Finding Relief for Hip Osteoarthritis Pain

Osteoarthritis is a condition associated with chronic, occasionally severe pain that can interfere with your daily routine and commitments. Managing any chronic pain requires an active, methodical approach in order to stave off worsening symptoms, fatigue, and even depression. If you or someone you love suffers from hip osteoarthritis pain,  Rothman Orthopaedic Institute can help you manage your symptoms and get back some of the energy and life you have been missing.

What Causes Hip Osteoarthritis Pain?

The hip is ball-and-socket joint comprised of the acetabulum (the “socket” in the pelvic bone) and the femoral head (the “ball” at the top of the thigh bone), with a cushion of soft cartilage between them.  Hip osteoarthritis pain occurs when the cartilage between the bones wears down or is injured, thereby allowing the bones to rub together and cause inflammation.

Hip osteoarthritis is a serious and systemic condition that predominantly affects the joints, but may also concern other parts of the body including the lungs, heart, skin, and eyes. Rheumatoid osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of hip osteoarthritis, impacting an estimated two million people in the United States.

Most forms of hip osteoarthritis are progressive, and if left untreated, may result in serious pain, damage to the joints, and disability. However, patients today have access to more treatments than ever for aid in coping with symptoms and maintaining their quality of life. Those who have been diagnosed should know that a growing body of research shows treatment to be most effective when it begins early in the course of the disease. For many patients with hip osteoarthritis, these treatments successfully control symptoms, and can even slow the progress of their condition.

Non-surgical Treatment Options

Once diagnosed, there are many non-surgical treatment options available for patients with hip osteoarthritis pain:

• Activity – Physical therapy or low-impact exercise programs that improve flexibility, build strength, and maintain muscle tone

• Healthy eating – Increasing your intake of healthy foods to promote a healthy weight and ease inflammation (especially fish, cherries, green tea, flaxseed, ginger, and cider vinegar)

• Walking aids – Supporting devices such as canes or walkers to make it easier and safer for you to get around

• Warm baths – to comfort and relieve symptoms by increasing blood flow to your painful areas and relaxing the muscles and joints.

• Pain relievers – Medications such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.

Surgical Solutions For Hip Osteoarthritis Pain

When more conservative measures fail to relieve symptoms, some patients may be eligible for surgical procedures to help to reduce pain, enhance quality of life, and improve your ability to perform everyday activities with fewer or no restrictions.

• Osteotomy surgery may be recommended for less severe cases. Hip osteotomy surgery repositions the joint to allow the healthy part of the hip joint to bear most of the body’s weight. Only a select number of patients are candidates for osteotomy surgery.

• Total hip replacement may be the best choice for a severely injured hip joint. In a hip replacement procedure (or arthroplasty), the damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with new, prosthetic parts.

The first step in trying to decide how to treat hip osteoarthritis pain should always be for patients to consult with their doctors. For more specialized help, they should see a hip expert at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Our physicians are some of the most experienced specialists for hip osteoarthritis pain, and they can offer comprehensive and caring treatment for your hip.

For more information, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.