The hip joint is one of the body’s largest weight-bearing joints, consisting of a ball and socket. A healthy hip joint is formed where the rounded head of the thighbone joins the pelvis. The joint is covered with slippery tissue and powered by large muscles. When all of the parts are healthy, a hip should move easily.
Cartilage is a layer of smooth, soft tissue. It covers the ball of the thighbone and lines the socket that the thighbone fits into. Healthy cartilage absorbs stress and allows the ball to glide easily in the socket. Muscles power the hip and leg movements. Tendons attach the muscles to the bones.
When one or more parts of the hip are damaged, movement becomes stiff. Over time, cartilage starts to crack or wear away. When this happens, the bones making up the joint rub together. Stiffness and pain occur when the ball starts to grind in the socket. During total hip replacement surgery, a new socket is implanted, after which a metal stem is inserted into the femur. Then, the artificial components are fixed in place and the muscles and tendons are replaced against the bones.
Hip joint pain can be painful and frustrating. It may limit your mobility and keep you from accomplishing simple, daily tasks such as walking or standing up from a chair. Surgery is not without risks and it can’t make you young again, but it does have benefits, such as:
- Stops or greatly reduces hip pain
- Increases leg strength because you are able to use your leg and build up your muscles
- Improves quality of life
After examination and evaluation by your doctor, he or she may determine that you are a candidate for total hip replacement.