Hip Pain Specialist
Steven J Svabek, DO, PA
Orthopaedic Surgeon & Spine Surgeon located in Coral Springs, FL
The hip joint is the ball-and-socket joint connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the pelvis. The hip joint is essential for walking and running. In fact, the hip joint is used so frequently that problems with the hip are common in adults over 50. If you’re experiencing hip pain you can’t relieve, you might need to look into surgery. Caring surgeon Steven J. Svabek, DO, PA, in Coral Springs, Florida, provides you with the experience you need for your hip surgery. Call today or book an appointment online to learn more about the treatments that can free you from hip pain.
Hip Pain Q & A
What causes hip pain?
Many things can cause hip pain. Your hips can be damaged by a fall, through overuse, by bursitis, tendinitis, iliotibial band syndrome, and, most commonly, osteoarthritis.
Many patients assume that hip pain is an unavoidable part of getting older, but frequently worn and damaged cartilage from osteoarthritis is the cause. This degenerative joint disease thins the hip’s cartilage and narrows the hip’s movement.
Because your hips play a prominent role in almost every activity you engage in, the bones should sit deeply in the joint and be cushioned by soft cartilage. As the cartilage thins, it causes inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling, which only worsens over time.
What happens during a hip replacement?
During a hip replacement, your surgeon makes an incision on the side of the hip and detaches the hip muscles. This allows the hip ball to be dislocated from the socket. Your surgeon can then inspect the damage to the joint.
The damaged ball is removed and replaced with a metal or ceramic ball. The surgeon inserts a metal stem into the top of the thigh bone to anchor the ball. The surgeon inserts a spacer between the new ball and socket to help them glide easily.
Hip replacement surgery has drastically improved in recent years, with new techniques, materials, and methods that make it as minimally invasive as possible. Patients generally resume walking the day of or the day after a hip replacement. Many patients don’t even need to stay in the hospital overnight.
Dr. Svabek works with you to determine what level of care you’ll need after surgery.
How long after surgery will it take to be free of hip pain?
Each person will have their own timeline for recovery. But generally, hip replacement recovery is relatively fast. Most patients report that their hip pain is gone, with only soreness from the incision.
Regardless of how good a patient feels, they need to carefully follow their surgeon’s instructions, taking it easy in the days following surgery. Patients usually can walk or bike longer distances in 4-6 weeks. After a few months, most patients return to full activity with little or no pain.
If you’re ready to learn more about hip replacement surgery, call today or book an appointment online with Dr. Svabek.