Hip Replacements and their Alternative and
Complementary Solutions
Arthritis and other chronic joint problems
in the hip are the cause of severe pain, inflammation and varying degrees of
disability in a significant number of people. Many with these issues will
undergo hip replacement surgery to relieve their pain and discomfort and
restore mobility.
However, headlines about recent recalls and
complications associated with some hip replacement devices have raised
awareness of the potential risks involved with surgical treatments, spurring
many hip pain sufferers to look to alternative solutions for relief.
Conservative
Management
A conservative management of chronic hip
pain can significantly reduce symptoms, allowing hip replacement surgery to be
delayed, or sometimes avoided. Typically, such a plan includes the use of anti-inflammatory
medications, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications to reduce symptoms
and increase mobility.
Physical therapy generally focuses on
targeted exercise to strengthen muscles that support the hip joint, which can
reduce pain and increase range of motion for improved hip function. In
overweight patients, weight loss is an important part of treatment. Being too
heavy places a great deal of excess stress on weight-bearing joints and is a
major risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis in the hip.
Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, which is a division of the National Institutes of Health,
acupuncture has been shown in clinical trials to reduce osteoarthritis pain and
inflammation and increase mobility, as have glucosamine and chondroitin
supplements. Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds that are naturally
present in healthy cartilage. Massage has benefited many patients with hip
pain, and there is some evidence that vitamins C,D, E and beta carotene may
slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Hip
Replacement
Hip replacement surgery can be a good
option for people with severe hip arthritis symptoms that have not responded to
non-surgical treatments. However, it is major surgery and there are risks, so
being well-informed about these procedures and knowing the hip implant options
available is important.
Metal-on-metal hip replacement products
have caused some problems for patients in recent years, with some of these
products recalled due to high rates of premature failure and complications, and
many hip recall lawsuits
filed by injured patients.
Metallosis is one serious complication
associated with these implants, and occurs when friction between implant
components produces microscopic particles of metallic debris. These particles
collect in the soft tissues surrounding the hip, causing pain and inflammation.
Metal ions from implant debris have also been shown to enter the bloodstream, a
situation for which the long-term effects are not known.
Osteolysis is another condition related to
implant debris. It occurs as the body's immune system reacts to the foreign
particles, causing bone loss around the implant site that can result in
loosening or failure of the implant.
There are options besides metal-on-metal hip
implants, such as ceramic and metal or ceramic and plastic systems, among
others. Be sure to discuss the benefits and risks of all hip replacement
options with your doctor to determine which type of hip implant will be safest
and most effective for you.
Elizabeth
Carrollton writes about defective medical devices and dangerous drugs for Drugwatch.com.
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