However, if you suffer from pain in the hip, groin or thigh, and the pain is made worse by walking and other activities, there is a good chance that you do have arthritis or degenerative joint disease of the hip. I usually recommend basing this decision on the amount of pain that is present and how that pain interferes with everyday living, or prevents you from doing activities that you desire. For example, if the pain prevents you from working around the house, going up and down steps or going outside to shop, that is a significant hindrance on everyday living. Also, if you cannot play golf or recreational tennis as you used to, this again is a reason to consider hip replacement surgery. However, it is often helpful to attempt to control the pain with simple measures, before you make your decision about a hip replacement.
Many patients get some relief from a variety of medications, rest or the use of a cane for walking.
The prosthesis is made of a type of metal and a very hard plastic called polyethylene. This decision is made by the surgeon, and is usually based on his or her preference, the patient's age, activity level and bone quality. If you wish to discuss it, your surgeon should be more than happy to do so. The results of hip replacement are truly outstanding in the great majority of cases. The pain is relieved, walking is greatly improved with less or no limp, and patients can participate in many more activities.