If you have been told that you will need a hip replacement, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. There are many reasons to avoid hip replacement surgery unless other treatments fail. Here are three treatments that could delay or prevent hip replacement surgery.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can often help you reduce your pain level and increase your mobility. Physical therapy cannot do anything for the arthritis itself, but it can help strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the joint. This can often give you more range of motion and decrease your pain. Physical therapy usually only lasts a few weeks, but you can continue the exercises on your own to improve the joint.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, has significant growth factors and proteins that trigger the body’s own natural healing response. PRP requires blood to be drawn, and the platelets concentrated are then suspended back into the plasma. This is injected into the joint. PRP is taken from your own blood, so there are no side effects to this treatment.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are another way that you can avoid hip replacement. Stem cells trigger the body’s healing response and provides the joint with the necessary components to stop the degeneration of the joint. Some patients even report joint improvement. Stem cells for this treatment are also taken from your own body, so there are no real side effects from the treatment.
While any one of these treatments can help you avoid hip replacement surgery, a combination of the three treatments is most likely to be effective. If you are interested in these treatments to avoid surgery, contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.