Why is there so much hip replacement surgery?

Question

My oldest brother just had hip replacement surgery & I was having a debate with my 2nd oldest brother on why there is so much of this surgery being done these days. I know there is the obvious injuries, but my personal opinion is if you are basing it on just general wear & tear I figured in that people who had very active sex lives would wear their hips out faster. But I would like to hear your reasons on why you think this is such a common surgery.

I am not against it...just wondering on the causes more than anything :o)

Answer 1

There are a lot of hip replacements for several reasons:
--Our population is aging and osteoarthritis is a disease of aging. We live longer, our joints stiffen up, and we will not settle for a life lived as a disabled person when there is a treatment that can put us back on our feet and let us be productive.
--Hip replacements work! Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful procedures performed today in terms of how it relieves pain and restores function in people who would otherwise become disabled. Our great grandparents (if they lived that long) sat in wheelchairs and had to be cared for by their children until they died. We get the joint replaced.


Your theory about sex wearing out the hips: it's a very creative theory. How did you come up with that one? Actually, medical science knows what happens to the joint cartilage in arthritis but they haven't quite figured out why it happens. Until they do and until they figure out a way to reverse the deterioration of joint cartilage, hip replacement remains the single most reliable way to get the arthritis patient back on their feet and living a productive life.
In all fairness, I should mention another surgical procedure that is gaining ground: hip resurfacing, a procedure that involves capping the head of the femur (instead of cutting it off as is done in hip replacement). The device used in resurfacing has been recently approved for use in the US by the FDA although the procedure has been performed abroad for many years.

Answer 2

Cause they have arthritis.. hubby has already had his (both hips replaced) one time he had to have to right socket replaced years later.. It aint no fun thing to go through. They cant walk without hurting much less do anything else. He drives a truck and loves to do carpenter stuff on the side...now his knee is killing him..looks like a knee replacement on the horizon for him.. Look you get to hurting so bad you will do anything to feel better. My opin.. its in the water and I have been preaching this for a long time. The water and the enviornment does something to your body that will make your body break down. Hubby has ostero arthritis..and yes its a wear and tear .. Sex life with is NO..but we still do and try to enjoy that. Its his physical stuff that he does every day.. Sorry to be so long in this.

Answer 3

I think you hear allot about hip replacement now because it can be done. Years ago people had to suffer the pain and eventually not walk. Now you can have a new hip and no pain. What would you choose?

Answer 4

In my humble opinion....folks refusing to live in pain from hips being worn out from all kinds of activities and if it sex...well more power to them!! Our diets are not as healthy as they once were and bones/joints wear out. I think we are really lucky to live in a time where we have this option and don't have to choose to live in pain for the rest of our time.

Answer 5

We don't take as good of our bodies and joints as we should and people are living longer these days. And of course there is the $$$$$$$$ aspect of it.

Answer 6

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