Is it safe for a woman at 80 to undergo surgery for RA?

Question

Hi doctor,

My 81-year-old mother is having severe pain in her right hip joint. In the past, she has tried Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatments, and she’s currently on medication for rheumatoid arthritis.

Given her age, what hip treatment would you recommend?

What are the risks involved with the suggested option?
How long would the full treatment and recovery take?
Will she be able to resume her normal daily activities afterward?
Are there any minimally invasive alternatives that might be suitable for someone her age?

We’re looking for a safe and effective plan that takes her age and current condition into account.

I have attached her files for your reference.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for writing, and I understand your concern.

At her age, I would recommend sticking to symptomatic treatment for now. Surgical procedures in older adults come with higher risks, bones heal more slowly, and there's an increased chance of complications like infections or impaired hip function if surgery doesn't go as planned.

That said, if her symptoms are getting worse and medications no longer provide relief, then hip replacement may be the last resort. After surgery, she should be able to return to normal daily activities, although some mild pain may persist.

For now, her rheumatoid arthritis treatment plan, which her physician prescribed for one more month, includes watching closely for any improvement.

Minimally invasive options aren't ideal here since the hip joint is large and bears the body's full weight.

Likely diagnosis: Rheumatoid arthritis.
Recommended imaging: MRI of the hip and pelvis.
Other possible cause: Osteoarthritis (OA).

To guide next steps, could you please share:

What symptoms is she currently experiencing?
Have they been getting progressively worse?

Looking forward to your update.

I hope this helps.

Please let me know.

Thank you.