Am I Too Young for Hip Replacement?

Joint replacement surgery is an effective way to address serious joint-related pain and dysfunction. If you think you’re too young to consider hip replacement surgery as an option for your hip pain, think again.

More and more patients in their 40s and 50s are opting to go in for hip replacement surgery. For them, it means they don’t miss time enjoying their favorite activities, including tennis, dance, and other hobbies. They can still enjoy themselves physically while in the prime of their life.

At Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Florida, PA, Dr. Edward R. Dupay, Jr. and the rest of the expert team help patients in Fort Myers, Florida, determine if hip replacement is the right treatment strategy, no matter their age. When less invasive methods have failed to help you, hip replacement surgery is a possible option.

Who is a candidate for hip replacement?

A hip replacement is a viable treatment for people who have hip pain that doesn’t respond well to less invasive treatments. Candidates for hip replacements often have hip dysfunction because of:

• Osteoarthritis
• Wear and tear
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Injuries

Even if you’re young, meaning in your 40s or 50s, don’t rule out joint replacement surgery. This is especially true if medications, injections, exercise, and physical therapy fail to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.

It is true that in the early stages of arthritis, for example, pain can be successfully managed with noninvasive strategies. You may find relief when you modify your activity, take pain relievers, or use physical therapy. It is possible to maintain a high quality of life.

But these noninvasive options don’t always provide relief. You may get to a point at which you have to modify your activity so much that your quality of life suffers. Then, what’s the point of “waiting” for surgery to find relief.

Why hip replacement is a new trend for younger people?

The number of people in their 40s and 50s having hip replacements is increasing because of the proven success of the procedure. When you have a needed hip replacement at an earlier age, you can often return to an active lifestyle shortly afterward. You see friends and family who’ve undergone a successful hip replacement fully experience life – and you want that too.

The hip replacement procedure also has advanced considerably in the past 10-15 years. Materials used for the implants are state-of-the-art and last for longer than ever. It used to be that a hip replacement only lasted a decade or so. You were too “young” to have a hip replacement because you’d need the surgery repeated again later when your implant wore out. Now, implant quality is such that they’re still functioning well at 20 years post-surgery.

The toll the surgery takes on your life has also changed considerably. You only need about 1.5 days in the hospital and sometimes less time if you’re younger. In many cases, it’s possible to get back to walking without assistance in as few as 2-3 weeks. Even a return to work in this short time is possible in some cases.

If you have debilitating hip pain, don’t hesitate to call us at Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Florida or to make a one-on-one consultation using the online tool. You deserve relief no matter your age.