How to Check for Wear in Artificial Hips

There are many different aspects of modern medicine that help make life easier for those who have various types of medical issues. For example, if you break your hip and it cannot heal on its own, your physician might recommend an artificial hip. An artificial hip can be constructed from metal, plastic or a ceramic material, and it will need to be checked for wear periodically. However, this checking is not something that you can do yourself. You must see your physician for regular checkups of your artificial hip.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your physician about how often your artificial hip should be checked for wear. Always follow your physician's recommendations.

• 2

  Pay attention to how your artificial hip feels. Symptoms, such as swelling in the hip area, numbness or pain, could mean you need a checkup earlier than scheduled or more frequent checkups for wear. Again, this is not something that you can diagnose yourself. You must see your physician.

• 3

  Remove all jewelry to prepare yourself for an X-ray. Your physician will need to take an X-ray to check for wear in your artificial hip.

• 4

  Stay perfectly still during the X-ray. You might also need an ultrasound test to check the artificial hip for wear. Stay still during this procedure, as well.

• 5

  Prepare yourself for your physician to take blood samples. This is another way your physician is likely to check for wear. If you have a fear or phobia of needles or blood, discuss it with your physician to ensure this part of the exam goes as smoothly as possible.

• 6

  Expect your artificial hip to start showing signs of wear after about 15 years.