Men and women who have experienced hip pain strive to find relief from the pain for which hip replacement surgeries appear to be the best solution they are looking into. However, for a Pennsylvania man who is seeking compensatory damages and claiming he had a defective DePuy Pinnacle implant, his artificial hip was a nightmare, news reports say. Filed in the United States District Court of the Northern District of Texas on February 12, 2013, this case  added another color in the tapestry of complaints against Johnson & Johnson. Now it is among the thousands of pending cases the global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing giant. The plaintiff feels that the manufacturer sold defective implants and he has developed metal poisoning because of the hip device. There is no news of product recall from the manufacturer yet, but the plaintiffs are hopeful that in the future it might be possible to prevent others from experiencing the same pain.

 

Read more at:
Pennsylvania Man Files Lawsuit Against DePuy for Pinnacle Hip Failure

Going home after a hip arthroplasty often leaves recipients fearful that they may be not be able to get by themselves if they are alone, medical industry observers say. Climbing the stairs is only one of the most common problems after leaving the hospital because the patients are not able to flex their hips. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized that hip replacement surgery is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures done in the United States. It has already been 50 years since modern hip replacement surgery started but it has already changed the lives of millions of men and women.

     

    Hospital stays may last for three to 10 days, depending on the pace of the recovery of the patient. Exercise is advised and it may start a few weeks after the surgery. Light activities are introduced at first, such as doing the normal daily chores. Sitting, standing, walking and climbing the stairs are also done for starters. Climbing the stairs is no easy feat, especially when one thinks about the pain and the difficulty of bending. Thus, it is often advised by surgeons to avoid the stairs while the leg has not yet fully healed up. It is unsafe to try climbing a flight of stairs if the tissues are not yet healed because it may risk opening up the wound.

     

    Men and women are advised on using crutches. Other assistive devices may help while they are still learning to get used to the new hip. Most people would have all the things that they need in one corner of the room to keep them from going up and down the stairways. Fall hazards such as rugs, electrical cords, small toys and things on the floor may be set aside in the meantime. Things that are frequently used in the kitchen, living room or bedroom may be kept within reach without having the need to bend down or reach up. If the things that need to be used are in very high or low places, one may also use a long clamp or a tool that may be used to grab it instead.

     

    Installing handrails in the bathroom, kitchen and the hallway may help keep one’s balance. If the bedroom is located upstairs, it may be beneficial to move downstairs or make the living room a temporary bedroom while in rehabilitation. Planning beforehand may save oneself of the trouble of dealing with unnecessary problems after the surgery.

     

URL References:

orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00356
cpmc.org/learning/documents/rg-thr-home.html
medicine.missouri.edu/ortho/Bal/hip-recovery.html

Metal-on-metal hip replacements are not associated with cancer risk but they may need a long-term follow up to be able to establish proven facts, says the initial report from the UK National Joint Registry, quoting insights from its seven-year assessment. Although there are increased levels of cobalt and chromium in the patient’s blood, an article found in a website asserted that there is no early link to cancer from this malady.

 

DePuy Pinnacle MoM hip replacements are known to cause pain, swelling and immobility in patients but many medical professionals feared that the metal particles found in the blood may also increase the risk of cancer. You may read Study Shows Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Devices Not Linked to Cancer for its complete story.

 

Hip pain can be very difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis, and traditionally requires long-term pain management if the patient does not undergo hip surgery, orthopaedic experts say. Hip replacement surgery and hip resurfacing are often the only medical options presented to patients to deal with their debilitating pain. Although hip replacement surgery is very effective at reducing pain and improving function for those afflicted with various types of hip injuries, there are several non-invasive types of treatments available designed to manage a chronic hip pain condition and prevent and/or postpone the need for hip replacement surgery.

There are types of alternatives for hip surgery to avoid post-operation effects which are tried and effective to relief pain and postpone the surgery.

 

Activity Adjustments

 

Reducing participation in those extensive physical activities that worsen hip pain is an effective alternative to hip replacement surgery. Avoiding extraneous activities such as running, fast walking, aerobics and so on, and embracing low-impact physical activities into daily life such as swimming, cycling, slow walking and so on, can go a long way towards reducing hip pain and stiffness and increasing hip joint function. It can also help prevent and/or delay the need for hip replacement surgery.

 

Hip Injections

 

Hip injection is often an option to treat torturous hip pains that doesn’t react to pharmacological treatment. A minimal amount of cortisone is used to inject directly into the hip joint to somewhat reduce inflammation and pain in the hip joint. Hip joint injections can potentially offer pain relief and improve hip function to patients with limited activities because of severe hip pains.

 

Hip Reconstruction

 

In some cases, hip reconstruction can be an applicable option to hip replacement surgery. It reconstructs and repairs rather than replacing the damaged hip joint. Hip reconstruction surgery involves making cuts to the bones about the hip joint, which allows the hip joint anatomy to be reconstructed, fixed and shifted into a more anatomically correct positioning. As a result, it reduces hip pain, increase joint function and in many cases, prolonging the life of the natural hip joint.

 

Not all hip conditions require a hip replacement surgery as the initial treatment. Unfortunately for those who have undergone hip replacement procedures, instead a hip replacement will bring them relief and comfort, they are suffering the effects of the surgery. In light with the hip replacement surgery, you can learn more information at DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit Information Center.

 

URL References:


orthopedics.about.com/od/hipkneereplacement/a/hipalternatives.htm
ehow.com/way_5266745_alternative-hip-replacement.html