Commonly Asked Questions Of An Asheboro, N. C. Hip Replacement Expert

When it comes to hip replacement, patients are often scared and confused, and rightly so in some ways. However, hip surgery is far more common that you might imagine, and there is now even less reason to deal with hip pain. According to the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,) over 375,000 Americans undergo a hip replacement surgery every year.

Among the big name celebrities who have had a hip replacement surgery are Luciano Pavarotti, Mike Ditka, Charlton Heston and Elizabeth Taylor. The quantity of hip replacement surgeries performed each year will continue to climb; due in no small part to recent advances in techniques and technology which make it less invasive, while offering a quicker recovery. In order to understand this procedure better, let's go over a few popular questions posed to an Asheboro, N.C. orthopedic surgeon.

What are the Typical Reasons that People Endergo a Hip Replacement?
The common reason will be intense pain that is unable to be relieved through typical means like rest and anti-inflammatory medicine. A secondary reason a patient may need orthopedic surgery is restricted motion and flexibility within the hip joint. This would result in a limited ability to do everyday activities like climbing stairs, sitting, squatting or bending.

What Causes the Hip Joint to Deteriorate?
The most common cause is arthritis. For example, with osteoarthritis, the cushion made of cartilage that sits atop the ball-and-socket joint bone will be worn down much like a car's tire wears out over time. This will cause restricted movement and function, as well as pain. It could also be caused by trauma to the area.

I Run Quite a Bit. Is this Harmful to the Hip in the Long Run?
Athletes do face a higher risk of ultimately needing a hip replacement. The activities that are good for the flexibility and toning of our leg muscles are not necessarily good for the hip joint. Hip pain is common among runners, and this is because the hip is what absorbs the most force when running. Even when just walking, we are putting the equivalent of three times our body weight on the joint. This means that a 150-pound person is forcing 450 pounds of pressure across the hip joint as they take every step.

That expands to five to six times the body weight when you run. So, that 150-pound person is now placing upwards of 900 pounds of pressure on that joint with every stride. Add that into the fact that the cartilage within the hip joint is only three to four millimeters in thickness and you can easily understand why so many runners end up needing hip surgery. Furthermore, that three or four millimeters is what we have in adolescence and this continues to wear down to where a 40-year-old avid runner may be down to the bone.

With the Constant Advances in Medical techniques, Is it Advisable to Seek Out an Expert?
Many people who reside in rural areas sometimes drive distances to find the best orthopedic surgeon to perform their hip replacement. Residents of Asheboro NC are fortunate to have experts in the field of hip replacement surgery, and these are the people who you want to trust with your physical well-being. These experts serve the Greensboro, High Point, Randolph County, Chatham, Davidson, Guildford, Montgomery County and the surrounding community for your orthopedic injuries and orthopedic pains. Hip fracture patients of Asheboro, NC orthopedic surgeons walk from their operating room stretcher to their hospital bed and often go home within two days of surgery. Ask your orthopedic surgeon about these and other possibilities for your hip replacement experience.