Your hips allow you to walk, run, sit, squat, kneel, and perform many of your daily activities. Within your hip, you have ligaments that help provide stability in movement and bones that provide structural support. If you injure these ligaments or bones, you may lose normal mobility and may also experience pain and swelling. Healthy hips are vital to an active lifestyle.
REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FALLING
Don’t get up too quickly after waking
Don’t skip meals (hunger can cause dizziness)
Be careful around pets
Use a cane or walker if you feel unsteady. Make sure all rubber tips of these devices are in good working order
In the bathroom, never use a towel rack or soap dish for support. These devices are not designed to sustain a person’s weight
If in doubt, use a shower chair
Clean up puddles of water immediately
Don’t lock the bathroom door. If you fall, a locked door will delay help
Never carry objects that obstruct your view
Use handrails
Make items easy to reach around your home
Wear your glasses (if you need them)
Don’t rush to the phone when it rings. Missing a call is a better alternative to falling and injuring yourself
Don’t wear pants or bathrobes that are too long
Close cabinet drawers, kitchen drawers, and the dishwasher
Don’t leave things on the floor
Healthy hips provide optimum leg movement, but when the hip is injured, it can greatly hinder the body’s flexibility. Your hip is the largest weight bearing joint in the body. Visit your Rockwall hip specialist for an expert evaluation.
The first step is to have your hip evaluated by a physician. The physician will consider your symptoms and conduct a physical exam to evaluate your hip’s strength, stability, and range-of-motion. X-rays, MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and additional tests may be required to show internal injuries. Based on your examination, your physician will let you know if surgery is necessary or if exercise (whether at home or through an external physical therapy facility) would suffice to improve your hip’s function.
X-RAYS
are used to detect bone injuries & malfunctions
MRIS
are used to detect soft tissue & bone damage & malfunction
BLOOD TESTS
may be used to confirm or rule out various types of arthritis
THE RESULTS OF YOUR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND TESTING WILL DETERMINE WHICH SURGICAL PROCEDURE, IF ANY, WOULD BE NECESSARY TO RESTORE OPTIMIZED FUNCTION.
ICE, ELEVATION, MEDICATION
Your physician may instruct you to ice your hip. Ice your hip at least 3-5 times a day for 20 minute intervals. At the same time, your physician may prescribe medications to aide in your recovery and ease your pain.
EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy and/or home exercise may be suggested by your physician. These exercises are designed to slowly strengthen your knee and increase its range of motion. The speediness of your recovery will greatly depend on how dedicated you are to following your physician’s recommendations.
INJECTIONS
Your physician may suggest cortisone injections to reduce inflammation. Some patients may only require one injection, while others may need additional injections to relieve pain and inflammation.
Surgical Treatment
TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT
Total hip replacement can benefit patients who suffer from a variety of hip problems, including injury and disease. Not all hip problems require hip replacement surgery, and your physician can help determine if the surgery is right for you. Joint replacement is done only after other treatments have failed to improve your condition.
HIP FRACTURE
Hip fractures can be very serious and generally effect elderly men and women. While recovery is generally slow, patients can regain their health with the right care. Your physician will need to reposition the fracture. This may be accomplished with surgery, in which the surgeon would hold the bones in place with an internal device such as pins and surgical screws.
Femoral neck fracture – Pins or a high strength metal device is used to replace the head of your femur• Femoral neck fracture – Pins or a high strength metal device is used to replace the head of your femur
Interochanteric fracture – A compression screw and plate holds the bone in place inside your hip socket
Your physician will evaluate your condition to determine if you are a good candidate for hip surgery. In some cases, physical therapy and exercise therapy may improve your condition without requiring surgery.
Are you suffering from hip pain? Lake Pointe Orthopaedics offers surgical and non-surgical treatment options to alleviate your pain!
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