If you have an orthopaedic condition that prevents you from working, restricts your mobility or causes you chronic pain, it can have a massive impact on your life.
Aside from the challenges of day to day living, chronic pain can restrict your ability to work and contribute to feeling tired or depressed. This can bring its own challenges, financially and in terms of your self-esteem and your ability to care for your family.
Why work is good for you
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, going to work is good for our mental health and self-esteem. They point out that going to work brings a whole load of benefits, including:
- social contacts and support
- money and resources
- a meaningful way of occupying our time
- physical and mental activity
- an opportunity to develop and use our skills
- social status
- a sense of identity and personal achievement
By contrast, people who want to work but are unable to do so tend to have poorer physical and mental health, see their GP more and be more likely to be admitted to hospital.
If you are suffering from moderate to severe osteoarthritis, having hip replacement surgery can help you to get your life back, including getting back to work.
Getting back to work
More than 100,000 people have a hip replacement every year in the UK. It is one of the most commonly performed operations.
The Medical Technology Group published a study called Keeping Britain Working: How medical technology can help reduce the cost of ill health to the UK economy.
They estimate that 18,500 people are currently in work thanks to a hip replacement. Not only does that save the UK Government around £70m in healthcare costs and benefits but, more importantly, it helps people to live a normal life again.
DAA hip replacement
The fastest way of getting back to normal quickly is with DAA (Direct Anterior Approach) hip replacement surgery. This is one of the most minimally invasive techniques used in modern day hip replacement. DAA has many benefits compared to traditional hip replacement surgery:
Benefits
- You will be up on your feet again in less time – usually you will be assisted to walk on the same day as surgery, under a doctor’s supervision. You will normally need to use crutches for only a number of days after surgery.
- Patients who have DAA hip replacement tend to be more confident about getting back on their feet.
- You will need less pain relief because muscles are separated and not cut – usually you will only need to take painkillers for one to two weeks.
- Your hospital stay will be shorter – normally you will only need to stay in overnight – and you are likely to experience less blood loss during surgery.
- Your body will heal from the surgery quicker with fewer restrictions to your movements as you heal.
- You will be able to get back to work or your normal, day-to-day activities far quicker.
- The risk of post-surgical hip dislocation is reduced because the surgery is fro the front and muscles are not cut as opposed to traditional approached.
- Generally, DAA hip replacement leaves a smaller scar.
How it works
In traditional hip surgery, the surgeon makes an incision at the side or back of the hip. This has a significant impact on the joint and connective tissues, as well as the healing time after surgery.
By contrast, Direct Anterior Approach surgery goes in at the front (anterior) of the hip. The surgeon does not need to to detach any of the muscles or tendons, which makes it easier for your body to recover and heal itself.
