Frequently Asked Questions About: Hip
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  • Can a stretching program lower the chances that my elderly mother will fall?
  • My legs are slightly different lengths. Is this normal?
  • Is a difference in leg length a problem for an older person?
  • I recently had hip surgery, and now my legs seem to be different lengths. Is this normal?
  • I am going in to have hip replacement surgery. Will I be able to kneel down to work in my garden once my hip heals? What about getting on my hands and knees in the garden?
  • I am going in to have hip replacement surgery. How soon can I get back to the things I enjoy?
  • Why are people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip encouraged to exercise?
  • I've heard that my chances of getting hip arthritis are less if I live in the South. Is this true?
  • When I was a child, I had severe rheumatoid arthritis. Because there was so much damage to my hip joints, I have had both hips replaced. Both joints were replaced using cement. Now I am pregnant with my first child. Will it be safe to breast-feed the baby with the chemicals from the cement in my body?
  • I've had a hip problem since birth called congenital hip dysplasia. The hip socket was not formed completely, and my hip slips in and out of the joint. This causes a lot of pain and affects my walking. My doctor is advising me to have the hip replaced, but I'm only 26 years old. If I have a hip replacement, should I not get pregnant?
  • I am having a hip replacement. My surgeon has good training but said he doesn't do a lot of these procedures. Should I be worried?
  • I need to have a hip replacement. There's a small hospital nearby, or I could travel to a bigger hospital to have the surgery. I'd rather not make the long trip. Does it matter where I go?
  • I am having hip replacement surgery. How can I decrease my chances of dislocating my new hip?
  • Last year I was diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis. The X-rays show it is in the early stages. Even so, I have had considerable hip pain and can't walk without limping. I started using a cane, which seems to help with the hip pain, but now I am having low back pain. Could the cane be causing this?
  • I am only 54 years old, but already I'm noticing changes in the way I walk. I can't seem to put my full weight into my left hip without twinges of pain. Is there anything I can do about this? I don't want to lose any more ground.
  • I am a 53-year-old woman actively involved in the mall-walking program. A group of us meets three times a week at the local mall to walk two miles. Should I buy a pair of walking shoes, or can I just use my regular everyday shoes?
  • I like to jog every day for exercise. I usually run between five and six miles, five or six days a week. Is there any connection between running and developing arthritis?
  • I read an article about hip fractures in the elderly. No specific ages were mentioned. What is considered "elderly" these days?
  • My father fell and broke his hip two days ago. The hospital staff says he can go home as soon as he can "transfer" by himself. What does this mean?
  • Last week, my 83-year-old mother broke her hip. She is still in the hospital, and we are trying to make plans for when she gets out. How can we tell if she should return home or go to a nursing home?
  • My mother fell and broke her hip last year. She had surgery to repair it right away. Last month, her sister fell and also broke her hip. She didn’t have an operation to repair it at all. Why the difference?
  • My father had a stroke, lost his balance, and fell. He broke his hip as a result of the fall. The doctor called this a intertrochanteric fracture. What does this mean?
  • My 83-year old mother has been diagnosed with dementia. She has slowly declined in mental and physical abilities. She can no longer walk without a cane (indoors) or walker (outdoors). I’m worried about what will happen if she falls and breaks a hip. Will her dementia keep her from recovering?
  • Two years ago, I had a total hip replacement. Within six months of the surgery, I started having thigh pain on that side. It has never gone away. Can anything be done about this?
  • I am a small woman (5 feet 1 inch) with small bones. My doctor has advised me to have a total hip replacement for severe arthritis. Do they make new hip joints to fit people like me?
  • I'm a retired nurse about to have my first hip joint replacement. I'd like to stay active after surgery. What can I do after the operation?
  • My son was born with diastrophic dysplasia. His 42-year old uncle also has this condition and now has severe arthritis. Will this happen to my son, too?
  • I had a total hip joint replacement last month. The physical therapist got me up and walking on the day after the operation. Is this typical?
  • What's the difference between a total hip arthroplasty and a hemiarthroplasty?
  • My wife had a hip joint replacement and got an infection in the joint. Now, she needs another operation. The doctor told us that this operation may be more difficult than the first one. What makes it so?
  • My doctor has advised me to have a total hip replacement. My sister had the same surgery, but only part of the joint was removed and replaced. How does the doctor decide whether to replace the whole joint or just part of the joint?
  • I had a hip joint replacement last month and got a nasty infection in the joint. Does this come from the operating room?
  • My 83-year old mother had a total hip replacement last week. The bone fractured and now she has to wait before trying again. What can be done to prevent this from happening again?
  • What's the most important factor in getting a hip joint replacement that lasts?
  • I saw a medical program on television that showed a hip joint replacement. At one point, the doctor was using a hammer and chisel and pounding on the bone. Doesn’t this cause serious injury?
  • I'm going to have a hip joint replacement this summer. I plan to use my own pool to exercise afterward. What exercises do you recommend?
  • My older sister had a total hip replacement 2 months ago. She has had set backs and delays from the beginning. Dehydration seems to be the central problem. What causes this?
  • Five years ago, I had my right hip joint replaced. Now, I’m going to have the left one done. My doctor wants me to exercise before the operation. How soon should I start?
  • Last month, I twisted my foot underneath me and fell. My right hip popped out of the socket. The doctor in the emergency department put the joint back in place. I’m worried it will pop out again. Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening?
  • I'm going to have a total hip and a total knee joint replacement at the same time on the same leg. I know this is unusual and most people do one at a time. My doctor's biggest concern is blood clots. Mine is blood loss and transfusion with the chance of getting AIDs or hepatitis. What are my chances of this happening?
  • After suffering for years with hip pain from arthritis, I finally had a hip joint replacement. I’m sorry I ever did it. Six weeks after the operation, I’m having much more pain than I ever did before. Will I ever get back to my “old” level of pain?
  • My doctor told me that a condition called heterotropic ossification is possible after a total hip joint replacement. What is this and how common is it?
  • After having a total hip replacement, I’m taking a water aerobics class. I notice that some of the other ladies have a much smaller scar from their hip replacement surgery. Why is that?
  • I had a joint hip replacement for severe arthritis three years ago. The doctor tells me that “third-body wear” is likely the cause of some uneven wear in the joint. What does this mean?
  • I am having a cemented total hip replacement next week. The doctor told me that X-rays can be used to see if the implant is in its proper place. Wouldn't the more modern MRI be better?
  • I've been dealing with an arthritic hip for years. Now it's affecting my sleep. I heard that having a total hip replacement could help me sleep better. How does that work?
  • I had a total hip joint replacement six months ago after a bad hip fracture. There was a lot of bone damage from the fracture. A bone graft was used to shape the new hip socket. Unfortunately, the bone graft failed. Is there any way to make a stronger bone graft next time?
  • My husband just had a total hip replacement. The doctor told us that he must be followed closely for some time because he has a “stovepipe” hip. What does this mean?
  • I was born with developmental hip dysplasia. Physical therapy and a hip operation at age six have kept me pain free. Now at age 46, I am having constant pain. My hip dislocates from time to time. Would a hip joint replacement help me?
  • My mother had a total hip replacement when she was 85-years old. That was 25 years ago. Now, at age 65, I find myself in need of a hip replacement. What’s changed in the last 25 years?
  • My mother-in-law was born and raised in Korea. She lives with us in the U.S. Most of her work at home and in the garden is done in the squatting position. She’s going to have her hip replaced this month. Will she be able to squat again after the operation?
  • My wife had a total hip replacement two months ago. The doctor advised us that there is “possible evidence of loosening.” What does this mean? Either it’s loose or it’s not, right?
  • My 66-year old father fell and broke his hip. He was drinking at the time the accident happened. The doctors think the hip broke first and then he fell because he has osteonecrosis. What is this?
  • The news reported that more patients with hip joint replacements are having dislocations. What’s causing this increase?
  • I'm thinking about having a hip joint replacement. My sister had one last year and it dislocated in the first two weeks. Will this happen to me, too?
  • I heard that total hip replacements dislocate easily. How often does this happen?
  • I'm 72-years old and like to be active. I've had rheumatoid arthritis for 35 years. After a total hip and a total knee joint replacement, I find it much more difficult to take long walks. What can I do to regain this ability?
  • I have a rare bone disease called osteopetrosis. I've had it all my life with only a few problems. Now I'm getting arthritis in my hips. Can I have a hip replacement with this problem?
  • I have been in a wheelchair for the last year due to a broken hip that won't heal. I have a special condition called osteopetrosis that is the problem. I'm only 47 years old and I don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. Are there any new treatment ideas for this problem?
  • I know there are pros and cons to the new mini-incision for total hip replacement. Could you please review these again?
  • What's more important in the success of a hip replacement: age or attitude?
  • I'm not sure having a smaller incision for my hip replacement is really all that important. Isn't it better to have enough working room to get the implant in the right place?
  • Three years ago I had my left hip replaced. Everything went very well. Now I've got a problem with extra bone growing in the muscles around the joint. Does this happen very often?
  • I'm very worried because I dislocated my hip two months after a total hip replacement. What are my chances this will happen again?
  • I'm 74-years old and fit as a fiddle. I want to keep up my leg strength. What's the best way to strengthen the muscles along the sides of my hips?
  • I've seen a few women at the park carrying small weights and walking faster than usual. What's the advantage of doing this? Maybe I should give it a try.
  • I had a hip fracture six months ago. The physical therapist gave me exercises to do but I quit doing them two months ago. I notice I still have some hip pain and a limp. Should I go back and start doing the exercises again?
  • My mother fell and broke her hip. The doctors say she has a better chance of recovery if we delay surgery. Why is this?
  • My 92-year old aunt fell and broke her hip. She had surgery to repair the fracture. She's doing much better than anyone expected. Her sister died much earlier at age 72 from the same problem. What makes the difference?
  • My 90-year old father slipped on some ice and fell. He broke his hip in two places. The doctors don't think he will be able to live independently again. How do they know this?
  • I like to get down on the floor and play with my grandchildren. Lately I've been having trouble getting back up. Are there some tricks to help me with this?
  • I broke my hip six months ago and I'm still having trouble getting around. I notice my biggest problem is getting across the street before the light changes. What can I do about this?
  • I broke my right hip last winter when I slipped and fell on the ice. I had surgery to pin the fracture. Now it seems like my right leg is shorter than the left. I'm off-balance. Is this really possible or am I just imagining it?
  • I just got a new total hip replacement. I want to measure my activity with a pedometer. What kind do you advise?
  • My father has arthritis in both hips. This limits his travel and activities. He wants to have them both replaced at the same time to "get it over with quickly." We're concerned about this idea. Isn't it better to do one at a time?
  • My 83-year old mother is going to have a total hip replacement next week. Her regular doctor won't take care of her in the hospital afterwards. Her surgeon won't be there either. Now they have someone called a "hospitalist." What does that mean?
  • I'm going to take the plunge and have both hip joints replaced at the same time. I'm fairly young (68 years old) and in good health. I have good help at home from my family. Everything I've read says I'm the perfect person for this operation. What's the worse thing that could happen?
  • My husband had a total hip replacement six weeks ago. Since I'm an accountant I reviewed the bill when it came. I was shocked to see we were overcharged by $9,000. Is this a fluke or is everyone overbilled this way?
  • I'm going to have my first hip replacement next month. The surgeon tells me if all goes well I should be home in 12 hours. I am widowed and live alone. How will I know what to do or how to care for myself?
  • I'm a self-insured, self-employed plumber. I desperately need a hip replacement to keep doing my job. I just can't get in and out of tight spots anymore. What's the fastest, least expensive way to get this done?
  • In a freak accident I had a tree fall on my leg and dislocate my hip. I notice my knee really hurts too. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong during the exam. The X-ray is negative. Is there anything else that can be done to figure this out?
  • I had a hip replacement about three weeks ago. The doctor gave me a list of dos and don'ts but didn't say anything about carrying groceries, getting up on a step stool, or sitting at my computer to check emails. Are there any restrictions on these kinds of activities?
  • I'm very self-conscious that I still limp after a total hip replacement I had five months ago. Will this ever go away?
  • What position is best for sleeping after a hip replacement?
  • My 81-year old father just had a hip joint replacement. We're worried because he isn't following the nurse's directions. He seems very confused. We're afraid he's going to do something and break the new joint.
  • My 83-year old grandma is going to have a total hip replacement. We're all worried that she's too old for this. What do you think?
  • Is there any connection between leukemia and metal implants used for joint replacement? I know it sounds like a long shot but my father was just diagnosed with leukemia. His blood work has shown elevated levels of chromium in the past. The doctor always thought this was from his metal hip joint replacement but didn't think it was a problem. Could there be a link?
  • I was tested for levels of nickel and chromium because of some problems I'm having with a metal hip joint replacement. The lab values came back as 0.3 for the nickel and 0.149 for the chromium. Is this too high?
  • I've heard the new smaller incisions for total hip replacement are getting mixed reviews. Some sources say it speeds up healing time. Others say it's not worth the risk in the long-run. What do surgeons say who are experienced in this method of joint replacement?
  • I'm comparing the costs of the usual surgery for total hip replacement with the new mini-incision method. It looks like I'll be in the hospital the same amount of time. Is there any difference in how much therapy I'll need between these two approaches?
  • I was looking into having a total hip replacement with the new mini-incision. The doctor's office gave me a list of people who don't qualify for this procedure. Doesn't seem like it left anyone who CAN have this operation. Where does that leave me?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement next week. The doctor is using the new tiny incision to do the operation. Will I be able to go home sooner with this type of incision?
  • My mother had a total hip replacement nine months ago. The surgeon made a very small opening to do the operation. She started dislocating the new hip two months later. She's dislocated it six times now. Can anything be done to help her?
  • I want to have the new hip joint surgery with only a small scar. What should I look for in the surgeon for the best results?
  • I'm writing to you from my husband's hospital room. He had a total hip replacement two days ago. The nurse says he can go home as soon as the lab values come back with acceptable hemoglobin levels. What does this tell them?
  • I'm having a total hip replacement done at a large university hospital. The surgeon tells me a doctor-in-training will do part of the operation. Is this safe? Would I be better off going somewhere else?
  • My 75-year old father had a total hip replacement six months ago. We live in a small town and he insisted on the new operation with the smallest incision possible. His own surgeon didn't do this surgery and sent him to someone else. He ended up in surgery for over nine hours. There were lots of problems after. Please warn your readers of the dangers of this operation.
  • I've heard that if you're going to have a joint replacement it's best to go to a hospital or center where they do a lot of these operations. How many is enough to be safe?
  • I saw a report that joint replacements have better results when done by a surgeon with lots of experience with that operation. That makes sense. Is this the whole story or is there more to it?
  • Can back pain be caused by a hip problem? My doctor thinks my low back pain is really coming from the hip on that side.
  • Have you ever heard of this? My aunt had hip surgery and then developed a weeping, oozing wound. The doctor said it was from taking ginkgo biloba.
  • I'm filling out a form for my doctor before having a total hip replacement. It asks me to list all drugs (prescription and over-the-counter). Do I need to report vitamins and herbal supplements too? There's no place on the form for that, but it seems important.
  • I'm going to have a hip replacement in two weeks. The nurse at my doctor's office told me to stop taking my ginkgo biloba. I think this herb really helps me remember things. I'm afraid to stop taking it when I really need my wits about me after the operation. What should I do?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement done next week. I've been told I'll be put on a blood thinner to prevent blood clots. Why are clots so common after hip surgery?
  • My doctor thinks I'm at risk for blood clots during hip surgery coming up. What puts me at greater risk than the next guy?
  • I had a hip replacement about two years ago. I notice I'm having more trouble now doing simple things like putting on my socks and shoes than even right after the surgery. What can I do about this?
  • My elderly mother had a hip replacement several months ago. She still isn't getting around very well. She was given some exercises to do but she can't seem to remember what they were. What can I do to help her?
  • My father had a hip replacement six months ago. He's still not doing the things he likes to do. For example, he can't go downtown and have breakfast with his buddies because he doesn't think he can get across the street fast enough. What can we (the family) do to help him?
  • My uncle had a total hip replacement with the new minimally invasive surgery. Within the first 24 hours of getting up and putting weight on the new joint, he fell and broke his hip. Is it possible damage to the bone during surgery caused the fracture?
  • I had a minimally invasive total hip replacement about a month ago. The doctor showed me photos of what to expect the scar to look like. I was expecting a two to three inch straight scar. Instead mine is curved and about four inches long. Why is my scar different from the photos I saw?
  • I saw a TV show about the new total hip replacements using only a two-inch incision. The report said the patient has just as good of results and a small scar to boot. What do the doctors say about this new way of doing things?
  • I work in the south as a nurse at a joint replacement clinic. I notice the greatest number of patients are white even though the general population here seems fairly equal between blacks, Hispanics, and whites. Don't blacks and Hispanics get arthritis?
  • My chronic hip pain has finally been diagnosed as a labral tear. The doctor thinks surgery is the only way to take care of this problem. Do I have any other options?
  • My 82-year old father is in an assisted living center. He was hospitalized two days ago for a broken hip bone. I guess it's what's called a displaced femoral fracture. He's had three specialists consult on the case. They can't seem to decide what's the best way to treat the problem. Is this unusual? Should we move him to a different hospital?
  • I'm writing to you from a hospital bed after tripping over a shoe lace and breaking my hip (a femoral neck fracture). I don't have much time before the nurses come in and scold me for being on the computer. Please tell me the pros and cons of having the bone pinned together versus having the joint replaced.
  • My 92-year old Nana broke her hip rolling over in bed. She has dementia and doesn't seem to know her leg is broken. The doctor doesn't want to operate and repair the fracture. Does this seem right? Isn't it discrimination of some sort?
  • I have been overweight all my life and now my hips are so bad with arthritis I need replacements. The doctor has told me to lose weight, but how much is enough?
  • My doctor went over the possible problems that can occur with a total hip replacement. I wasn't really listening very closely. Now that I'm almost ready to have the surgery done, I'm ready to hear it again. My doctor is going to use the new method with only two tiny incisions. What can go wrong?
  • Two years ago I had a total hip replacement. Now I'm ready to have the other one done. My doctor wants to put this second one in with a new operation. There will only be two small incisions made to insert the implant. I can't really ask my doctor this question, but I'm worried. How do you know when a doctor has done enough "new" operations to do a good job?
  • I've had two total hip replacements. The first was a full incision and took me six months to get back on my feet and up to speed. The second one was three weeks ago with two tiny cuts. I'm already walking without a walker for up to 30 minutes. I still have a little trouble with stairs but that seems to be coming. Is a smaller incision really all that makes the difference?
  • My father had a total hip replacement three weeks ago. He says he's ready to drive again and the doctor has approved it. We're very concerned. How can you tell when someone is really ready to drive after a hip replacement?
  • I just saw a nurse who explained what to expect after my total hip replacement. It sounds like I'll be using crutches at first. I've never used these before. Will I really be able to manage crutches after surgery when I'm not feeling well?
  • My mother fell and broke her hip. I went on-line and found out that physical therapy can help her get back up and going faster. The doctor says in six months she'll be just as good without the therapy. Is there an advantage to therapy?
  • My 85-year old father fell and broke his hip. He's had surgery to repair the fracture. We don't think he's really ready to go home and care for himself. The hospital is getting ready to discharge him. What are our options?
  • I'm slightly overweight and worried about the effect of that on my new hip replacement. How much overweight is "too much"?
  • I've been told that people in good health have a better chance of coming out of surgery without problems. I'm planning to have a total hip replacement. I think I'm in pretty good shape. What kinds of health problems should I be concerned about?
  • I've been refused treatment by two orthopedic surgeons. I need a new hip joint but they say I'm too overweight. I need to lose 100 pounds first. I've always been told I'm "big boned." Do they take that into account?
  • My grandma just turned 81-years old. I'm worried about her breaking a hip. That's how my Grandpa died. Is there a certain age when fractures are more likely to occur?
  • I read a magazine article that said older adults are more likely to die within a year of having a hip fracture. What's the connection?
  • I heard a report that older folks who break a hip on Sunday are more likely to die. Is there some religious significance to this?
  • I had a total hip replacement six weeks ago. The doctor warned me about avoiding certain positions to prevent dislocation. My husband is interested in resuming sexual relations, but I'm too worried about the hip coming out of the socket. How long should we wait before it's safe?
  • Three months ago, I had a total hip replacement. My doctor has given me the thumbs up for resuming sexual intercourse. What positions are best? Do I still need to avoid full hip flexion and internal rotation?
  • I had a total hip replacement six months ago that had to be revised. I was able to have sexual relations six weeks after my first operation. It's been six weeks now since the revision. Is it okay to try intercourse now?
  • My neighbor had a total hip replacement and started walking the same day. Not only that, he came home the same week. My surgery was only two years ago, but it was much different than that. Have things really improved that much in two years?
  • I moved here from Australia two years ago. I had a total hip replacement in Australia. Now I'm getting ready to have a total knee replacement. Is there a national registry for joint replacements in the United States like we have in Australia? If so, I'd like to read up on the latest findings.
  • I've heard it costs much less to have a hip replacement done in Canada compared to the United States. Is this true?
  • I am going to have a total hip replacement. The problem is that I don't have any health insurance. In other words, I'm paying for it myself. Are there any good ways to cut the costs without risking other problems?
  • I saw a report on TV showing the high demand for joint replacements in Korea and other countries outside the United States. Are we the only ones making joint implants?
  • What does a "scour test" show? I read a medical report on my son that said he had a positive scour test.
  • Is it true that once I have knee arthritis, I'll also get arthritis in my hips?
  • My 82-year old mother had a new hip joint put in two years ago. After months of pain, the doctor says she needs a hip revision. The report says, "bead shedding" is the problem. What is this and how do we make sure she doesn't get it again?
  • What is a Charnley® hip? My orthopedic surgeon wants to replace my arthritic hip with one of these.
  • Is there any reason why a total hip replacement won't last me the rest of my life?
  • Please help us make a family decision. Our 72-year old father fell six months ago and broke his hip. He had surgery to put a plate and screws in place to hold it together while it healed. The bone hasn't healed. Should we wait another six weeks while waiting for bone healing, or should we go ahead with a joint replacement?
  • Can people with dementia have joint replacements? My mother needs a new hip joint but she has moderate Alzheimer's disease. Most of the time she is pretty good, but she has some days that are awful.
  • My mother is going to have a total hip replacement. She isn't getting around very well now. My siblings and I will take turns caring for her after the operation. Is there any way to tell how much help she'll need?
  • My father died six weeks after a total hip replacement. How can we tell if this was from the operation or something else?
  • My son-in-law is a doctor. He told me to get my hip replacement done at a high-volume hospital. What does this mean?
  • Eighteen months ago I had a left total hip replacement. Everything went well but now the left leg is shorter than the right side. Should I have the right leg done now to even them out?
  • My brother had an osteotomy of his hip done. It failed and now he's back to the doctor's to find out what to do. What's usually next after a failed osteotomy?
  • I had a hip osteotomy 10 years ago to put off having a joint replacement. Now I'm going in for a new hip joint. What will happen to the metal plate and screws they used to hold the osteotomy together?
  • The doctor says I'm too young (I'm 47) for a total hip replacement even though I have severe arthritis in one hip. What's the worst that could happen if I went ahead and had it done anyway?
  • I've been trying to stretch the muscles along the front of my hip. I do this by lying down on the floor and lift my leg up. First I do it with the knee straight. Then I do it with the knee bent. Whenever I do either one of these exercises, my low back hurts. How can I change the stretch to keep from hurting my back while still getting my leg stretched?
  • I sit at a computer all day and sometimes half the night. I'm worried about getting stooped and being unable to straighten my hips all the way. Can you tell me how to keep my full hip motion?
  • How come when I do my stretching exercises sometimes I feel looser and other times I just seem to get tighter?
  • My 76-year old aunt was put in the hospital for a hip fracture. She was doing just fine before the hospitalization. Now she is delirious and isn't herself at all. Is this the start of Alzheimer's?
  • There seems to be quite a few older adults in my family with hip fractures from osteoporosis. Is this a hereditary disease?
  • I just came back from the hospital where my father-in-law is being treated for a hip fracture. He was in a room with three other men who also just had surgery for a broken hip. All four men had to have a blood transfusion. I thought blood transfusions were dangerous. Is it a standard treatment with hip fractures?
  • My mother has an unstable intertrochanteric fracture. She's having a special set of pins and a plate put in place to hold it together. The doctor thinks she's too old and too unstable for a hip replacement. What kind of fracture is this?
  • My mother died from complications after a simple hip fracture last year. Does this happen very often?
  • My doctor is going to include me in a study they are doing at their orthopedic center. I had a total hip replacement done with a mini-incision. They are going to compare patients with a mini-incision to patients with the standard cut. Maybe I'm a bit off in my thinking, but don't they just see what they want to find in studies like this?
  • I saw a videotape in my doctor's office showing two ways to do a total hip replacement. One had a much smaller incision than the other. How do they decide which method to use?
  • I'd like to have my hip replacement done with the new "mini-incision." My regular doctor knows how to do these but hasn't done very many yet. Do I need to go to a big center to have this operation done safely?
  • The doctor sent me to a physical therapist for hip bursitis. I've had the same pain off and on for five years. After doing a lot of tests, the therapist seemed to think it could be arthritis. My internal rotation and hip flexion are especially limited in motion. How can I find out for sure if this is arthritis?
  • How can I tell if I have arthritis? Seems the older I get, the stiffer I am, and the more joint pain I notice.
  • My doctor advised me to keep doing my exercises for a year after my total hip replacement. Is this really necessary? I feel fine.
  • I had a total hip replacement almost a year ago. My pain is gone but I can't really do anything more than I did before the operation. Is this normal?
  • I used to enjoy doing Tai Chi before having a total hip replacement. Now I'm not sure it's safe to stand on one leg like that. What do you think?
  • What's the advantage of having a mini-operation for a total hip replacement besides a smaller scar?
  • I just had a total hip replacement last month. I was pretty dismayed when I saw how long the incision is--about 12 inches. I thought they could do this operation with a tiny opening now.
  • My doctor is going to include me in a study they are doing at their orthopedic center. I had a total hip replacement done with a mini-incision. They are going to compare patients with a mini-incision to patients with the standard cut. Maybe I'm a bit off in my thinking, but don't they just see what they want to find in studies like this?
  • I saw a videotape in my doctor's office showing two ways to do a total hip replacement. One had a much smaller incision than the other. How do they decide which method to use?
  • My mother really needs a hip replacement. We're worried she's not safe on her arthritic hip. She tells us she's old and may be gone at any time, so why bother? How can we get her to change her mind?
  • It seems like all my friends are getting hip or knee replacements. I've been told I need one, but I'm just not ready to jump in. Am I the only one holding out on this?
  • Comment to post.
  • Last year I had a left total hip replacement. I'm finally feeling better and getting back to my old activities. Why don't they warn patients about how much pain and loss of function occurs with this operation?
  • After seeing my two sisters get a total hip replacement I decided to take my doctor's advice and have mine done, too. They both seem to have had such a good result, while I'm still struggling with pain and stiffness. Why the difference?
  • My 80-year old mother broke her hip this morning. She's in the hospital waiting for surgery. When I looked on-line it seems there are two ways to treat this. One is with surgery to pin the fracture. The other is to replace the hip joint. How do we decide which is better?
  • My uncle fell and broke his hip last month. He's been home on his own for a few weeks. We're concerned about his safety home alone. Shouldn't he be doing some kind of exercises for his hip or at least to stay active?
  • My elderly mother fell and broke her hip last week. She will be coming home in a few more days. The therapist says she must be able to go up and down stairs before they release her. She doesn't even have stairs at her house. What's the point of this exercise?
  • I'm a little confused about something. Two years ago I fell and broke my hip. I had a hip replacement. The doctor told me I couldn't put my full weight on that leg for six weeks because the implant wasn't cemented in place. My sister just fell and broke her leg and only had to have a cast. She can't put her full weight on it either. Why not?
  • My father had his second total hip replacement this year. After the first hip replacement he got a condition called "heterotopic ossification" (HO). The doctor put him on indomethacin after the second hip was replaced. This is to prevent the HO. Dad's not handling this drug very well. Can we use something else?
  • I've been told repeatedly that I'm "too young" for a hip replacement. I'm 51-years old and can no longer enjoy the activities I once did for fun because of severe hip pain. Isn't what I'm missing out today important enough to warrant a hip replacement now?
  • I was in a car accident and broke my pelvis in two places. After the injury finally healed, I still had deep groin pain and my hip kept giving way. I had MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans done for my pelvis and nothing ever showed up. Finally I had arthroscopic surgery and the doctor found a tear in the ligamentum teres. Where is this and why doesn't it show up on all these tests?
  • My 78-year old father took a misstep off a ladder and hurt his hip. It wasn't broken or dislocated, but he tore the ligament holding the hipbone in the socket. How often does this type of injury occur?
  • I had a bad twisting injury while skiing last season. After four months of constant groin pain I went to see the doctor. He did arthroscopic surgery and repaired a torn ligament (teres) in my hip. He explained how this ligament goes between the top of the hipbone into the socket to hold it together. How does the doctor get to this ligament to repair it?
  • I had a total hip replacement last year. The first few days after the operation were very painful. I don't like using drugs. Is there any other way to control the pain?
  • When I had my knee replaced the therapists used cold therapy on it everyday. It really seemed to help with the pain and swelling. I just had a hip replacement. The cold treatment was never used on the hip. How come?
  • A year ago I had a total hip replacement done. Last week I was out gardening on my hands and knees and it dislocated. I thought I was all healed. What happened?
  • I'm getting ready to have a hip replacement. The doctor is going to use the "posterior" approach. I've been told this method allows the doctor to see almost half of the joint at one time. There is a risk of hip dislocation. How common are these dislocations?
  • If I got this straight, it sounds like the doctor will actually dislocate my hip when putting in a new hip joint replacement. Is that true?
  • I'm a 46-year old man with severe hip osteoarthritis. I've always been active, but now the pain gets in the way. I can't help but wonder how my hip function compares to other guys my age without arthritis. Is there any way to find out?
  • I've applied for a disability pension because of severe hip pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis. I work as a plumber and just can't get in and out of tight spaces anymore. Will I be approved?
  • I have hip osteoarthritis on the left side. I notice I can stand on that leg and balance much better than I can on the other side without arthritis. Does this make sense?
  • I had a total hip replacement last year. The first few days after the operation were very painful. I don't like using drugs. Is there any other way to control the pain?
  • I'm getting ready to have a hip replacement. The doctor is going to use the "posterior" approach. I've been told this method allows the doctor to see almost half of the joint at one time. There is a risk of hip dislocation. How common are these dislocations?
  • I was in a car accident and broke my pelvis in two places. After the injury finally healed, I still had deep groin pain and my hip kept giving out on me. I had MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans done for my pelvis, and nothing ever showed up. Finally, I had arthroscopic surgery and the doctor found a tear in the ligamentum teres. Where is this and why doesn't it show up on all these tests?
  • My 78-year old father took a misstep off a ladder and hurt his hip. It wasn't broken or dislocated, but he tore a ligament inside the hip socket. How often does this type of injury occur?
  • I had a bad twisting injury while skiing last season. After four months of constant groin pain I went to see a surgeon. He did arthroscopic surgery and repaired a torn ligament (ligamentum teres) in my hip. He explained how this ligament goes between the top of the hipbone into the socket to help hold it together. How does the surgeon get to this ligament to repair it?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement. Will this affect my golf swing much?
  • I had my hip fused because of a fracture that wouldn't heal. About six weeks after the operation, my back pain went away. I've had back pain for almost 10 years. Is there a connection here?
  • I'm 42-years old and have one very bad hip. For some unknown reason my right hip is deteriorating. I know I'm too young for a hip replacement. Is there anything that can give me relief from the pain and a chance to keep my active lifestyle?
  • My doctor has suggested a hip fusion for me. I'm a little hesitant about doing it. Are there any reasons I shouldn't have this operation?
  • I'm 40-years old and in need of a hip replacement. My doctors says I must wait until I'm at least 50 because the implants don't last more than 15 0r 20 years. Is there really that much difference in the results between patients my age and older patients?
  • I'm 35 years old, and I've had severe hip arthritis from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I've been told I can't get a hip replacement for years yet. Why is that? Shouldn't something be done sooner than later?
  • I had a hip replacement that's gone bad. The doctor says the "PE" is worn thin and cracked and must be replaced. I looked on the internet but all I found was pulmonary embolism for PE. I can't find anything about the hip. What is this?
  • I'm more than a little nervous. After having a total hip replacement, I ended up with a blood clot in my leg. I know these things can go to the lungs and kill you. Now I'm going to have an operation to fuse my spine. Will I get a blood clot every time I have surgery?
  • My doctor tells me I have a mild case of heterotropic ossification, but my pain and limited function tell me it's severe. What's the difference between mild and severe from the doctor's point of view?
  • I got heterotropic ossification after a total hip replacement. I'm still recovering from the hip surgery. What's the treatment for this new problem?
  • My husband is going to have the new minimally invasive hip replacement. He's the only one who drives so I'm anxious to know how long it will be before he's back up on his feet and able to get around, drive, etc.
  • My orthopedic surgeon has explained to me that my hip replacement will be done with the new minimally invasive method. I don't get it. How is this any less "invasive" than a regular hip replacement? They're still going to cut me open, saw the bone in half, and take the old hip out. I understand there's a lot of cutting, drilling, and reaming of the bone. What's not invasive about that?
  • I'm in a water aerobics program for women with arthritis. Many of us have had a total hip replacement. I notice a wide range of differences in our scars. Some women have long scars on the side of the hip. Others have a very small scar along the back. A few have had the hip replacement put in from the front. Why are there so many different scars?
  • My husband is going to have the new minimally invasive hip replacement. He's the only one who drives so I'm anxious to know how long it will be before he's back up on his feet and able to get around, drive, etc.
  • My orthopedic surgeon has explained to me that my hip replacement will be done with the new minimally invasive method. I don't get it. How is this any less "invasive" than a regular hip replacement? They're still going to cut me open, saw the bone in half, and take the old hip out. I understand there's a lot of cutting, drilling, and reaming of the bone. What's not invasive about that?
  • What's the biggest drawback to the newer minimally-invasive joint replacements?
  • I've had osteoporosis for the past 10 years. I'm doing my exercises and taking my medications. I also need a hip replacement. Is it safe to try for it? I've heard brittle bones can break during that operation.
  • I heard the new mini-surgery for hip replacement takes less time and fewer days in the hospital. How much less?
  • My husband had a hip replacement with this new fangled mini-incision operation. He's been complaining of numbness along the front and outside of his thigh ever since. Will this go away?
  • I have pretty bad hip arthritis. The doctor is going to do a hip replacement on the worst side first. The other side isn't really too good. How will I manage with one bum hip and the other one just operated on?
  • My father died of a lung blood clot after having a total hip replacement. Now it's my turn to have this operation. I'm very worried the same thing will happen to me. What can you tell me about this?
  • Six months ago I had my right hip joint replaced. Everything was going fine until the front of my thigh on that same side started hurting. Now I can hardly get up and down the stairs or in and out of the car. Am I just being a big baby? Or does everyone with this problem have so much trouble?
  • My husband is having severe thigh pain from a total hip replacement. How do you know when a problem is bad enough to need more surgery?
  • About a year ago I had a total hip replacement. My hip pain is much better but now I'm starting to have pain along the front of my groin and thigh. Could this be from the new joint?
  • I just got my first batch of papers from the doctor about my upcoming hip replacement surgery. It says I'm supposed to donate two units of blood for myself before the operation. Will I really bleed that much?
  • I'm a person who likes to beat the odds. Next week I'm going to have a total hip replacement done. Can you give me some idea how long it takes to get back up and running?
  • My sister just had a total hip replacement. She's in an awful lot of pain but doesn't want to take the pain meds. She's afraid she'll get addicted. What can I tell her?
  • My mother had a hip replacement two days ago. Everything seemed fine until she got up. She was in so much pain they finally X-rayed her. They found out she had a fracture that was probably there in surgery. How could they miss that?
  • Two months ago I had a total hip replacement. I wasn't prepared for how painful it was afterwards -- worse than my arthritis. Now I'm glad I had it done but I can't help but wonder why they can't do more for patients to reduce the pain.
  • My mother-in-law was just taken into surgery for a total hip replacement. At the last minute they asked her if it was okay to use a regional anesthesia instead of a general. Neither one of us know anything about it. What should we have said?
  • Is there any way to control pain after a hip joint replacement without using narcotic drugs? If they can make the leg numb during surgery why can't they do it after surgery?
  • What is magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA)? I've heard of MRI but not MRA. My doctor wants me to have an MRA to help figure out what's wrong with my hip.
  • I'm 45-years old and need a hip replacement because of arthritis. I played soccer from the time I was in pre-school all the way through college. Even as an adult I played on coed rec teams. Could the soccer playing wear my hip out?
  • After getting a total hip replacement I ended up with nerve damage. It's very disappointing to have to always use a cane and drag my leg around. How often does this happen?
  • I've got a little paralysis from nerve damage after a hip replacement six months ago. It doesn't seem to be getting better. What are my options now?
  • My mother had a hip replacement and ended up with damage to her sciatic nerve. I found a couple reports on the Internet to suggest this happens more now than it ever used to. How come?
  • My 84-year-old mother had surgery for a broken hip. She got antibiotics to prevent infection and blood thinners to prevent blood clots. She still got a urinary tract infection. Six weeks after she left the hospital she died of a blood clot in her lungs. How could this happen?
  • Watching the baby boomers become senior citizens is on all the news. I'm one myself. Besides heart disease, diabetes, and dementia what else do we have to look forward to?
  • I fell and broke my hip while visiting my daughter in Montana. The doctor was going to put me on antibiotics. I refused because I have trouble with intestinal yeast. Why is this use of antibiotics okay when I hear pediatricians say don't use them?
  • Would I qualify for independent living? I'm living alone and need a little help. I've had a hip replacement and I do walk with a cane.
  • A year ago I had a total hip replacement. I did all my exercises and I'm almost back to normal. There is one problem. It feels like that leg is longer than my other leg. Is this possible or am I just imagining it?
  • The orthopedic surgeon says I have a "functional" leg length difference. What does that mean? All I know is one leg is longer than the other.
  • After a new hip replacement I started having back pain that I never had before. My doctor thinks it might be that one leg is longer than the other. The plan is to wait and see what happens. Does this mean the doctor just doesn't know what to do about it?
  • According to the X-rays and my doctor's measurements one of my legs is longer than the other. I'm about 9 months post-hip replacement. I'm having some pain and a little trouble walking normally but it's not too bad. What kinds of problems might occur with this later?
  • I was dumb and tried to play the Twister game with my eight-year old twins. I knew better because I've had some hip problems. This just made it worse. I haven't been able to move my hip since. How long can I wait-and-see if it will heal on its own?
  • Is it possible to have a "frozen" hip? I've had a frozen shoulder before and now my hip feels just like that shoulder did.
  • How can I find out what's wrong with my hip? I've had an X-ray and an MRI. Both were "normal". But I can tell you that hip is not "normal". I have pain and can't bend it all the way or turn it in. Sometimes I have trouble turning my hip out, too. Where do I go from here?
  • My 87-year old mother fell and broke her hip. She had surgery and she's still in the hospital. The staff is talking about sending her to rehab. How is this decided?
  • My mother is in a rehab program after having surgery for a hip fracture. We notice she's getting short of breath with even the slightest activity. She wasn't this way before the operation. What could be causing it?
  • My father was hospitalized for a hip fracture. They found out he's also anemic and has low folic acid. Will this keep him in the hospital longer? He really wants to go back home as soon as possible.
  • My mother died of a blood clot to the lungs in 1972 shortly after having a total hip replacement. Now it's my turn to have a hip replacement and I'm scared the same thing will happen to me. Is that possible?
  • My husband had a total hip replacement a week ago. I'm really having trouble helping him with the TED hose. Can we just leave these off now that he's home from the hospital?
  • My father is just home from the hospital after surgery for a hip fracture. When the home health nurse came and talked to him, he told her he could do all sorts of things he can't really do. I'm afraid he won't qualify for services based on the interview. What can I do?
  • When my mother went in to see her doctor for the follow-up visit after her hip fracture no one asked her anything about how she was doing at home. No one asked her anything about laundry, getting in and out of the tub, or even how far she can walk. This seems like a pretty important measure of how she's doing. Shouldn't someone be checking up on these kinds of activities?
  • I hear a lot of statistics about the high cost of hip fractures in older adults. So many of my older friends have Medicare, Veterans' benefits, private insurance, or no insurance. How do they keep track of everyone?
  • I heard that most hip fractures are in women over 65. Can you explain why this happens?
  • My 78-year old mother was very active until she fell and broke her hip. In fact, she was leading daily exercise classes at the Senior Citizens. She decided to go ahead and have the hip replaced instead of just pinning it together. Would she be better off in the long-run with a shorter rehab and less surgery with a simple repair? Hip replacement seems like much more trouble.
  • Our orthopedic surgeon tells me total hip replacement is better than fixing or repairing many hip fractures. How much "better" is better? And what's better about it?
  • My neighbor has had three hip replacements -- all on one side. I didn't know it was even possible to have more than one. Does this happen very often?
  • My mother has put off having her total hip replacement repaired. It is loose and her hip is unstable. We're worried that the longer she waits, the worse the results will be. Is there any reality to our fears?
  • I'm going to have a new hip joint put in. I have both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. I'm taking Fosamax for the osteoporosis. Will this interfere with my new hip?
  • Whenever I lift my leg straight up in front or to the side, I feel (and I think I can hear) a snapping sound. It doesn't hurt but it's very annoying. I'm taking a ballet class and we use this movement often. What can cause this problem?
  • I have diabetes and severe hip arthritis. I know there's a concern about infection if I have a hip joint replacement. But what happens if I get an infection? Can't I just take an antibiotic?
  • I've had two hip replacements on one side. The first one got an infection and had to be removed and replaced. The second one started sinking down into the bone. We had to start over again. I've lost a lot of bone with all these surgeries. What can they really do now?
  • My father-in-law is just going into surgery for a broken hip. We won't know until he comes out if they can repair it or if it has to be replaced. Isn't it better to save the natural bone if possible? How do they decide these things?
  • Have you ever heard of getting arthritis in a joint replacement? That's what my doctor tells me is causing my hip pain. How is that possible?
  • I've heard that the United States has the highest cost for surgeries like total hip or total knee replacements. Why is that?
  • I've always known I have a hip problem called dysplasia. Just the left hip was affected but now I'm starting to have right hip pain. Is this just because I tend to favor that left hip?
  • I just came back from the doctor's where I found out I have hip dysplasia. My hip started hurting about six months ago and the X-rays showed this deformity. How often does this happen, and what does it mean in the long-run?
  • Both my parents have had total hip replacements. Both have had to have a second operation on the same hip. Is this a common thing or just a coincidence?
  • I've been a nurse on the med-surg floor for over 20 years. I think we are seeing more and more hip fractures in patients with a hip replacement. What's causing this increase in numbers?
  • I had a knee arthroscopy to repair a torn medial meniscus. Now I see they can do this on the hip, too. I'm having some hip pain. Can they do an arthroscope and see what's wrong?
  • I'm 33 years old and having chronic hip pain. X-rays are negative. I can't recall doing anything to hurt myself. Where do I go from here?
  • I've had constant hip and groin pain for the last six months. X-rays don't show anything. There hasn't been any trauma or injury that I know of. The doctor's not even sure where the pain is coming from. It could be my back, ovaries, hip, or even an undiagnosed hernia. What's the next step?
  • As a child I was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Now at age 33, I have a hip labral tear. Are these two conditions related?
  • I saw the winner of this year's Tour de France (Floyd Landis) needs a hip replacement. He's only a young 30-something. What's the age of the average patient who gets a hip replacement?
  • My mother is thinking about having a total hip replacement. She's 72-years old. The doctor says the new implants last about 15 to 20 years. Does anyone have an implant that lasts longer than that? As she gets older, a second hip replacement may not work so well. We'd like to avoid that if possible.
  • I was born with hip dysplasia. I've had five operations to keep the hip from dislocating. It worked pretty well until I reached my 40s. Now I'm starting to have hip problems again with frequent dislocations. Would a hip replacement be a good idea now?
  • I've been very lucky with my hip joint replacement. I've had it 15 years without a problem. Now it looks like the plastic liner inside the socket has worn thin and needs to be replaced. Should I just have the whole hip replaced at the same time?
  • I just got the results of my hip X-rays. One hip has arthritis but just at the top of the thigh bone. The round ball in the socket is all broken down. It's not really round anymore. Do I have to have a whole hip replacement just for one part?
  • My mother just had a partial hip replacement. I guess it was like having a tooth capped. Just the top of his femur was replaced. She ended up with a hip fracture afterwards. Is this common?
  • I had a total hip replacement about two weeks ago. I have to wear a special brace that keeps my legs apart. It's supposed to prevent the hip from dislocating. It feels like I could get around a lot better without this contraption. Do I really need this thing?
  • My husband had a total hip replacement about a year ago and went home from the hospital after five or six days. Now he has to have a second operation on that same hip. Should I expect about the same length of time in the hospital?
  • I've been seeing a physical therapist for hip pain from arthritis. How long before I can expect to see some improvement?
  • My doctor thinks I have the start of hip osteoarthritis. What is this disease anyway?
  • My mother had a total hip replacement for her very bad arthritis. The pain seems much better but she's really not any more active. She just seems to sit a lot. Is that bad for her hip?
  • My husband had a total hip replacement about six months ago. He's back to running and playing tennis as if nothing ever happened. Is there any danger of being too active after with a joint replacement?
  • My 90-year old grandma just broke her hip. She has a total hip replacement on that side, so how can she break a hip?
  • What is cement disease? I've heard you can get it from a hip replacement. Is that true?
  • I had a total hip replacement almost 10 years ago. I evidently have a customized lateral flare cementless femoral stem. I understand the cementless part, but what does it mean to have a lateral flare?
  • My father was just told he has advanced-stage arthritis of his left hip and needs a joint replacement. How serious is this?
  • When I was a child the doctor diagnosed me with hip dysplasia. Now that I'm older (53 years old), arthritis has set in. The X-rays show quite a few cysts in the hip socket. What causes these and how do I get rid of them?
  • My 72-year old grandpa just had a total hip replacement. They said the socket fractured during the operation. Does this happen very often? What happens now?
  • I had a total hip replacement last year. At the time, there was a fracture of the acetabular cup. It happened when the surgeon was inserting the cup into the socket. It healed fine but now I'm starting to wonder if that cup will last as long as it should. What happens 10 years down the road?
  • I had one of these new minimally invasive hip operations to get a new hip. Now I have constant numbness along the front of my thigh on that side. Will this ever go away?
  • I've heard there's a new way to put a total hip joint in with only two small incisions. Can anyone getting a total hip have this type of operation?
  • My doctor told me that hip replacements can be put in with or without cement. Evidently I'm young enough to have an uncemented one. How old do you have to be for the cemented hip?
  • I've heard if I want a good hip replacement that lasts, I should go to Sweden. Is there any truth to this idea?
  • I've had one hip replaced about five years ago. It was cemented in place and seems to be holding up fine. Now I need the second hip replaced. My surgeon is suggesting an uncemented implant. Will it hold up as well as my cemented hip?
  • What is a sport hip replacement? I'm 34-years old and in need of a replacement but they tell me I'm too young. Is this a new alternative for guys like me?
  • I'm planning to have a joint resurfacing done to my right hip next month. The surgeon has warned me that hip fracture is a possible complication of this procedure. Is there anything I can do to keep this from happening?
  • After my hip replacement, the surgeon gave me a special card to get me through airport security. This doesn't seem to make any difference. I still have to go through the detection unit. Will this damage or harm my implant?
  • My total hip replacement lasted all of five years. It started loosening up and had to be removed. In the process I'm told that pieces of bone came out with it. I had to have a bone graft to fill in the holes. Does this happen very often?
  • Is there any way to tell (X-rays maybe?) how my bone graft is doing? I had some bone chips put in around my hip when the joint replacement had to be replaced.
  • My father-in-law had hip replacement surgery. He's going to have physical function tests today to see if he can go home. What does this mean really? What kind of physical function do they test? Is driving a car included in those tests?
  • Both my parents and my mother-in-law have had total hip or total knee replacements. The women were very confused and disoriented after surgery. Is this more common for women than men? If so, does anyone know why this happens?
  • My husband had a total hip replacement last month. He also had a heart attack about two weeks later. We didn't even know it was happening until it was all over. We thought his symptoms of weakness, fatigue, and restlessness were part of his recovery. Does this happen very often? Shouldn't patients be told ahead of time to watch out for this?
  • My husband is going to have a total hip replacement. The surgeon showed us the different types of implants. I noticed one that looked like a clothespin on the end. What does that feature offer that the regular implant doesn't have?
  • I think I may need a total hip replacement. I asked my doctor about just having the new joint resurfacing surgery instead. She doesn't think that's a good idea. Should I press the issue?
  • My fairly new hip replacement came loose and dislocated. I never had a clue it was coming. The surgeon said it was the result of bone loss. Shouldn't I have felt something before it happened? What did I miss here?
  • In the early 1980s I had hip surgery to resurface the joint rather than replace it. Everything was fine for the first 10 years. After that it was one thing and then another. I finally had to have a total hip replacement. Did this happen often or am I a rare bird?
  • My surgeon has given me a choice about what kind of incision to have for my total hip replacement. I can have a mini-posterior or two-incision operation. He has carefully explained both types to me. What do other patients say who have these operations?
  • I am an over-the-road trucker. I need a total hip replacement but can't be off work too long. How long does it take most people to get back behind the wheel?
  • I'm a 42-year old active male with serious hip pain. When I was 36, I saw a surgeon who told me I'm too young for a hip replacement. Has anything changed in the last six years? I'm still suffering and would really like to remain active.
  • Our adult son tells us he has a torn labrum in his hip that needs fixing. I understand this is a rim of cartilage around the hip socket. How do they put that back together?
  • How long does it usually take to put a new hip replacement in? My mother was out of surgery in less than 90 minutes. Two days later, she dislocated the new hip. Is there a connection here?
  • My husband broke his hip in a skiing accident this morning. He's in surgery now. They didn't know what kind of operation he would have -- he could even end up with a total hip replacement. How is this decided, anyway?
  • I'm only 23-years old but I'm having some serious problems with hip pain. I used to dance a lot and participate in sports every season. Could I already be getting arthritis?
  • My daughter is going through puberty and many things are changing about her body. Yesterday, she showed me how she can pop or snap her hip everytime she lifts her leg. Is this normal? What's causing it?
  • I've been a hiking leader for our local hiking group for the past 10 years. Last year I had a total hip replacement. After 6 months, I'm still not able to go up and down hills without a lot of soreness later. Will this gradually get better?
  • I notice all the older women in my family either have their hip or knee (sometimes both!) replaced. What can I do to avoid this myself?
  • My 89-year old grandma just had a total hip replacement. I love my grandma, but with all the incredible health care costs in this country, why do they do these expensive operations on old people?
  • My wife is having the new minimally invasive surgery for her total hip replacement. I've been advised she may come home as early as the same day but will most likely be kept overnight. Does this seem right? What if something serious happens?
  • Ten years ago I had a total hip replacement. I haven't had a speck of trouble with it. Lately I've started to notice that my thigh looks a little swollen. There isn't any pain. Could this be caused by my new hip or is something else going on?
  • I heard that shoulder replacements are rare compared to hip or knee replacements. Since I'm thinking of having a shoulder replacement operation, I'm wondering: how safe is this surgery?
  • My grandma fell and broke her hip while I was visiting her. The ambulance came and took her to the local hospital. She had surgery to replace part of her hip. My parents think she would have done better if she was taken to a larger hospital. There is a regional medical center in a bigger town several miles away. Does it really matter? Isn't getting to the hospital the most important thing?
  • I see from the internet that if I want to have the best total hip replacement, I should go to a high-volume hospital. What does that mean really?
  • My father had a total hip replacement about six months ago. I notice since the operation, he can't walk and talk at the same time. Why is that?
  • Last month, my older sister had a total hip replacement and was home in three days. She still seems so insecure. I'm worried about her. She's not moving much and seems too inactive. What can I do to help?
  • I am a 35-year old hospital nurse. Eighteen months ago, I tried to help a patient keep from falling. In the process, I tore the labrum (cartilage) in my hip. Even though I'm fairly young, the X-ray showed advanced arthritis on top of the injury. Would I be a good candidate for a hip resurfacing instead of a total joint replacement?
  • I am very disappointed because I had a hip joint resurfacing in order to avoid having a total hip replacement. At 38, my surgeon thought I'm too young for a total hip replacement. Unfortunately, my hip fractured shortly after the operation. I ended up with a total hip replacement anyway. Does this happen very often?
  • My surgeon wants me to take a blood thinner after I have my total hip replacement. How do these drugs really prevent blood clots?
  • What is a skylight sign? When the surgeon showed me Dad's hip X-rays, she said a skylight sign tipped her off to avoid a hip fracture during Dad's hip replacement operation.
  • My mother has been complaining of thigh pain after her total hip replacement. Could this be caused by a problem with the new hip? Or is something else going on?
  • My mother is considering having a hip joint resurfacing instead of the full hip joint replacement. She is relatively young (62-years old) and says she can always convert to the total hip replacement later if need be. Is this really true?
  • As a result of a severe case of hip dysplasia, at age 28, I had a hip joint resurfacing procedure done. So far, it's lasted five years. What are my chances I'll be able to keep this implant for the rest of my life?
  • I have had a snapping hip for quite a while now. It doesn't bother me so I've never gotten it checked. Should I?
  • My mother has been suffering from hip pain for a while and now her doctor is suggesting that she have a hip replacement. How is the decision made and who should have a replacement and when?
  • I am an active horsewoman with a busy horse farm. Because of my severe hip arthritis, I can't ride anymore. Would the new hip resurfacing surgery I saw advertised in the paper put me back in the saddle again?
  • I'm going to have my right hip resurfaced. I understand this is a way to put off having a total hip replacement for now. The surgeon tells me at my age (43 years old), this is the best route to take. How much motion can I expect to get back after the surgery?
  • My brother is only 46, but his doctor is telling him that he should think about having a hip replacement. Isn't he kind of young for that?
  • Can both hips be replaced at the same time?
  • My husband had bone cancer several years ago, which seems to be under control. Now he needs a knee replacement. His oncologist wants him to go to a specialty orthopedic hospital for the surgery. Is this really necessary?
  • I went to the doctor for hip bursitis but found out I have something called GTPS. I was told it's more common in women than men but no other explanation was offered. Can you tell me what it is about being a woman that makes the difference?
  • My older aunts used to always complain about hip bursitis when the weather changed. I have pain alongside my hip in the same place they always rubbed when complaining. It doesn't seem to be related to the weather. Is it bursitis or something else?
  • I would like to have that new operation for hip arthritis to resurface the joint instead of a total hip replacement. But my surgeon says I'm not a good candidate for this treatment. Who can have this procedure?
  • I had a hip resurfacing operation about a year ago. I'm already hearing that this operation is much better now. What's the difference?
  • What is femoroacetabular impingement and what causes it?
  • What's a pistol grip deformity of the hip?
  • My daughter is a single parent of a new baby boy. She (our daughter) was born with a hip condition called hip dysplasia. Should we make sure the new baby is also checked for this problem? How do we do that?
  • What is the hip-spine syndrome?
  • My mother is going to have hip replacement surgery soon. Is there anything she can do to prepare for it to make for an easier recovery?
  • My doctor is suggesting that I go for a hip replacement. If I agree, how long will it be before I can walk and do stairs on my own again?
  • The doctor I saw recently thought the pain in my groin area might be coming from a hip problem called impingement. But after three sets of X-rays and an MRI, it turns out the pain was coming from my lumbar spine. Was it really necessary to take so many X-rays?
  • What is a hip impingement? What causes it?
  • I'm having quite a bit of thigh pain that I'm afraid might be coming from my hip replacement. I thought it would go away with a little rest, but it hasn't. What could be causing this to happen?
  • Eighteen years ago, I had both hips replaced with ceramic implants. They have held up very well for me. I've kept my weight down all these years. But now I'm starting to gain more weight. Will this hurt my hips?
  • I have a brand new ceramic hip replacement and it squeaks when I walk. What in the world causes this? Will it go away?
  • I have a squeaking hip thanks to my new ceramic hip replacement. It doesn't hurt but it's very annoying. Can anything be done about this?
  • My mother has an artificial hip and sometimes she hears "clicking" when she walks. What does that mean?
  • My doctor said that he wants me to wait before having a hip replacement because I am only 45 years old. But, I'm in a lot of pain, which he doesn't seem to understand. Why does he want me to wait?
  • My wife had a very complicated hip surgery to revise the first hip replacement she got last year. They had to cut off part of her hip bone and then reattach it with wires. X-rays show that the wire didn't hold the bone in place and it has slid up. We're trying to decide what to do. Can she avoid another surgery?
  • My father just had surgery to revise a total hip he had done last year. The doctor has given him strict warnings not to put any weight on that leg just yet. He's also been told not to abduct his operated leg. Dad's pretty cantakerous. He's likely to do it anyway. What can happen if he doesn't follow orders?
  • When I was a child, I had a hip problem called Perthes disease. As an adult, sometimes I have hip pain but not always. Should I do anything special to keep this from getting worse?
  • I know that orthopedic surgeons are reluctant to do a total hip replacement on younger adults. But aren't the newer materials and improved technology enough to help implants last longer now?
  • I am a plumber in business for myself. After 20 years of crawling and climbing in cramped places, my right hip is about wore out. The doc says I'm too young for a hip replacement. I've been told I might be a good candidate for a joint resurfacing job. What good is that?
  • Two months after I had my left hip joint resurfaced, I had to have it removed and a total hip done instead. Does this happen very often?
  • I recently had an operation to save my hip joint. Instead of doing a total hip replacement, the surgeon resurfaced both sides of the joint. I remember them telling me that if it didn't work, I could always have the joint replaced later. I don't remember what could go wrong to make that necessary.
  • My mother is in the hospital with a broken hip. The doctor says it might take months for this type of break to heal. She may not get back to full weight-bearing for up to five months. Mom is in excellent health. Why will this take so long?
  • My 85-year old father fell from his roof while cleaning out his gutters. The surgery for his hip fracture went well but the surgeon says he's not out of the woods yet. We're not sure what that means exactly. Can you enlighten us?
  • I've heard of arthroscopy done for shoulders and knees, but never for hips. Why is that?
  • My father has been having a lot of pain in his left hip but his doctor says that this is being caused by arthritis in his back. How is it that the pain is in the hip?
  • My mother had a shot into her hip - the doctor said it was to find out if it was really her hip causing her hip pain or if it was her back. Could you explain how this works?
  • My mother has been diagnosed with a hip problem called arthrokatadysis. I can't find anything on this. What is it?
  • My son, who is only in his early 20s, has been diagnosed with something called osteonecrosis of the hip. The doctor told him that part of his bone had died. What does that mean?
  • My husband has osteonecrosis of the hip. The doctor says he will probably do a hip replacement eventually but wants to try other treatments first. He said something about a medication for thinning bones. Will that help?
  • My hip is going to be replaced but I am under 55. My doctor says that people my age who are active should have something called a partial hip replacement. Can you explain what that is?
  • My mother was told that she should lie in bed a certain way after her hip replacement. Why is that?
  • My mother will be coming to stay with me after she has her hip resurfacing. Her doctor said it was a good idea for her to stay with me. How can I help her have a good recovery period?
  • Is it possible that a doctor would want to do a partial replacement on one hip and a total replacement on the other?
  • I have heard of range-of-motion exercises, but what are they? Do they make a joint stronger?
  • Why is it hard to get a good range of motion with my hip sometimes?
  • As I am getting older, my friends are starting to need surgeries like knee and hip replacements. I understand that different doctors do things different ways, but why is it that one person who has a hip replacement may go into a nursing home for a few weeks and not allowed to walk, while others go home with crutches and exercises?
  • I read of studies of patients who had hip replacements. How do you know if you will get the good care if you participate in such a study?
  • I'm going to ask my surgeon about the new smaller incisions that can be used to do a total hip replacement. But I really don't know enough to know what questions to ask. What should I be thinking about?
  • I'm going to have one of those new fangled mini-hip replacements. I'm supposed to be in and out on the same day. What should I figure on for recovery time with rehab and all?
  • My husband is quite a bit older than me and needs surgery to repair a displaced, broken hip. The surgeon has explained the two options: repair or hip replacement. It does make sense to try and repair it first. If it doesn't work, then we can still go with the hip replacement. Is there a downside to this approach?
  • Over the holidays, Gramma fell and broke her hip. They say she has a displaced femoral neck fracture. When the surgeon gets back, they will decide whether to fix or replace the hip. She is in pretty good health but slowly declining. What should we opt for?
  • I'm thinking about having an operation called hip joint resurfacing. But I've heard the metal used can cause problems. What kind of problems are likely?
  • I've been surfing the web for solutions to my hip arthritis. At age 42, I'm not ready for a hip replacement. But what about this new hip resurfacing technique? I've never heard about it before. Is it safe? Does it work?
  • My father is a very active 87-year old man. But his arthritis has really slowed him down in the last two years. We think he should get a hip replacement. It's possible he could live another 10 years or more. He's not convinced it's worth it. What do the doctors say?
  • My Aunt Luella is a very large, but very active woman. She could really use a total hip replacement but she's afraid her diabetes and obesity will kill her on the operating table. What can I tell her to calm her fears?
  • I helped care for my aunt about 10 years ago when she fell and broke her hip. Now I'm taking care of my mother for the same problem. Both times a physical therapist was involved. But I notice a big difference this time. Therapy for my aunt was in the hospital gym. She went through the program quickly. Mom is only getting range of motion and breathing exercises. Why the difference?
  • Dad is in the hospital with a hip fracture. This is a first for our family. What can we do to help him maintain his independent lifestyle once he's home?
  • My doctor told me after I got my hip replacement to "stay active." This was her prescription for keeping me healthy and prevent further problems. Just how much activity is needed that won't be too much for my new hip? I know the joint replacement won't last forever, so I don't want to overdo it.
  • I know I need to exercise more. But after my total hip replacement, I seemed to just lose my get-up-and-go. I'm more active now than I was before the operation. Is that enough?
  • I notice that whenever I try to do any yoga postures with my right leg moving across my body that I get a sharp pain in my right hip. When this happens, it feels like the hip is bumping up against something and can't go any further. What could be causing this?
  • How can I find out what's causing my hip pain? I don't notice it so much during the day but at night it aches like a son of a gun. I didn't fall or hurt myself that I can remember. It just started bothering me all of a sudden.
  • My older sister just emailed me that she has a broken leg that isn't healing. She called it a femoral nonunion. I know she tripped over the dog and fell about six months ago. I thought it would be better by now. What could be keeping her from getting better?
  • My husband has a long pin inside his femur for a bad break he got in a motorcycle accident. Now they want to take it out and put another bigger one in there. How is that going to help him? What's wrong with the pin he has now?
  • Mother fell and broke her hip last week. She's still in the hospital after surgery. We are preparing everything for her return home. But what's the prognosis for an injury of this kind? What should we expect?
  • Does it make a difference in recovery for patients based on the type of hip fracture they have? My aging aunt has what's called an intertrochanteric hip fracture. I got the impression from the hospital staff that this is the worst kind. Why is that?
  • My wife fell and fractured her hip. They called it a femoral neck fracture. She's in the hospital for surgery. Once they stabilize her, she will have a hip replacement. The surgeon has suggested just doing a half-replacement. Should we go with this? Or is it better to just have the full hip replacement done?
  • My father had a hip replacement that went bad. After they replaced the replacement, the new hip started dislocating on him. What do we do now?
  • I had a hip joint resurfacing about three months ago. I'm still having quite a bit of pain, and I can't bend down to pick my shoes up off the floor. Is this normal?
  • I'm just starting to research the idea of a metal hip joint resurfacing procedure. What can you tell me about this treatment?
  • My father is in a nursing home and broke his hip. It looks like he can get by with surgery to pin the hip, rather than have a hip replacement. The social worker from the home seemed very pleased to tell us that they found a board certified orthopedic surgeon to do the surgery. Why is this so important?
  • My wife and I are snowbirds. We winter in Florida and summer in Idaho. She broke her hip while we were in Idaho. The next year I broke my hip while in Florida. We both had surgery to repair the damage. Her surgeon put in a plate and sliding compression screw (so he tells us). My surgeon used a screw through a short nail. What's the difference and why didn't they do the surgery in the same way?
  • I went to see a physical therapist about my hip pain. It felt like I was having a charley horse in the front of my hip. The therapist did some tests and gave me some press-up exercises for my back. My hip pain went away right away. How can doing back exercises affect the hip that way?
  • I have heard that it isn't good to have a hip replacement when you are too young. Why is that? You would think that a younger person is healthier for surgery.
  • I heard there is an alternative to replacing hips now. Is this true?
  • My father complains about hip pain all the time but refuses to have a hip replacement. His wife (my stepmother) keeps pushing him to get it done. Is that such a good idea? If he doesn't want it, he probably won't be a very cooperative patient either.
  • I know I need a hip replacement but I just don't know if I can face any more pain than I already have. I understand those first few days after the surgery can be brutal. Am I right?
  • Mother has severe hip pain from arthritis that is limiting her ability to get around. Will having a total hip replacement help her?
  • My wife had a total hip replacement about six months ago. She complains that she still can't do things but seems to get along fine to me. How can I help her see how well she's really doing?
  • I'm having some trouble with pain along the outside of my leg up by the hip. It the worst when I lie down on side. My sister is a nurse and says this is common in women my age (63 years old). She has it too and says not to worry about it. I'd really like to know what's causing it.
  • I have a very tender and painful point along the side of my hip. My doctor thinks I have hip bursitis but nothing showed up on the X-ray or MRI. Is there some other way to figure out what's going on?
  • When our son was much younger, he was diagnosed with Perthes disease. He was treated and everything seemed okay. Now that he's older (26-years old) it looks like he has some more hip problems. Now it's a deformed hip socket. Why didn't they fix this when he was a child?
  • We are really concerned that Dad's hip range-of-motion is getting worse instead of better. He has fairly severe hip arthritis. Each time a therapist measures him, it seems to slip a few degrees. What can we do to help him at least maintain his motion?
  • I went with my aunt to the physical therapist's office. I was able to watch how they measured her hip and knee motion before surgery. For some of the measurements, they strapped her leg down to the table. Why is that necessary?
  • My 87-year old father was just admitted to the hospital for surgery for a broken hip. We know his age is against him. He's also a smoker, so that's another strike against him. What can we do to help prevent complications and problems after the operation?
  • I am a 10-year breast cancer survivor. As I get older, I'm aware that my chances of falling and breaking a hip go up every year. Is there any direct link between having cancer and having a hip fracture?
  • Dad fell and broke his hip for the second time last week. The first break occurred last Christmas. He's had surgery but he seems much slower coming out of it this time. We think he may be showing some early signs of dementia. Could this be the reason for his slow recovery?
  • My uncle is in the hospital for a hip fracture. I heard he waited in the emergency department for 48-hours with nothing to eat or drink before they did the surgery. This seems abusive to me. Is it standard procedure? Can't something be done to speed up the process?
  • Dad is having a total hip replacement and wants to come straight home. We'd like him to stay in the transition unit and have rehab services. Is there any way to convince him to take his time with this?
  • I've heard that only male athletes are being given the new hip joints where they resurface rather than replace the joint. Is this really true?
  • Why is the U.S. so far behind in the treatment of hip arthritis? I'm finding all kinds of doctors in England, Australia, and Europe who do joint resurfacing. It seems to be very limited here in our country. I want this procedure done but I really don't want to have to travel so far. What do you suggest?
  • My surgeon says I'm over the age limit to be considered for a hip joint resurfacing procedure. I really hate the thought of having a total hip replacement when I could have something less dramatic. Would another doctor consent or is this age thing really set in stone?
  • I'm 59-years old. I've had one total hip replacement on the right. Now I'm looking at a joint resurfacing procedure for the left. I understand this new procedure is less invasive. Will the rehab and recovery afterwards be easier, too?
  • Can you tell us what is a reverse intertrochanteric fracture?
  • Mother has stated she does not want any medical intervention in her old age. She has an advanced directive, but it doesn't say anything about how to handle the hip fracture she just developed after a bad fall. And now she is in great pain and unable to say what she wants. What are our options here?
  • I fractured my hip two years ago and had to have a hip replacement. I did the whole rehab thing and came out okay. I notice I'm still a little tippy from time to time -- I have trouble keeping my balance. Is there anything I can do to improve my balance? I do work out at the gym (on the exercise equipment) three to four times a week.
  • I'm 81-years old and doing pretty good. I did break my hip last winter but I'm back on the golf course now. I do notice that side seems weaker and gets tired faster when walking. What can I do to catch the bad side up to the good side?
  • Mother is in the hospital with a hip fracture. She's 92-years old. The staff called a meeting to decide how to handle her care. There were 10 people there plus myself (her daughter). No wonder the cost of health care is sky high. Why couldn't the doctor just sit down with me and work this out together?
  • My husband fell playing tennis at age 90 and broke his hip. He was always so proud he could still play. Despite his good mobility before the fracture, they are saying he probably won't walk alone again. What do they base these absurd predictions on? How do they know what he will or won't do?
  • I thought I was going to be spared having a total hip replacement by going for joint resurfacing. But I ended up with a hip fracture and a second surgery to replace the hip anyway. No one seems to know what caused the problem. What are some possible reasons for this happening to me?
  • My father had a hip joint resurfacing surgery. He's fairly active and thought this would help save the hip in case he needed a hip replacement later. Unfortunately, exactly four months later, his hip broke and he ended up with a total hip anyway. Is this a common problem? We don't know what to think about it.
  • My adult children are pushing me to have a hip replacement. I don't really want to have surgery. I think I can put up with the pain. But the kids are worried that I'm not active enough. Would a new hip really make that much difference? Doesn't having surgery cause pain, too?
  • My husband's mother has moved in with us. She's 77 and in fair health but definitely having some problems. We are trying to encourage and help her get some exercise. What are the experts saying these days about how much exercise is needed for older adults?
  • My right hip has been bugging me off and on for two weeks. I have a hip replacement on that side so I'm a little worried. Could this be caused by a problem with the implant?
  • When I was in the hospital with an infection of my hip replacement, they did bunches and bunches of tests before they finally figured out what was wrong. Was this really necessary?
  • I'm 56, postmenopausal, and noticing a sudden change in my hip flexibility. My older sister has pretty bad hip arthritis. She started having this same change when she was around my age. Does it sound like I'm going to get arthritis too?
  • My doctor thinks I might have hip arthritis. She would like me to have an X-ray. I'd like to avoid any more exposure to radiation. Can this condition be diagnosed without X-rays?
  • Have you ever heard of calcific bursitis of the hip? That's what I have. What can you tell me about it?
  • I saw my primary care physician for hip pain that just won't go away. Despite a huge amount of time testing me every which way, there's no known cause for the problem. Should I insist on X-rays or an MRI?
  • I'm looking into the idea of having a total hip replacement. I see on-line that they make the implants out of different materials. I really like the idea of having ceramic ones. How do they hold up?
  • I'm a little embarrassed to ask this question. But have you ever heard of a hip replacement squeaking during sexual intercourse? I don't notice it at any other time. It's very annoying. What can be done about it?
  • I'm going to have my left hip replaced in a couple of months. I'm only 54-years-old, so I want to go with an implant that will last as long as possible. What do you think of the ceramic type?
  • Well, I hate to admit it, but Mother is a bit of a drinker. We didn't tell the doctor, and now she has fallen and dislocated her new hip replacement. Should we say something? Or is it already too late?
  • I've had two hip replacements now. Both are made out of ceramic. The first one was done in the year 2000. I just got the second one last year. I've had no problems with the first hip. But the second one seems to grind and squeak whenever I bend my hip. The same surgeon did both hips. What could be causing this weird sound?
  • Do you think dementia should prevent my father from having a total hip replacement? He is still in good health and otherwise mobile. But we are worried he'll get up and walk on it when he shouldn't.
  • I feel like I'm on medical Let's Make a Deal. I have a badly broken femoral neck fracture. I've been given the choice of door number one: internal fixation, door number two: hemiarthroplasty, or door number three: total hip replacement. I'm a relatively young (62-year old) corporate executive. I need to get back on my feet as fast as possible. What do the experts say I should do?
  • We are trying to help Dad navigate his upcoming hip surgery. The surgeon is suggesting going with a cemented implant. They are only doing a half-joint replacement. We understand the two options are cemented versus cementless. What's best?
  • Dad is home alone now. Last year, he broke a hip and now he uses a walker. The doctor has prescribed Fosamax for him. But I can't get him to take it consistently. We are worried he's going to fall and break something else. Any suggestions?
  • I fell and broke my hip two weeks ago. I finally made it out of the hospital and home again. Now my doctor is after me to take drugs for osteoporosis. I don't see what's all the fuss. I already broke the hip. How is taking some medication going to change anything?
  • Do you have any idea how my golf game might be affected by having my hip replaced? Right now, the pain keeps me from going more than 9-holes once a week. And my drive falls way short of what it used to. Can I even play golf after this kind of surgery?
  • Since my new hip replacement, I've become much more interested in exercise. I have no pain and feel like I could tackle some fun activities. I remember the surgeon telling me to avoid certain activities like jogging or tennis. How about horseback riding or cross-country skiing? I used to do those when I was younger. I wouldn't mind trying them again now.
  • When I got my total hip replacement five years ago, they told me to expect it to last 10 to 15-years. Since I'm only 69 years old, I'm hoping to outlive my implant by a long shot. Have there been any changes in the predictions in the last five years?
  • What does it mean to have revision surgery for a total hip replacement? My twin sister is having this operation next week. I'm wondering if she needs me to come help take care of her.
  • My grandmother, who was a happy, independent woman, died after she broke her hip when she was 82. She just went from being herself to a shell. I'm told that happens but why?
  • I know that this sounds way off, but why not just replace hips before they get broken? So many old people break them anyway.
  • When my mother broke her hip, she could barely walk and she was in incredible pain. She had fallen and cracked it. My mother-in-law was only having a bit of pain in her hip but when she went to the doctor, she was told she'd broken it and had to have surgery. How is that possible? My mother-in-law never fell or got hurt. She's active and plays tennis and stuff still. And, the doctor had to do special tests to see the break, he couldn't even see it on x-ray.
  • I'm really disgusted about how really old people are having expensives surgeries like total hip replacements. Why would any 100+ year old need a new hip? It just doesn't make sense to me.
  • We are trying to help Mother make up her mind about having a hip replacement. Dad had it done a year ago and everything went quite well. We can't figure out her hesitation. What do you suggest?
  • I have spent months and months being treated for a hip problem that was finally diagnosed correctly as a hip bursitis. Why was this so hard to figure out in the first place?
  • I took my father in for an injection for hip bursitis. I was amazed by how much better he was after just one treatment. He's still complaining about a little bit of pain. Should we have him get another injection?
  • I am a yoga instructor with a very painful hip. I can't figure it out because my joints are very loose. But every time I flex my hip past 90-degrees or try to cross my legs, I get a very sharp pain deep in my hip. What could be causing this?
  • I saw a surgeon who wants to do surgery to dislocate my hip in order to fix it so it won't keep pinching the joint cartilage when I bend and rotate my leg. I'm thinking, no thanks. Is there a better way to take care of this problem?
  • Have you ever heard of a cervical hip fracture? What is that? I thought the cervical bones were in the neck, not in the hip.
  • My brother has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. We've suspected it for a long time. We are most concerned about him falling and breaking his head open. He's already taken a few spills at home. What can we do to help prevent this from happening?
  • Whenever I extend my leg and then bend it again, I get a painful snapping across the front of my hip. It's loud enough you can actually hear it. The orthopedic surgeon says it's a snapping hip syndrome. Nothing showed up on an X-ray. Would it be helpful to have a CT scan or an MRI to make sure that's really what's wrong?
  • After a very long and unsuccessful attempt at treating my snapping hip syndrome, I finally decided to have surgery to release the hip tendons on both sides. I'm hoping to be through rehab by the time soccer season starts again. How long does it take to get my full strength and motion back?
  • I have a deep pain in my groin that my doctor diagnosed as a hip problem - arthritis. I always thought if you had hip pain, it was on the outside?
  • What is a hip impingement? That's what I've been told is causing my hip pain.
  • I'm a 42-year-old woman with early hip arthritis from a condition they call impingement. Right now my treatment options are fairly limited. I can (and will) try physical therapy. Surgery is the only other choice. If I wait 10 years will there be better (less invasive) ways to solve this problem?
  • When I had my first hip replacement, they put me on a morphine-pump that I could operate myself. I could push the button every 10 minutes and get a small dose of the painkiller. The problem with that were the terrible side effects. It made me so nauseous, I could hardly stand up in therapy to walk. That was five-years ago. Now that I'm ready for my next hip surgery, I'm checking to see if things have improved. I hate the thought of going through that again.
  • I had a strange experience in the hospital after my total hip replacement. They used a nerve block that was supposed to help control the pain during therapy. But my knee kept buckling underneath me. It was like I just couldn't feel it and make my leg support me. The therapist finally put a knee immobilizer on me until the effect wore off. Does this happen very often? What was the problem with me?
  • I'm going to have a total hip replacement next week with the new minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon has explained how this is to my advantage, but mostly, I'm just interested in having a tiny incision. Am I going to be sorry I didn't have the standard type of incision? Will my vanity come around and bite me in the butt, so-to-speak?
  • Have you ever heard of a fast-track program for total hip replacements? That's what my father is on, and we are just wondering what it means.
  • I've had two cousins, a brother, and a couple of friends in the last year alone who had to have their first hip replacement removed and replaced with a second one. The cost of this operation was unbelievable. What's happening to cause this problem?
  • I just toured a new clinic designed to provide state-of-the-art hip and knee surgery. They even have computer capability to navigate some of the more technical aspects of the operations. Can we really afford this kind of health care? Do we really need it? What about the thousands of people who've gotten joint replacements just fine without all this technology?
  • I'm looking into the possibility of having a hip joint resurfacing procedure done instead of a total hip replacement. I've heard all about the positives of this operation from my surgeon. Could you fill me in on any down sides there might be?
  • My mother fell and dislocated her new hip replacement. They took her back into surgery and put the joint back in place. She'll be going to a step-down transition unit. What should we expect for a prognosis? Will it hold? What happens if it doesn't?
  • I was raised by my grandparents and now find myself helping to take care of them as they get older. Grandad had a hip replacement two months ago that just won't stay in the socket. The surgeon wants to take it out and put one in with a larger femoral head. It seems to me that a larger head in the small socket would make the problem worse instead of better. Can you explain this to me?
  • I'm a 45-year-old avid soccer player. But my right hip is wearing out. If I go for the newer hip joint resurfacing, how soon could I get back on the field?
  • I had a total hip replacement about 9 months ago. I had it in my head that I'd be back to normal after about six months. But that isn't the case at all. What went wrong?
  • I've been reading about hip replacements, some use cement and some don't. Then I read about cement that had antibiotics in it, but not all doctors use it. Why is that? I'd think that the antibiotics would save money in the long run.
  • My 33-year-old daughter was just diagnosed with something called transient osteoporosis of the hip. I'm 66 and still don't have any osteoporosis. What could be causing this? Can she get over it?
  • What's the difference between osteoporosis and osteonecrosis? I have both conditions in my hip, but I can't keep them straight in my mind.
  • My elderly mother fell down just one step and broke her hip. She's had surgery and she's in a skilled nursing facility with hopes of returning home. What are her chances of actually regaining enough function to take care of herself? She does live alone.
  • My 71-year-old father just came home to live with us after being hospitalized for a hip fracture. The doctor told us he should be as active as possible. We're not sure what that means or how to gauge his activity level. What do you suggest?
  • I've heard there are some new rules for treating hip arthritis. I have arthritis in my left hip from a bad fall off a horse years ago. I try to keep up with the latest in arthritis treatment. Is there anything in these rules that could help someone like me?
  • My parents are snowbirds between Montana and Arizona. They both have fairly bad hip arthritis that they try to manage with exercise and good nutrition. Neither one of them want to have surgery. We think they should try and see a physical therapist in both places. But they are concerned that it would be too confusing with too many different suggestions and exercises. Don't people with problems like this get the same treatment wherever they go?
  • I've heard that having a hip replacement with a metal implant can increase my chances for cancer. Is that really true?
  • My grandfather had a hip replacement for severe hip arthritis when he was 55. It's lasted him a good 25 years now. I have the same problem but my pleas for a hip replacement seem to fall on deaf ears. No one wants to touch me. Can you explain this to me?
  • I've heard that it may not be possible to even get a hip or knee replacement in the year 2020. Why is that?
  • There are two surgeons who have been recommended to me for my total hip replacement. I've been told that one does things the standard way after surgery. The other surgeon uses an accelerated method of rehab and recovery. What's the difference?
  • My mother is going to have a total hip replacement next month. My sisters and brothers are trying to figure out how much time each one of us can go and help her out after surgery. Can you give me any kind of time frame to plan on? How long should we plan on staying?
  • I was always a swimmer through grade school, high school, and college. I probably should have kept it up because now I need a hip replacement. The exercise would have been good for me. Oh well. What do the experts say about swimming after a hip replacement? How soon can I start?
  • I have an unusual situation. I'm only 23 years old, but because of severe hip dysplasia, I had to have a hip replacement. Because of my age, the ceramic-on-ceramic type implant was recommended. I'm nine months post-op and have two problems. First, the hip squeaks and clicks. Second, it also dislocates. I'm going to be seeking advice from several orthopedic surgeons in my area, but I wanted to also ask your group what to do.
  • I work as an aide in a nursing home. I noticed that two of our residents who have hip replacements make a squeaking or popping noise when they go up the three little steps we have to our dining area. Is this normal? Should I ask them about it? I don't want to bring up something they can't hear or don't notice. But I keep thinking maybe something is wrong.
  • I finally got a diagnosis for my hip pain: a labral tear with impingement. Seems like they did every imaginable test to figure it out. Is it really that complicated?
  • Some of my favorite professional and semi-professional hockey players have been benched because of a hip problem with labral tears. I thought this was just something young athletes got, but guess what? That's what the doc says is causing my hip pain, too. I don't play hockey (never have), so how could I get this kind of hip problem?
  • I'm going to have a hip joint resurfacing procedure done to help save my right hip. I'm just wondering how this can be a better operation to have than a total hip replacement when they have to wrench the hip around and dislocate the joint. Ugh! Is there any way around that?
  • My surgeon described the way she is going to cut me open and install a new hip joint. The incision is going to be along the back of my hip (maybe slightly between the back and the side). I guess that's okay but why don't they just go in from the front (or even the side) instead of cutting through my butt muscles?
  • Ten years ago, I had a total hip replacement. Everything turned out fine but I still remember the agony of sleeping with that wedge between my legs and having to avoid certain motions to keep the hip from dislocating. Now that my other hip is giving out, I'm considering going with the new hip resurfacing procedure instead of a total hip. What kinds of activity restrictions are there for the joint resurfacing after the surgery?
  • At age 62, I consider myself a fairly young senior citizen. I stay active and I'm not overweight (or undertall as Garfield the cartoon character calls it). My one main problem is a bad hip (arthritis). I've heard the new hip resurfacing operation can help me stay active. How does that work?
  • We suspect Mother had a heart attack and that's why she fell and broke her hip. Is there any way to check out our theory?
  • I've been taking Coumadin for the last two years for a blood-clotting problem I have. Well, now I have to have hip surgery. The surgeon and my regular doctor have worked out a whole schedule for when I should stop taking the Coumadin before the operation and then go back on it afterwards. My brother had the same thing exactly but his surgeon just did the operation without worrying about the risk of bleeding. Why the difference in policies?
  • I am a designated prevention specialist in a small hospital setting. We see our fair share of broken bones and other emergencies involving senior citizens. We are focusing this month on hip fractures. I'm looking for any information about what other hospitals do to reduce complications after hip fracture repairs.
  • Dad fell over the weekend and was hospitalized with a broken hip. It's been 48-hours and he still hasn't had surgery. They say he has to have more tests done before they can operate. Is this normal?
  • Help, please! Dad is in the hospital for a hip fracture. They've pinned it and started him on physical therapy. The doctor and therapist insist he has to get up and walk on that leg. Dad says he needs a couple of days to rest and recouperate before getting up. What can we tell him to convince him to go along with this approach?
  • I've been training for a triathlon for three months now. All of a sudden, I've pulled up lame with groin pain. Can I safely work through the pain? If I keep training, how do I modify my workouts?
  • My doctor diagnosed me with a chronic tendon problem in the groin. After months of monkeying around with stretching and strengthening exercises, I finally had a steroid injection. It worked great -- for about two months. Now the pain is back again. Should I have a second injection? There were a lot of warnings about too much steroid and how it could cause its own tendon damage.
  • I read in the news the other day about a hip replacement recall because there was something wrong with the device. How can they do this and how can they know who has that type of hip?
  • Why are there so many types of hip implants out there?
  • I went with my sister-in-law (Mary) to her appointment with the orthopedic surgeon about her new hip replacement coming up. She will get a cementless type of implant. They showed us what it will look like. There were also photographs in the office of a goop around the implant. The surgeon said it was a special bone producing gel. How does that work? Should we ask if Mary will get that, too?
  • I'm a young 67-year-old male with hip arthritis in one hip. I want to get the fastest recovery possible. My surgeon is going to use a cementless implant with a special gel that will speed up bone growth. What can I expect during rehab and recovery with this kind of approach?
  • Mom broke her hip last month and had to have surgery to pin it. I've been doing some research to help us help her. I found out that having one fracture puts her at risk for a break on the other side because she's postmenopausal with osteoporosis and taking Fosamax. Should she have the other hip looked at? What's the best way to be proactive about her care?
  • I'm getting very nervous with reports I hear of problems women are having taking Fosamax with hip fractures. I think I may stop taking the drug before something happens to me. What do you suggest?
  • My favorite orthopedic surgeon retired last year. He kept me on my feet and out of the operating room with this old, arthritic hip of mine. Always did my injections in his office. Now the new replacement doc insists on a much more expensive way to do the same thing with imaging and hospital visit required. Is all this hoopla really necessary for a simple injection? Good grief!
  • I need an injection for my hip arthritis. The last one I had required the use of X-rays. I also have a history of cancer and received radiation treatments. I'd like to avoid any more radiation if possible. Can they use the old X-rays to just do this injection without taking new ones?
  • I've heard there are lots of restrictions on how and when I can move my hip after I have a hip replacement. I've even heard I can't sit in a car for the first month. If that's true, how do I get home?
  • I have a few friends who have had hip replacements without any of the restrictions I had when I got my new hip. They drive in the first month. They don't even have to use a raised toilet seat. Is it really safe to do all this? I thought the big scare was the risk of dislocating the new hip.
  • In order to save money and reduce my exposure to X-rays, I'm going to have an injection into my arthritic hip without the use of X-rays. My surgeon has done this procedure many times, so I feel confident it will go well. But just in case, I thought I'd check in and see what you think about this plan.
  • I am a double XL (XXL) sized male with bad arthritis in my hips. The surgeon wants to inject a slippery solution into my worse side to help smooth things out in there. But to be honest, I'm wondering how in the world they can get a needle through all my fat to get to the joint. I was too embarrassed to ask the question when I was in the doctor's office.
  • I am only 45 years old buy my right hip has deteriorated to the point that I have a hard time walking. The doctor said it was caused by osteoarthritis. He will do a replacement surgery on me but he says that he's only doing part of a replacement, called resurfacing. Wouldn't it make more sense just to take the whole thing out and replace it once and for all?
  • How many replacement surgeries can someone have on their hip. My mother-in-law had a replacement that lasted about 12 years and then it broke. The doctor fixed it but now, just a year later, it's broken again and they want to operate again. Is that a good idea or is enough enough?
  • My father has to have a total hip replacement and his doctor wants him to participate in a study for different types of implants. Why should he do this?
  • Are there people who should not have a hip replacement?
  • Everyone told me to get a ceramic type of hip replacement. They are so smooth, they said. I'll be able to dance again with no pain and with ease. Well, that's all true but guess what? My new implant squeaks and clicks like a bird. It is positively embarrassing, and I am so disappointed. Can anything be done about this?
  • My sister had a total hip replacement and ended up with a squeaky joint that can't be oiled to get rid of the sound. I'm going to have a hip replacement, too. Should I ask for a different kind of implant? Her's is made of ceramic. I understand there are titanium implants available, too.
  • My father-in-law is in the hospital having just had a total hip replacement. They've got these balloon things on his legs that are supposed to prevent blood clots from forming. How does that work?
  • I am having an argument with my surgeon that I hope you can help me with. He wants me to have a blood thinner after my total hip replacement. I have never had any trouble with blood clots and don't expect to start now. Why do I need to take a drug that I don't want and probably don't need?
  • Can you help me sort out all the different types of hip implants so I can decide which one is best for me?
  • My 88-year-old grandma and I were comparing notes on our hip replacements. She got hers 30 years ago and it's still holding up. I got mine three months ago and I'm still trying to recover. She couldn't remember much about her actual implant. My surgeon went over every detail of the operation with me including the type of implant used. How do today's hip joint replacements compare to what my grandma got?
  • What's a simple hip dislocation? That's a term being used for my hip fracture and to me it seems like anything but simple.
  • My 80-year-old mother and our 18-year-old son both suffered a hip dislocation on the same day. What do you think the chances are of that happening!? But my real question is -- why is Mother recovering so much faster than our son? It seems like he has age on his side but he's really poking along compared to Mom.
  • I'm weighing the pros and cons of hip joint resurfacing versus a total hip replacement. My age puts me right in the middle for choosing between the two. What advice can you give me?
  • I had a hip resurfacing procedure done for hip dysplasia on the right hip. I heard a medical report on NPR (national public radio) that seemed to indicate the risk of failure for this treatment is higher than for people who had the same operation for arthritis. What do you know about this?
  • Our 19-year-old daughter is a dancer on a summer tour with a very prestigious dance group. She's been having problems with snapping and popping of her left hip. It doesn't hurt but it's loud enough to be heard on stage. We're trying to find out anything we can that might help her. Are there any tricks to keep this from happening without changing the way she dances?
  • I've been told by two surgeons that I need an operation to get rid of a painful, snapping problem in my left hip. Since it is affecting my everyday life and activities, I'm probably going to do it. What should I know about this procedure?
  • Our daughter is having an arthroscopic procedure on her hip to find out what's causing her hip to hurt and lock up on her. We've been told she'll need crutches but we're not sure if this is a short-term thing or something she's going to need for a long time. In other words, should we purchase new crutches or borrow her cousin's old pair?
  • I'm heading into arthroscopic surgery for my right hip. The surgeon is going to take a look around but for sure remove some pieces of cartilage that are floating around in there. What kind of recovery or rehab should I expect?
  • I'm not recovering from a groin injury like I expected. My soccer coach sent me to a sports medicine physician who thinks I might have something called athletic pubalgia. The next step is some other tests like MRIs and maybe a bone scan to find out for sure. If they do find that I have this pubalgia business, what does that mean for me getting back into the game?
  • I have reinjured the same groin muscle three times now. Each injury is a little worse than the last and takes a little longer to heal. Is there anything I can do to stop this cycle? Track and field training is about the start and I don't want to miss it.
  • We are headed to the orthopedic surgeon's office this afternoon with our 18-year-old son. He's been having hip pain bad enough to make him limp. He's always been very active, involved in sports, and no couch potato. But he's looking more and more like Grandpa everyday. What could possibly be causing this kind of problem?
  • My boyfriend is on our college football team. When we were at a party last night sitting in a hot tub, I noticed he had a big bruise on the side of his hip/thigh. He says he got hit pretty hard in practice but that it's nothing. I'm really worried. Should he at least tell his coach about this?
  • My boyfriend is on our college football team. When we were at a party last night sitting in a hot tub, I noticed he had a big bruise on the side of his hip/thigh. He says he got hit pretty hard in practice but that it's nothing. I'm really worried. Should he at least tell his coach about this?
  • Ouchie -- I don't know how else to say this but I have one painful buttock. I can barely sit down and can't put any weight on that side. It just seemed to come on all of a sudden. I don't recall twisting wrong or doing anything sudden. What could be causing this?
  • Ouchie -- I don't know how else to say this but I have one painful buttock. I can barely sit down and can't put any weight on that side. It just seemed to come on all of a sudden. I don't recall twisting wrong or doing anything sudden. What could be causing this?
  • No one seemed particularly concerned about my hip pain until I mentioned it was always worse at night. Then all of a sudden, I had a ticket to the MRI machine. They found a benign tumor (osteoid osteoma) in the upper portion of the femur. Why was this night pain the "hop to it" symptom?
  • Our 14-year-old son had an unusual tumor (osteoid osteoma) removed from his hip about a month ago. Now that he's off crutches, he's been complaining about numbness in the groin area. Does this mean the tumor is growing back?
  • Two years ago, I had my right hip joint resurfaced in an effort to reduce pain, stay active, and hold off on a total joint replacement. Everything's going fine but I find myself worrying that something will go wrong. At this stage in the game, am I still at risk for a hip dislocation or fracture? Those are the things I was warned about at the beginning. Can I get out there on the golf course and swing freely? What about playing tennis? I confess I just haven't tried doing much for fear of breaking my hip.
  • I'm looking for any help you can give me about activity level after a hip resurfacing procedure. My surgeon just told me to "take it easy" and gradually get back into the swing of things. But that's not very helpful. I want to know things like can I run, how far, on what kind of surfaces? Same thing for tennis -- how often can I play? Doubles okay? Singles?
  • I am a Catholic priest with a strange problem. Every time I kneel down and get back up, my hip replacement squeaks. And it's loud enough to be heard by every one at Mass. What can I do about this?
  • I had a hip replacement two years ago. Everything was smooth sailing until last month when I started to notice my hip was squeaking. Every time I bend down to pick something up, I hear this annoying squeeeak! What is this?
  • I've been diagnosed with a labral tear of the hip. I'm scheduled to see a specialist next week but thought I'd do a little research of my own on the Internet before my appointment. What kind of surgery can they do for this problem?
  • I have a labral tear in my left hip that is painful enough to consider having surgery. But I'm all for leaving it alone if it can heal on its own. What are my chances for self-recovery?
  • Our insurance policy just changed to increase our family deductible to $2000.00. At the same time, our 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with something called femoroacetabular impingement. The surgeon thinks it may be possible to correct the problem with arthroscopic surgery. An X-ray, a CT scan, and maybe an MRI will be needed. Can we dispense with any of these tests to help save money? They already know what the problem is. Can't they just fix it?
  • Ever since I was a young teenager (maybe around 13 or 14), I've had a snapping hip problem. The general consensus at that time was to just ignore it. Now I'm in my late 30s and it is still bothering me. Should I see someone about this before another 20 years go by -- or is it still considered a benign problem (don't worry about it)?
  • I know I need a hip replacement and my family is bugging me to just do it. But I'm scared. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the pain after surgery. My hip hurts now but it's a pain I'm familiar with and I know how to deal with it. How can I get over this hurdle?
  • Okay, I want to know the fastest, yet safest way to get back up on my feet after hip replacement surgery. I have a wedding to go to, a trip to Europe planned, and two golf tournaments I'm signed up for in the next six months.
  • Our 30-year-old daughter was just diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement. I guess it's severe enough to need surgery. They say she's had this for years and probably developed it as a child. Is there any way we could have found out and prevented this problem from happening?
  • I've had to give up my dream of being an NHL hockey player because I have a hip problem called femoroacetabular impingement. I've learned as much as I can about this condition. I'm planning to have surgery to fix it. What are my chances of at least being able to play hockey for fun or in the local league?
  • If I have one bad hip from osteonecrosis, does it necessarily follow that the other hip will go bad too?
  • Our adult daughter has developed the start of a collapsed hip from taking steroids for her lupus. They call this condition osteonecrosis. It's not really hurting her right now. But she's only 35 years old, so we are concerned that she might end up crippled before she's 40. What do you advise?
  • My question for you today is: does surgical treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) work? I'm facing the decision whether or not to have this surgery, and I want to know what my chances are for a successful operation.
  • I am really grumpy about what happened to me. You may not have an answer for my problem but I appreciate anything you can offer. I had surgery last year for a hip problem called femoroacetabular impingement. It didn't work. Now I'm faced with a hip replacement. Could this have been avoided? Should I have gone for the hip replacement in the first place?
  • Is it always the case that if you have femoroacetabular impingement (which I have) that arthritis will eventually set into that hip?
  • My family seems to have a history of hip problems. We don't all have the same condition but quite a few have arthritis. Is there any value in going in and having X-rays taken to see if my hips are okay? I don't have any pain but I'm getting up there in age.
  • I have had one hip injury that almost cost me my leg. After fracturing the neck of my femur, I lost the blood supply to the head of the femur. Now I've gone and torn the labrum on the other side. Will the same problem develop now? I am going to have surgery to repair the damage.
  • I've pretty much decided to agree to surgery for our 16-year-old son who has a hip impingement problem. We are convinced that this will help prevent arthritis later in life. What are the most likely complications from a surgery of this type?
  • If surgery doesn't work for my hip impingement, what next? The exact problem I have is called femoroacetabular impingement. I don't exactly know what the surgeon will do -- that will be decided when they get a good look inside there to see what's going on. I forgot to ask this question when I was in the office for my preop.
  • Our father has an infection in his new hip replacement. He has been put on antibiotics but we are concerned because of all the media hype about taking too many antibiotics. Is this really an appropriate use of these meds?
  • I think it's great that doctors are paying more attention to whether or not patients are happy with the results of their surgeries. I had a total hip replacement that the doctor and I both thought was perfect. It seemed to me that everyone went out of their way to make sure I was happy with the results. Is this standard these days or was I just in with a good group?
  • Mother refuses to consider having a total hip replacement because she has heard so many "bad" things about them. Despite our efforts, she can't seem to say exactly what those "things" are. What can we say to convince her that hip replacements are safe and reliable?
  • I am firm in my resolve not to use drugs or surgery to treat my hip condition. I have a "mild" case of osteonecrosis from a hip fracture. What other options are available for this problem?
  • My hip replacement broke right in half along the long stem piece. I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow to remove it and replace it. Does anyone ever lose their leg if the replacement for the replacement breaks? It's really a worry bothering me but I didn't feel I could ask such a dumb question the doctor's office.
  • As I sit here writing you, tears are streaming down my face. I have had three hip replacements -- on the same leg. And now the stem piece of this one (a modular type) has broken and needs replacing. I am overweight so that is always blamed as the reason. Other people who are fat don't break their implants. There must be some other reason besides my weight that this keeps happening to me. What do you think?
  • Dad is all wigged out about having a hip replacement because he has so many other health concerns. He has high blood pressure (though it is controlled with medications). He has high cholesterol (also controlled with meds). And there's his psoriasis and his panic attacks. The list goes on. Do any of these problems come with added risks when having a hip replacement? What can we say to calm him down?
  • I saw on TV that if you are going to die after a hip replacement operation, it would be in the first 90-days but they didn't say why. Can you fill me in?
  • When I went to the surgical clinic to plan for a hip replacement, I couldn't believe all the choices for the type of implant that could be used. I hope I'm not going to have to be the one to choose which one I want. How does that all work?
  • I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hips and will probably have one of them replaced in the spring. I've gotten the impression that we are fairly rare and that most patients who need hip replacements have the other kind of arthritis. Just how rare is my situation?
  • As my father used to say, "Here we go again!" I'm having my third(!) hip replacement. The first two have been great but I've worn one of them out. It was put in 20 years ago, so I'm doing a little research to find out what's changed since that time and what I should look out for.
  • I'm having a hip replacement and I'm not ashamed to admit I'm pretty darned scared. I watched my father go through this 25 years ago and it wasn't pretty. Please tell me things have changed since then and my operation will go smoothly.
  • I had a total hip replacement for osteoarthritis six months ago. I'm not really doing as well as I had hoped. I still have a limp when I walk. I'm certainly not running anywhere. Sometimes I can't catch my balance fast enough. Is this normal?
  • I am in rehab for a total hip replacement. I confess I'm a type A person. Even though I try not to compare myself to others, I always end up checking to see how I'm doing based on how others are doing. What should I really be using to gauge my progress?
  • When I was a child, I had a hip problem called Perthes. My parents were very conservative and didn't agree to a lot of the surgery that was recommended for me. That has had its advantages and disadvantages. Now I am 35-years old and have severe hip osteoarthritis. I understand I could be a candidate for a hip replacement. What can you tell me about this?
  • I am exploring the possibility of a hip replacement versus hip joint resurfacing for myself. My complicating factor is that I had Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease as a child so there is some scar tissue and deformity from surgery I had done back then. What do you recommend?
  • I am 17-years-old, in good shape, and play on a field hockey as well as a lacrosse team for my high school. Lately (well for a good six months now), I've been having weird hip pain that comes and goes. Seems to get worse or better depending on the position of the hip and what activity I'm involved in. I know I didn't injure myself -- at least, I don't remember anything like that. What could this be coming from?
  • I accidentally dislocated my hip this morning. It popped right back in but I am freaked. This has never happened to me before. Should I use crutches? What should I do?
  • I'm going in for my second hip replacement. The first one went okay -- I had some stomach bleeding from the antiinflammatories I took to prevent bone from forming in the muscles. I guess that can be a common problem. But since I didn't get the problem and I did have stomach trouble, can I skip the meds this time around?
  • I just came back from the orthopedic surgeon's office. They gave me a bunch of pamphlets on hip replacement, which I'm considering having this year. So, now I am going through each complication listed and checking on the internet for more information. What can you tell me about heterotopic ossification? This is something I've never heard of. Is it something to be concerned about -- or just another one of those weird things that can happen but rarely does but they feel they have to mention it?
  • My orthopedic surgeon says to expect 10 to 15 years out of my new hip replacement. That doesn't seem like much since I'm only 65 and longevity runs in the family. If my parents are any indication, I could live well into my 90s. Is there any way I can squeeze a few extra years out of my hip replacement?
  • I'm eventually going to need a new hip. So I've started looking on-line for different brands to talk to my doctor about. I found one I like the looks of called the Spotorno System.
  • I am in good health but getting up there in age (72 this month!). I had a hip replacement two years ago that seems to be working fine. But I've come up lame lately with pain along the side of my hip. An X-ray of the new hip joint shows it is just fine. What else could be causing this problem?
  • Is there really such a thing as hip bursitis? My grandma used to complain of that but I thought it was an old lady complaint like lumbago. Now my doctor says this is what I have. So my original question still stands: is there such a thing?
  • Sometimes having access to the Internet is a bad thing. I found out today from surfing the web that my nephew's hip dislocation could cause the whole thing to die. He's only 22-years-old and I'm reading hip replacement. Isn't there something they can do to keep this from happening before it happens?
  • Hey what do you think might be causing my hip pain? I did dislocate it 2 months ago but the emergency crew put it back in place and the X-ray shows it's still there. But I have deep aching pain and the whole thing locks up on me from time to time. I'm not sure where to go with this one.
  • Our 14-year-old daughter has developed an interest (and shown a great aptitude) for horseback riding. But a slight hip problem (called impingement) is limiting the amount of time she can be in the saddle and training. Her doctor has suggested surgery but wow! That seems pretty extreme. What is normally done about this problem?
  • I am investigating every aspect of hip surgery coming up for me. I have a condition known as femoroacetabular impingement. I'm scheduled for arthroscopic surgery to trim the cartilage around the socket and remove any pieces of cartilage floating in or around the joint. What kind of postoperative rehab program should I expect?
  • Our 16-year-old son has reached his full growth potential so the orthopedic surgeon is going to reshape his hip now because of a femoral impingement problem. Of course, waiting this long also means he is very, very involved in sports of all kinds. Our question today is: how long will it be before he can go back to playing? He only has two years of high school left and we're concerned he might miss some scholarship opportunities.
  • We have twin boys who are both active in different sports. It turns out that they also both have a slightly misshaped hip. For one boy this has caused all kinds of hip problems, groin pain, and lost playing time on his soccer team. The other boy doesn't seem affected at all. How come?
  • What is a comminuted acetabular fracture? That's what my brother just texted me that his wife has. What do they do for that?
  • My wife just had a total knee replacement and then she fell and fractured her hip socket (on the same side). The surgeons are debating whether to try and repair the hip socket or go for a hip replacement. What are all the considerations in a decision like this?
  • I need some advice in a hurry. My wife fell and broke her hip. They tell me it's a break in the femoral neck and a team of surgeons are asking me to make the final decision about what to do. Do we want to fix the break with a bunch of screws holding it all together? Or should we go with a hip replacement. I know the decision isn't all on my shoulders because the chief orthopedic surgeon is going to make her recommendation. What can you tell me that might help?
  • What is a femoral neck fracture and how is it treated? We just got word that our elderly father is in the operating room having surgery for this problem.
  • Mother just had surgery for an intertrochanteric hip fracture. She's 87-years-old and not as spry as she used to be. The nurses say the physical therapist will be up to her room today to get her up and walking. Is that really safe? I'm sure they know what they are doing but I'm worried just the same. What can you tell me?
  • I found an old diary of my great-great grandfather's (from the late 1700s). Seems his wife was bed bound from a hip fracture -- sounds like the very same kind of fracture my mother has right now. The description was the same anyway. But she's up and walking a week later! What do we know now that they didn't know back then?
  • My life just went from bad to worse. I was training for the local senior olympics and broke my leg. The problem is I have a hip and knee replacement on that side. So now I have a break between them. I'm in the hospital waiting for the surgeon to tell me what to do. I'm searching the web for any information on this type of problem. What can you tell me?
  • If only I could turn back the clock of time. I was getting off the subway in a big hurry, caught my heel on the platform edge, and fell. I broke my hip but worse than that, I have a hip replacement and the fracture was in the bone around the new hip. Fortunately just the tip of the stem is broken. I'm waiting for the surgeon now to tell me what's what. But I'm wondering what you can tell me about what to expect while I'm waiting.
  • I tore the hamstring muscle in my left leg (up by the buttocks). It's been six months and it's not getting any better. I'm stiff. It hurts, and I have limited motion. Have I waited too long to have surgery?
  • Can you tell me a little bit about metallosis? I have just been diagnosed with this condition two-years after a hip joint resurfacing operation. I see the orthopedic surgeon next week to find out what the plan is but I wouldn't mind a preview if you can help me out. Thanks.
  • Why does metallosis develop in some people but not others? In other words, why me? I thought I had a perfect result after my hip resurfacing surgery last year.
  • I am a 72-year old avid tennis player and golfer but the pain in my right hip is really affecting my socre in both games. I saw a surgeon who suggested trying a modified hip replacement using what he called a short-stem implant. But he didn't answer my question whether or not this type of hip replacement would get me back into action. What can you tell me?
  • Can I train for a half-marathon after having a hip replacement? I should qualify that by saying the type of hip implant they are recommending is a short-stem. This is supposed to make it possible for me to be more active -- but how active is that, exactly?
  • I had a hip resurfacing surgery done about nine months ago. I feel fit as a fiddle and would like to put it to the test. Can I run on this thing? What are other people doing?
  • I am a young snowbird (age 52) living in Idaho during the summer and Arizona in the winter. When I was in Arizona this last winter, I met several people who had a hip replacement and were out running competitively. What kind of hip replacement allows you to do this? I'm very interested in finding out.
  • I love my parents but they are no help at all when it comes to medical problems so I'm on the internet looking for solutions. I'm 16-years-old and I have a hip problem called impingement. The clinic where I was diagnosed said to take a wait-and-see approach. I'm on my high school soccer team and want to play my best. Is there some exercise program I can do for this condition?
  • What kind of treatment is recommended for someone who has signs of femoroacetabular impingement (on X-rays) but no symptoms? That describes me. I had an X-ray taken for something else but they found this impingement. The radiologist called it an "incidental finding" but I'd still like to know what to do if anything.
  • Have you ever heard of something called the hip-spine syndrome? It's what the doctor says I have. Just wondered what you could tell me about it.
  • I'm 48-years old and just got stuck with a diagnosis of hip arthritis. I can't believe it! How many people my age have this condition and what causes it in such young adults? I thought this was an old-lady disease.
  • What happens to people who have surgery to reshape the hip for a problem called femoroacetabular impingement? That would describe me -- I had the surgery done last year and just wondering if it will hold.
  • As a teen, I had a hip condition called FAI. My parents took me to a surgeon who operated but I still have chronic pain and stiffness every day of my life. I don't remember what the surgeon did to help me back then but I'm wondering if there's some other procedure I could have now that might work better. What can you tell me?
  • I am 36-years-old but I've already had six surgeries on my hip for a problem I had when I was a teenager. There's quite a bit of hardware in there. Now that I'm thinking about having a total hip replacement, what happens to all those plates and screws?
  • I'm 56-years-old looking at having a hip replacement done for a problem I didn't even know I had all these years: femoral impingement. I knew things were changing because I could no long go rock hounding like I used to and my daily hike up the neighborhood mountainside slowly disappeared from my morning exercise. How come there was no sign of this happening until it was too late to do anything else except replace the joint?
  • I am a new physician's assistant (PA) with my first job in an orthopedic surgeon's busy practice. One of the tasks I've been given is to start collecting data on our patients with a diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement. The goal is to find out who gets the best results, why, and then reproduce them in our other patients. I relied on information from your website all through school, so I know you can help me get started. What kind of information should I be collecting (especially if we decide to publish our results)?
  • O.K. I think I have my mind made up between a metal or a ceramic bearings for a hip replacement. I'm hoping you can give me some advice that will help me put the final cap on the decision, so-to-speak. I won't say which way I'm swinging. Just tell me what you recommend.
  • I'm 57-years old and in need of a hip replacement. I've always been active and a rock hound in my spare time. I need a hip that's going to last and allow me to hike (even if I can't climb over boulders and rough terrain any more). I found three kinds of bearings in articles on-line: metal, metal and plastic, and ceramic. Which one do you recommend for a guy like me?
  • You will probably recognize me because I have visited your website before and asked several questions. You have always been helpful, so I hope you won't mind one more question. How do I compare having a hip replacement with the new mini-incision versus the standard open incision? The surgeon I am seeing offers both. I get to make the final decision.
  • I'm doing some research on-line to find out what I can about having a hip replacement. So far, it looks like I should find a surgeon with lots of experience. I know I am going to ask about the surgeon's rate of successes, number of patients who end up having a second surgery, and expectations for recovery and rehab. I'm also looking at differences between the mini-surgery and the full open surgery. What can you tell me about the incision business?
  • My grandpa has asked me to write you a question. Gramma had a hip replacement last month. Now it has gotten infected. The doctor wants to put something called a "pick line" into her so she can have antibiotics direct to the blood. Why can't she just take the pills like always? As Grandpa puts it, "Why do they insist on new-fangled stuff when the old way works perfectly fine?"
  • What happens when someone gets an infection in a hip replacement?
  • I just read on your website about a guy who got holes in the bone after a hip replacement. I'm thinking about getting a hip replacement but I sure don't want holes in my bones. How does a person avoid that problem?
  • I'm writing to let your readers know what happened to me after my hip replacement. I wasn't having any problems and thought I was home free. Then right on the fifth anniversary of my surgery, my leg started giving out from under me. An X-ray showed holes in the bone causing loosening of the implant. The surgeon told me everyone should be screened for this problem after they've had their implant for a while. Please pass this on since the condition can occur without symptoms! Thanks.
  • I'm looking into different options for my hip pain. I know I have funny shaped hip bones so the joint rubs wrong and has caused a hole to form in the hip socket. I don't want to have a hip replacement just yet. I did find some information on your website about treatment for these kinds of holes in the knee. Can they do the same thing for the hip?
  • I had a surgery called "micofracture" for a hole in my knee joint. Worked great. Found out I have a similar hole in my opposite hip. Going to see the surgeon next month. If I have this done on my hip, what's the recovery time like?
  • I am at a crossroads in my life. I have a hip problem called FAI and trying to make good decisions about treatment. I am actively involved in college sports and I don't want to give that up. But my surgeon tells me if I keep reinjuring myself and repetitively pinching the hip with activities, I could end up with early arthritis. She has suggested I try physical therapy first if I don't want to be on the bench for the season while recovering from surgery. Maybe I should just take the plunge and have the surgery. Get it over and done with. What do you think?
  • My father is an athletic trainer and has always helped me with my various athletic injuries. But a hip problem that turned out to be something called femoroacetabular impingement (or FAI as my doctor calls it) is new to him. Is this really a new or rare problem that I have? Can you give me a quick run down on it?
  • I'm checking into hip replacements -- type of material, design, arthroscopic versus open surgery, minimally invasive versus mini-incision. You name it, I'm checking it out. What can you tell me about the durability of the cemented versus cementless implant. Does one last longer than the other? I want something that will last me a good long time -- maybe even the rest of my life.
  • I am a physical therapy student assigned the task of finding out if there is any known reason why our cadaver for anatomy lab has pelvic osteolysis on the left side. She does have a total hip replacement on that side. I haven't found much to support this idea on the internet. What can you tell me?
  • Is it true that African Americans are less likely than white Americans to need a hip replacement? I heard that on a radio news report. Or are those figures lower for African Americans because of the socioeconomic differences (no insurance, no health care)?
  • My sister just had her first hip replacement. I always knew she had arthritis but didn't know how bad it was. She is about 10 years older than me. I've heard that arthritis runs in families. Does this mean I'll probably start getting it too as I get closer to her age?
  • I come from a generation who often sing that famous line from the Rolling Stones song I can't get no -- satisfaction, which leads me to ask: how often are people happy with their results after a hip replacement? I'm not going to do it unless I feel really, really confident that I'll be more than satisfied with the results. What do you think?
  • It's been a year and I'm still heart broken but finally coming out of my shell of grief to ask the question. How often does a 72-year-old man in good health die after having a routine hip replacement? That's what happened to my husband. Lots of our other friends have had this done with no problems. Why my husband?
  • I have been struggling with overgrowth of yeast in my body ever since I had to take antibiotics repeatedly for ear infections. Now my dentist wants me to take another round of antibiotics before having my gums worked on. This is supposed to prevent a possible infection in my hip replacement. Do I really need this? What do you think?
  • I have a particularly difficult problem. Two years ago, I had surgery and pelvic radiation for both ovarian and uterine cancer. I've survived all of that treatment only to end up with severe bone damage to my right hip (which already has a hip replacement). The orthopedic surgeon is considering my case because it's so complicated. Maybe I should know more about what there is to 'consider' (worry?) about. What can you tell me?
  • Mother is having so much trouble with her total hip replacement she is actually considering having the operation done over again! Tell me what we should know before heading into this kind of major surgery.
  • Before having a hip replacement for my left leg two years ago, I had a series of steroid injections that really helped. In fact, I think those injections made it possible to put off having the surgery for a good year or more. Now that I'm starting to have the same problems on the right side, my doctor is balking at doing the injections. Something about the risk of joint infection. I really want the injections. How do I convince him otherwise?
  • My doctor wants to delay hip replacement surgery for me as long as possible. I understand her thinking. I'm just not sure my hurting hip agrees. She has suggested trying a steroid injection (maybe up to three) first. I feel like I'm spinning the dial on this one. What do you suggest?
  • I am a primary care physician looking for some information on the latest arthroscopic surgical treatment of hip problems. I have referred several patients to our orthopedic surgeon for different types of problems recently. So, I would like to do some reading to catch up on the latest trends in this area without doing a literature search myself. What can you suggest?
  • The surgeon I saw for a torn hip labrum assures me that the labrum can be "resealed" and I can avoid an early total hip replacement this way. What do your experts say about this?
  • I knew Mom shouldn't have had a hip replacement but she insisted (mostly because the other people in her assisted living facility have one). Now she has even more trouble walking because a nerve in her lower leg got pinched or stretched (they are not sure which). What causes this to happen?
  • I am looking for any information I can find on peroneal nerve palsy caused by a hip replacement. Mostly I want to know if I will recover and how long it will take. The surgeon told me maybe yes/maybe no to whether or not I'll get back to normal and to expect it to take 12 to 18 months.
  • My brother had a procedure where they took bone marrow from his hip and used it to grow more cells to help repair a problem in his knee. I didn't really get all of the details but I'm wondering how they decide where to take the donor cells from and just how it works to make more bone cells.
  • How can I tell if I'm developing hip arthritis? I started getting some mild, general kind of pain around the hip. Now it is moving toward my inner thigh. It seems to get worse when I've been sitting for awhile. But why would hip arthritis get worse with sitting? I thought rest like that would help.
  • We have a 23-year-old son who is already developing arthritis of the hip. He's been diagnosed with a problem called FAI. It's not clear but there's some hint that his participation in sports growing up might have contributed to this problem. If that's true, we want to warn other parents to beware of letting their kids join every sport that comes along.
  • I saw a report put out by the U.S. Census Bureau that there will be 400 million people in the United States by the year 2043. And that of the 78 million baby boomers (I am one!), half will have osteoarthritis. This makes me wonder how come half get arthritis and half don't. Which half am I in?
  • My mother needs a hip replacement badly. But the orthopedic surgeons at our hospital are so booked up, they can't fit her in until next September. What in the world is going on here?
  • I'm having a weird thing going on with my right hip. I noticed that I used to be able to sit on the floor with both legs to one side. Now I can only do that to the left. If I try to put my legs to the right side, the right hip just won't go any more. And I'm having pain in that hip, especially if I sit too long at my desk or watching TV. Any ideas what could be causing this kind of problem?
  • Please help me explain something to my 71-year-old grandpa. He needs a hip replacement. The doctor told him that part of his thigh bone (the neck?) is short and twisted. They will have to "fix" this during the operation. What do they do to fix this problem?
  • I am in my early 50s now but way back when I was a teenager, I had my left hip pinned to treat slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Now I need a hip replacement. How hard is it to work with a hip that isn't the right shape and that has pins in it?
  • I have a pinchy type of hip pain that comes and goes depending on if I am walking or sitting.  I am in my 50’s and hope to stay active through at least my 60’s.  Should I be looking into surgery?
  • I am in my 60’s and have had constant hip pain for a long time now. I’ve never really looked into fixing it until now because my pain is starting to interfere with even my walking. My surgeon says that I am probably looking at a total joint replacement. Can you tell me how I will be limited in the future if I decide to get a new hip?  
  • My mom was recently diagnosed with osteonecrosis of her hip and I’ve been told that it’s hereditary.  Do I need to be worried about this?  
  • I am in my mid 40s and have this aching hip pain that radiates to my knee.  Someone told me that I might have femoral osteonecrosis. How is this detected?  How do they determine how bad it is?
  • My 80 year old mother just fell and broke her hip.  Her surgeon says that she has an A2 fracture and is planning on using a rod in her hip.  What does this mean and why does he need the rod?
  • What is the difference between an “extramedullary sliding hip screw” and an “intramedullary nail” and why would I want one over the other?  My surgeon says that the type of hip fracture that I have needs an intramedullary nail and I think this is excessive.  
  • What are some of the common complications associated with Direct Anterior Approach for total hip replacement?
  • I am considering a direct anterior approach for my hip replacement. I have heard that it is important to have an experienced surgeon for this procedure. Why is this the case and how much experience should I look for in my surgeon?
  • I am a 25 year old runner and have had deep, aching hip pain that won’t resolve.  I was to the point where I could not put weight through my leg.  My surgeon says that I have “nontraumatic femoral head necrosis” but that the lesion is small.  Does this mean I will need a total hip replacement in the future?
  • I am a 45 year old man and have recently been diagnosed with a “collapsed hip” from “femoral head necrosis.” My doctor says that I will need a hip replacement surgery.  I thought this was something only very old people got. Is there an alternative treatment?
  • Where is the tensor fascia latte muscle, and what nerve controls it?
  • What is the importance of the tensor fascia latte muscle and hip surgery?
  • I am a 65-year-old women with what my doctor calls end stage hip degeneration. I’m otherwise very healthy and try to avoid massive surgery. He would like to perform a total joint replacement. I am wondering if this is absolutely necessary or is there another option?