Although hip replacement surgery is very effective at reducing pain and improving function for those afflicted with various types of hip diseases, there are several non-invasive types of treatments available designed to manage a chronic hip pain condition and prevent and/or postpone the need for hip replacement surgery. What follows is a brief overview of the most common types of non-invasive alternatives to hip replacement surgery.
Activity Modification
For painful hip joints ravaged by osteoarthritis or other types of hip diseases, eliminating and/or reducing participation in those physical activities that cause and/or worsen hip pain is an effective alternative to hip replacement surgery. Eliminating high-impact physical activities, such as running, fast walking, aerobics, and so on, and instead incorporating low-impact/non-impact physical activities into daily life, such as swimming, cycling, slow walking, and so on, can go a long way towards reducing hip pain and stiffness and increasing hip joint function, all of which can help prevent and/or delay the need for hip replacement surgery.
Pain Medication
There are various types of pain medications available, ranging from over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to more powerful prescription-based narcotic/opiate-based medications, to treat hip pain. Normally, medication therapy is implemented and exhausted to treat and manage a chronic hip pain condition before hip replacement surgery is advised. Many times a chronic hip condition can be effectively managed with pharmacological treatment, thereby eliminating and/or postponing the need for hip replacement surgery. It is recommended to first start treatment utilizing basic over-the-counter pain medications before advancing to more powerful, prescription-based pain medications.
Assistive Devices
The use of various types of assistive devices, including canes, walkers, and crutches, can be effective at helping to reduce hip joint pain and increase overall mobility. Utilizing an assistive aid to take some of the weight off of a painful hip joint and to facilitate walking can be an effective alternative (at least temporarily) to hip replacement surgery. Using a cane, which is the most common assistive device utilized by hip pain sufferers, helps to distribute body weight evenly across the body core and normalize walking patterns, both of which help to increase mobility and reduce hip pain, which can, in many cases, eliminate the need for hip replacement surgery.
