Hip replacement surgery is a very effective treatment option for severely damaged and/or diseased hip joints. Hip replacement surgery consists of reconstructing a damaged hip joint using prosthetic implant materials. Although a highly effective treatment option, there are alternatives to hip replacement surgery. What follows is a brief overview of the more common alternatives.
Conservative Care
Conservative care, which entails managing a painful and/or diseased hip joint utilizing various types of medications and/or activity modifications, can oftentimes prevent and/or delay the need for hip replacement surgery. Experiment with different types of pain-relieving medications and avoid activities that strain and/or overtax the hip joint. This can help relieve hip pain and improve hip function.
Hip Injections
Hip injections are often used to treat very painful hips that do not respond adequately to pharmacological treatment. A small amount of corticosteroid, normally cortisone, is injected directly into the hip joint, which can significantly reduce hip joint inflammation and pain levels. For very painful hips and/or hips that severely limit daily activities, hip joint injections have the potential to offer significant pain relief and improve hip function, at least in the short term.
Hip Reconstruction
Hip reconstruction surgery can be a viable alternative to hip replacement surgery in some cases. In many instances, a damaged and/or diseased hip joint can be reconstructed and repaired rather than replaced. Typical hip reconstruction surgery involves making cuts to the bones about the hip joint, which allows the hip joint anatomy to be reconstructed and fixed and shifted into a more anatomically correct position, thereby reducing hip pain, increasing joint function, and, in many cases, prolonging the life of the natural hip joint.
