Hip Arthritis

What Causes Arthritis in the Hip?

Hip Arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis of the hip) occurs when your hip joint-cushioning cartilage starts to degenerate. Whether due to wear and tear, repetitive stress, old age, obesity, or an injury that never healed, osteoarthritis of the hip can slow you down and wreak havoc on your body.

Without the protective lubrication of cartilage, your bone ends grind against one other, causing hip joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. The bone rubbing only gets worse over time, and eventually, this rubbing can also lead to the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes).

In 2011, over 28 million Americans suffered from osteoarthritis of the hip. Though osteoarthritis of the hip may seem like an age-old medical issue, we pursue modern and effective treatment options that will help you enjoy mobility again. When you come to our pain management centers, you will receive nothing less than the most advanced, cutting-edge medical technology for pain relief and management without a need for total hip replacement or surgery.

What Does Hip Arthritis Feel Like?

Common signs and symptoms of hip arthritis include:

Swelling
Hip Pain
Sharp pain in the thigh, groin, buttocks, or knee
Joint pain
Chronic pain
Pain during vigorous activities
Pain during rainy weather
Joint stiffness, especially after periods of rest
The joint locks or sticks
Crunching sounds, or the feeling of bones rubbing against each other
Inability to walk, climb stairs, put socks and shoes on, etc.

Exercises for Osteoarthritis of the Hip

When you’re suffering from hip osteoarthritis, your former favorite activities can sometimes feel like torture, not to mention plain daily activities, and it may be difficult to exercise at all. However, getting regular exercise by implementing a thoughtful exercise program is important to stave off muscular atrophy, improve balance, and strengthen the joints.

Start slowly, and choose low-impact exercises like walking or cycling, both of which you can do outside or in your home. A treadmill with stabilizing handrails is an excellent option if your balance is poor. A stationary bike allows you to work your way up to higher levels of resistance, avoid dangerous traffic, and take breaks when you need to.

For variety, you can add water aerobics, yoga, or Tai Chi to your routine. The slow, fluid movements of these activities can improve mobility, flexibility, strength, widen your range of motion and cardiovascular health. They’re also fun and can be done alone or in group classes.

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Your Nuvo Pain Management Specialist will start your diagnosis of osteoarthritis with a complete history and physical exam. Imaging tests may be used to determine the state of osteoarthritis of the hip. Your specialist will ask questions about your medical history and your symptoms, then conduct a physical examination and order diagnostic tests, such as x-rays.

During the physical examination, your specialist will evaluate the range of motion in your hip. He or she will also look for limp or other problems with your gait (the way you walk) due to pain or stiffness of the hip joint. X-rays are imaging tests that create detailed pictures of dense structures, like bone. X-rays of an arthritic hip will show whether there is any thinning or erosion in the bones, any loss of joint space, or any excess fluid in the joint.

Relief and Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but we can reduce joint pain, increase mobility, and slow the progress of the disease with early treatment. Along with weight loss, there are a few conservative, non-surgical options, we might recommend, avoiding hip surgery, or total hip replacement surgery.