What You Need to Know About Arthritis and Hip Replacement

What You Need to Know About Arthritis and Hip Replacement

Table of Contents

• What is Arthritis?
• What is Hip Replacement?
• What is Arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease caused by the wear and tear of the cartilage tissue covering the ends of the bones over time. Arthritis causes symptoms such as pain, stiffness, swelling, limitation of movement and squeaking in the joints.

Osteoarthritis can affect people of any age, but is more common in people over 40.

The joints most commonly affected by arthritis are the knee, hip, lower back, neck and hand joints.

Causes of arthritis include aging, obesity, genetic predisposition, sports injuries and overuse of joints.

There is no definitive treatment for arthritis, but various methods can be applied to reduce symptoms and preserve joint function. These methods include medication, physical therapy, exercise, weight control, joint protection measures and surgical intervention.

What is a Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement is an artificial joint application used in the treatment of diseases that cause problems such as pain in the hip joint, limitation of movement and decreased quality of life.

Hip replacement surgery involves replacing part or all of a damaged or worn out hip joint with parts made of metal, plastic or ceramic.

The aim of hip replacement surgery is to relieve the patient's pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life.

Osteoarthritis, which occurs as a result of wear of the hip joint, is a disease that negatively affects quality of life. Osteoarthritis causes complaints such as pain in the hip joint, limitation of movement and difficulty in walking. If arthritis progresses, patients have difficulty in performing their daily activities and their standard of living decreases.

Conservative methods such as medication, physical therapy and exercise are first tried in the treatment of hip arthritis. However, if these methods are not sufficient or if the disease is at an advanced stage, surgical treatment becomes an option.

The most effective and permanent method of surgical treatment is hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery is the process of replacing the worn hip joint with an artificial joint. After the surgery, patients' pain decreases, their mobility increases and their quality of life improves.

The success rate of hip replacement surgery is high and the prostheses last an average of 15-20 years.

The points to be considered before and after the surgery are as follows:

• Patients' general health conditions such as blood values, heart and lung functions are evaluated before surgery. A dental examination is also recommended to reduce the risk of infection.
• Early mobilization of patients after surgery is important.
• A few hours after the operation, it is necessary to get out of bed and do simple exercises with a physiotherapist. This improves blood circulation, reduces the risk of thrombosis and preserves muscle strength.
• It is normal for patients to use painkillers after surgery. However, the dose and duration of the medication should be adjusted according to the doctor's advice. Blood thinners may also be given to prevent thrombosis.
• Postoperative patients should pay attention to signs of infection. In cases such as fever, redness, swelling, discharge or bad odor, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
• After surgery, patients should take good care of their prostheses. Simple measures such as regular check-ups, avoiding excessive weight gain, avoiding sudden movements, and taking safety precautions at home to reduce the risk of falling will prolong the life of the prosthesis.