Our hips take a lot of the strain that we place on our bodies. Sports, weight gain, and even day to day use can cause pain, particularly in the joints.

According to the CDC, over 50 million Americans will be told that they have arthritis in one form or another.

In the many increasingly obese societies around the world, this problem is unfortunately only going to get worse.

In most cases the large joints are the ones most affected, hips, knees, shoulders, etc. There are some ways to help alleviate the symptoms such as losing weight and becoming more active but in the end, after physical therapy and pain management have been exhausted the usual course of treatment will be a joint replacement.

The hip replacement procedure was first done in 1960 and is arguably one of the most important advancements in medicine over the last few decades. In the US alone there are over 193,000 hip replacements done annually, a number that is sure to rise as technological advancements make the surgery even more appealing.

The surgery is most often used to treat osteoarthritis but there are a number of other conditions that it is also useful for. The direct aim of the surgery is for pain relief as well as increased functionality of the joint.

The 2-4 hour procedure starts with general or spinal anesthesia. The surgeon will make an incision and cut through the various layers of tissue around the hip. There are a number of different techniques in regards to where the incision is made each with their own pros and cons. This decision will be up to you and the surgeon.

Once inside the joint area the diseased and/or damaged bone and cartilage is removed and only the healthy bone is left. Next the prosthetic, of which again there are many choices but the most common is a metal ball with a plastic socket, is implanted into the pelvic bone to take the place of the diseased socket.

The surgeon will replace the round top of the femur with the prosthetic ball attached to a stem that will fit into the thigh bone. It then needs to be decided whether to use cement or not, again up to the surgeon and their preferences through experience. This new artificial joint will act the same as the original.

Once the surgeon is happy with the natural gliding motion of your new hip it will be flushed clean and then the incisions closed. You will be moved to recovery then to a room in the hospital for a 2-3 night stay. It will be up to you and the surgeon as to where you will spend your time directly following your hospitalization.

Possible complications from hip replacement surgery are infection, blood clots, dislocation, fractures, changes in leg length, and joint stiffening. To avoid infection you will be given antibiotics, to avoid stiffening and dislocation you will be given exercises and precautions to follow.

To avoid blood clots you will be given compression stockings and/or compression sleeves to wear to increase circulation. You will also be encouraged to move around as much as possible and as early as possible.

The more active you are immediately following surgery (within the surgeon’s recommendations of course) the easier the recovery process will be. Blood thinning medications may also be given. With all of the proactive interventions complications are rare.

Physical therapy will be an integral part of your recovery. The therapist will give you motion and strength exercises to increase your mobility and ability to put pressure on the effected leg. You usually will start out with a walker, crutches, then a cane and eventually be able to walk unassisted. Exercise will be a necessary part of daily life until you are fully recovered.

Usually within 6-8 weeks you can resume most everyday activities sometimes with slight modification. It will also be important to avoid crossing your legs or bending down too far so that you can avoid dislocation of the new joint. Your surgeon and/or physical therapist will discuss and demonstrate any positions to avoid.

According to Mayo clinic staff, hip replacement surgery is effective over 90% of the time and the surgery lasts for 15 years in 95% of patients which are impressive good numbers. It is one of the most successful orthopedic procedures. Patient education and adherence to what you learn are vital to the long term outcome for the procedure.

Running, contact sports and any other activities that could re-injure the hip are obviously not encouraged. It is also important that you, the patient, notify any caregivers of the artificial joint. Antibiotics are recommended for any invasive procedure, even dental work. Any infection in the body at all should be treated immediately to prevent the spread to the artificial joint.

A hip replacement surgery in Costa Rica will be done in the same way as it is in the US or Canada. You will get the same equipment, same process, same clean state of the art facility and even the same prosthesis.

The big difference will be in the cost, the amount of time you need to wait, and the personal attention that you will receive. The cost is on average $10,000 (at the time this article was written) compared to the US average of $40,000

The waiting time is only as long as it takes you to get to Costa Rica compared to the wait time of over 3 years in Canada, and the personal attention is some of the best you will see worldwide. Here in Costa Rica you are a person not just another number. The obvious choice is to come to beautiful Costa Rica, save money, avoid waiting, and recover in a wonderful tropical location.

Want More Information About Affordable Surgery in Costa Rica?

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.