How can having a total hip replacement improve my sleep?

March 10, 2010 — admin

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?

Arthritis sufferers are known to have poor sleep patterns caused by pain. Conditions such as osteoarthritis are a common source of hip pain in the older adult.

A recent study in New Zealand showed that sleep is improved after hip joint replacement. All patients had painful symptoms from arthritis that woke them up at night. Less hip pain after the operation meant better sleep. If the patients were awakened from sleep, it was for some other reason than from hip pain.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Can hip pain be caused by a back problem and vice versa?

January 19, 2010 — admin

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.

Pain from one area of the body can be referred to another part of the body. Back pain can be caused by the hip. The opposite is true, too: hip pain can be caused by a problem in the spine.

Sometimes the pain is close by but at other times it can travel far away from the source. A standard rule of thumb for any part of the body is to check for problems at least one level above and below the site of pain.

There are special tests that can be done to find out where pain is really coming from. For example rotating the hip inward can help screen for problems coming from the hip. Likewise, bending the hip and knee and putting pressure through the hip can help identify back versus hip pain. Your doctor has probably used these tests to come to this diagnosis.

The final proof will be in treating the hip. Expect to see your back pain go away by improving hip motion and function.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Don’t know the cause of your hip pain? Scour test will tell.

December 4, 2009 — admin

What does a “scour test” show? I read a medical report on my son that said he had a positive scour test.

The scour test is usually done when a patient has hip pain of unknown cause. The examiner bends the patient’s leg up so the knee is pointing to the shoulder. The examiner moves (scours) the hip in an arc of motion while putting pressure down through the leg into the hip joint.

The object is to look for any “catches” or bumps in the joint movement. Pain or apprehension on the part of the client are also positive findings during the scour test. This tells the doctor or therapist that the problem is coming from the hip joint and not some other source.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Does arthritis in the knee always lead to arthritis in the hip?

December 1, 2009 — admin

Is it true that once I have knee arthritis, I’ll also get arthritis in my hips?

It’s not a given that if you have arthritis in the knee, you’ll get it in the hip. But there does seem to be a link between the two. Perhaps hip problems start when knee pain results in a limp or altered way of walking.

Problems above or below the impaired joint are common. Change in weight shift, weight-bearing, and balance can lead to a change in the hip or ankle joint. The hip is especially prone to end up with decreased function.

Physical therapists are actively researching ways to prevent this from happening. Finding hip problems early may be a start. If you are having pain and stiffness from knee arthritis, ask your doctor or therapist to check the hip on the same side and the knee and hip on the opposite side.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Sidelined by hip pain, but told "too young" for hip replacement surgery?

October 19, 2009 — admin
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?

 
Good point. Doctors know that with today’s current implant materials, the hip replacement may only last 10 to 15 years. It may be less if you are highly active in sports and other physical activities.

This means you’ll likely need another hip replacement when you are only 65 years old and maybe a third before your 75th birthday. You’ll lose some bone and height with each operation. There are many other problems that come with revision operations.

On the other hand, pain and disability are hard to live with. If you wait too long, you may not gain back what you’ve lost in terms of strength, function, and physical ability. The patient’s symptoms and ability to tolerate pain for a long time should be considered.

For complete information on advancements in hip replacement surgery including the anterior approach, visit:  https://www.zehrcenter.com/total-hip-replacement.php.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com. 

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How can I control the pain after hip replacement surgery?

October 1, 2009 — admin
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?

 
Pain control is one of the biggest challenges after surgery of any kind. Some doctors are using a much smaller incision to do some hip replacements. It depends on the type of hip implant being used. With a small incision there’s less damage to the muscles and less pain. Ask your doctor if you might be a candidate for this mini-incision operation.

Other methods of pain control are used such as acupuncture, electrical stimulation, hypnosis, and patient controlled analgesia (PCA). A recent study from Japan suggests using constant cold therapy for the first four days. A cooling pad is placed over the surgical site. A computer keeps it at a constant temperature.

More than half the patients were pain free by the end of the third day. This reduced painful days by at least two full days. Tell your doctor about your concerns. Find out what’s available at your hospital or surgery site.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com. 

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