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Arthritis: Should I Have Hip Replacement Surgery?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Arthritis: Should I Have Hip Replacement Surgery?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Your options

  • Have hip replacement surgery.
  • Don't have your hip replaced. Continue to manage your joint pain and other symptoms with other treatments.

This decision tool is for people considering hip replacement surgery. If you are considering other types of surgery for your arthritis, talk to your doctor.

Key points to remember

  • Most people can manage osteoarthritis pain with medicine, exercise, physical therapy, and weight loss (if they are overweight). If these things don't work, then surgery to replace the hip is an option.
  • Arthritis may get worse over time. But it may stay the same or even get better.
  • Most people have hip replacement only when they can no longer control pain with medicine and other treatments and when the pain prevents them from doing daily activities.
  • People who have this surgery usually have much less pain than before. And they can usually return to activities they enjoy.
  • Most artificial hip joints last for at least 15 years. And more than half last for 25 years or more. But this can depend on how much stress you put on the joint and how well your new joint and bones mend.
  • If you wait so long to have a hip replacement that you have already lost much of your strength, endurance, and ability to be active, then after the surgery you might have a harder time returning to your normal activities.

FAQs

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Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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