Alright – you’ve been routinely taking your meds and going to physical therapy, but your hip pain is more excruciating than ever. Miserable and exhausted, you may start to wonder: could surgery be the solution? There are lots of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to pursue hip replacement surgery. The overarching question is, to what extent is your condition impacting your quality of life? If the pain is so debilitating that it significantly interferes with daily tasks and sleep patterns, it may be time to explore this avenue. There are plenty of signals that you may be ready for a hip replacement.

Think you’re too young to have the surgery or that it’s best to put it off as long as possible? Stop being a martyr and instead, click here to read about popular myths about hip replacement. You may be keeping yourself in pain for no good reason. But before you decide to go forward, it’s crucial you understand what’s involved- so you know the right questions to ask and prepare yourself accordingly. For some solid background reading, you can’t do better than the UpToDate Total Hip Replacement Guide. Or you may find this recent overview from US News valuable. And if you choose to pursue surgery, make sure you find a surgeon and hospital best suited to your needs. It’s recommended that you ask the surgeon about his/her qualifications and outcomes with previous patients. Inquire about surgical approaches, complications, and post-op recovery.

There’s a lot to consider, but if you’re suffering from relentless pain, hip replacement could be a great solution. So settle yourself into a comfy chair and see if the signs you need a replacement sound familiar to you.