sometimes can completely avoid surgery with a couple of physical therapy sessions. You should always ask your doctor if there are any non-surgical options, such as physical therapy, that can help improve your pain, because a lot of the time, physical therapists can help. People sometimes don’t do exercises correctly, which can cause pain, and physical therapists can help you learn how to do them correctly to improve pain.
Is there any kind of bracing that can help?- I have been wearing leg braces my entire life and will continue wearing them because I don’t have the stability a non-disabled person has, and it helps me walk straighter. Braces can be uncomfortable, and no one wants to wear them, but they beat surgery every time. If you’re not walking straight, sometimes that puts a lot of stress on your hip and is the reason you are in pain. Can bracing help improve your pain? It is worth considering asking your doctor if there is any kind of bracing that can help improve pain because wearing braces ten hours a day is worth it if you can avoid surgery. Leg braces are uncomfortable and I hate wearing them, but still do because I know not wearing them puts more stress on my hips that can cause more pain.
Do you have any injuries? If I were experiencing a lot of new hip pain, the first thing I would do is go to my orthopedist and have them do an X-ray to make sure it’s not something else. People sometimes overuse their hip joint and cause damage and need hip replacement surgery, but sometimes you have an injury that doesn’t require a hip replacement. Have you fallen recently and possibly have a broken or fractured bone? It is very important to rule out injuries before assuming you need hip replacement surgery because sometimes a little bit of rest can significantly improve pain levels. There are a lot of reasons why someone may be experiencing hip pain, and hip replacement surgery is not always the solution. and if you are exercising a lot, it’s possible you overtrained a muscle and need a rest day.
Hip replacement surgery has cured my hip pain, and I don’t regret having it, but if there was anything I could have done to avoid it, I would have done that. Hip replacement recovery is long and painful, and I would never encourage anyone to put themselves through that unless they have done everything within their control to get relief and nothing has worked. There is no shame in getting hip replacement surgery if you need it, but it’s very important to understand that surgery doesn’t always fix all your problems, and sometimes it doesn’t resolve your pain at all. Lifestyle changes can often improve pain, and you should always look at your exercise routine before considering surgery because tweaking your exercise routine is going to be a lot easier than spending months recovering from surgery. What questions would you ask yourself if you were experiencing hip pain before considering surgery? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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