Previously we discussed some details for knee replacement surgery.  A similar, but more complicated procedure is hip replacement surgery or total hip arthroplasty.  This is done to relieve pain and/or restore mobility to a diseased or damaged hip.  Some of the causes of hip joint damage are:           
*Osteoarthritis
*Rheumatoid arthritis
*Broken hip
*Bone tumor
*Osteonecrosis (poor blood supply to joint)

As mentioned in the knee replacement article, deciding on surgery is always a matter to take seriously.  There is a risk involved in every surgical procedure.  Discussing the options with your doctor is always advised.  However, there is a time when the risk of surgery is outweighed by the amount of pain someone could be living with or even the inability to walk anymore.  These are some of the symptoms one may experience, due to the conditions mentioned above:
*Pain that keeps you awake at night
*Little or no relief from pain medications and walking aids
*Difficulty taking stairs
*Trouble rising from a seated position
*Giving up activities, such as walking/dancing, because of the pain involved

Once the decisio is made to have surgery, your doctor can prepare you for the procedure and the following rehabilitation required.  Going into a surgery as strong and healthy as you can be is always an advantage,  It helps to fight off possible infections as well as makes physical rehab easier. Because of the way the hip joint is structured, the length of rehab time is longer than knee replacement rehabilitation.  You should expect for rehab to take at least 6 months to get to the optimum level.  The type of procedure you and your doctor choose will also determine the amount of rehab that will be necessary. As with most surgial methods, there are advancements and improvements being made regularly. 
McKinley Court Care Centre offers rehab for such patients.  Resident specialist, Dr. Tyler Jones, Orthopaedic Surgeon is an expert on performimg joint replacement surgeries.  He will be discussing the details of hip replacement surgery at McKinlely Court on Wednesday, May 26th.  There will also be a physical therapist from McKinley Court to go over rehab procedures and requirements.  Both will take questions at the end.

If you or someone you know, currently has hip problems or has had the surgery and would like to share their experiences, please feel free to respond.  We would also like medical personnel and rehab therapists to share their opinions on this topic.  Being informed is the best first step.