Hip pain can have many causes, including injury, trauma and chronic conditions like arthritis. Common causes include:

• Osteoarthritis, also called OA
• Post-traumatic arthritis
• Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Obesity or being overweight
• Congenital conditions like hip dysplasia

The many treatments for hip pain all depend on what’s causing it. You may have non-surgical treatment, like medications or injections. Or you might need surgery or physical therapy and rehabilitation. We also have a Hip Preservation Clinic where we perform procedures like hip arthroscopy and osteotomy for people who need or want to avoid hip replacement surgery.

The most common type of hip replacement surgery is a total hip replacement. It takes between 1 and 3 hours. During the surgery, your surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone in your hip, and your native joint is replaced using implants/prostheses. The prosthetic joint replaces the damaged or worn-out surfaces and moves easily without pain. Muscles and tendons can still feel discomfort.

Your surgeon will choose an implant design that best fits you based on your lifestyle habits.

Robotic arm–assisted surgery, including Mako robotic-assisted procedures, use technology to assist with the surgical procedure. 

During a robotic arm-assisted hip replacement surgery, your orthopedic surgeon first uses a CT scan to create 3D images to plan the procedure. Your doctor will then guide the robotic arm to remove damaged bone and cartilage, then insert your total or partial hip implant. 

A robotic arm doesn’t perform your surgery on its own and can’t make decisions or move without your surgeon. It’s simply a tool that helps your doctor plan and execute implant placement with precision, reducing complications with the goal of a more expedited recovery. Contemporary total hip replacement surgery with or without robotic techniques are extremely effective with decades of success.  Current improvements in implant design, manufacturing, and bearing surfaces have made long-term durability the norm rather than the exception.

Shortly after surgery, your nurses and rehabilitation team will get you started with simple mobility exercises to get your muscles moving. Your care team will assist you in achieving specific goals you’ll need to reach before heading home. These include getting in and out of bed without help, walking up and down several steps and performing exercises with the help of a cane or walker. Going home the same day as surgery has become common in appropriate individuals who accomplish the above milestones and demonstrate safe mobility.

After you’re discharged from the hospital, arrangements are made for either self-performed therapy, outpatient therapy, or in some cases home therapy, depending on individual needs and resources.

The majority of hip replacements last decades — often 25 years or more. Research shows that most people who have hip replacement surgery experience substantial pain relief, better range of motion and function with improvement in quality of life after surgery.

When your hip joint pain affects your daily life — and it hurts to walk, climb stairs or stand for long periods — and more conservative treatment options for pain relief aren’t working anymore, talk with your healthcare provider to see if hip replacement is an option for you. They can refer you to one of our orthopedic hip surgeons.