Hip Arthritis – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

Do you feel excruciating pain in your hip region? Is that pain and stiffness making movements challenging? Then, these could be signs of hip arthritis.

Arthritis of the hip is a common condition that involves inflammation of the hip joint, pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. The cartilage in the hip joint wears down or suffers damage, causing the bone surfaces of the joint to grind together and turn rough. However, what causes hip arthritis and how do you treat it? You must be eager to know this, so, let’s deep dive into these factors in this blog.

Causes of Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis can result from various factors. Some of them include the following.

• Obesity: Excess body weight stresses hip joints, expediting cartilage wear and tear. Together, these factors make you more prone to obesity.
• Genetics: Genetics can also play a crucial role in hip arthritis. For instance, people with hemochromatosis (excess iron storage) can suffer from joint damage.
• Metabolic Conditions: Metabolic disorders like gout or pseudogout can result in crystal deposits in the joint and lead to inflammation and arthritis.
• Avascular Necrosis: AVN is characterized by loss of blood supply to the bone tissue. It leads to the bone’s death and collapse. It results from dislocations, hip fractures, etc.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the synovial membrane lining the joints. The condition causes inflammation and joint damage. It affects any joint, including the hips, and causes swelling, stiffness, and pain.
• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that happens due to the wear and tear of the cartilage that provides cushioning to the ends of the bones in the hip joint. People suffering from joint injuries, obesity, genetics, and aging are more susceptible to developing osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

The key symptoms of hip arthritis include the following. However, one should note that these symptoms, their types, and intensities vary from person to person.

• Pain: The most common symptom is a dull ache or sharp stabbing pain. It is usually felt in the groin area. However, it can radiate to the buttock, knee, or thigh as well.
• Swelling: The hip joint may swell and feel warm to the touch, signifying inflammation.
• Stiffness: The person may find it difficult to move the hip joint, particularly after rest. Walking, sitting, and bending may become challenging due to the reduced range of motion.
• Muscle Weakness: Reduced mobility can inhibit movement. However, that itself can further weaken the muscles.

In addition to the above, joint deformity, sleep disturbances, or grinding or clicking sensation may also be experienced.

Treating Hip Arthritis: Non-Surgical and Surgical Treatment Options

Living with hip arthritis is painful. However, you can deal with it effectively with various surgical and non-surgical treatment options. Doctors will prescribe the best-suited treatment after a comprehensive diagnosis of your condition. Let’s look at some of them from both categories.

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Physiotherapy: Regular physiotherapy sessions, including strengthening and stretching exercises can enhance joint function and reduce stiffness.
• Lifestyle Changes: If excess weight is stressing the hip joint and causing pain, doctors will suggest losing weight to bring it to a healthy level. Additionally, they would advise refraining from performing high-impact exercises and doing low-impact ones like cycling or swimming.
• Acupuncture: This is an alternative therapy that helps reduce pain and enhance function. Additionally, chiropractic care like spinal adjustments and manipulations can provide some relief.
• Assistive Devices: Doctors may suggest using canes or walkers to reduce the load on the hip joint and enhance mobility. In some cases, shoe inserts or braces can help improve joint alignment and alleviate pain.

Surgical Treatment

• Hip Resurfacing: The treatment involves capping the femoral head with a smooth metal covering. It is an alternative for hip replacement, particularly in younger and more active patients.
• Total Hip Replacement: This is the most effective and common surgical option. It includes replacing the worn-out hip joint with an implant.
• Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that helps diagnose and treat joint problems. The treatment can remove loose fragments or inflamed tissue.
• Osteotomy: This one involves cutting and realigning the bone to alleviate pressure on the hip joint.

Don’t Live with Hip Arthritis! Treat it with Ranka Hospital.

Hip arthritis can be painful. However, in addition to pain, what’s equally critical is the restrictions that can restrict your movements and worsen to the extent where replacement remains the only option. But why let it aggravate to that level when you have Ranka Hospital with you?

We are a trustworthy hospital with a proven track record and experience treating thousands of patients to date. Our diagnostic accuracy, seasoned surgeons, use of the latest infrastructure, surgical expertise, and excellent postoperative care make us one of the most reliable places for hip arthritis treatment in Pune. Call us at +91 – 20 – 24261530 to schedule an appointment with our doctors.