The prevalence of arthritis in the US can be estimated from the fact that approximately over 30 million people in the United States have it. Arthritis has many forms, the most common of which is osteoarthritis which causes the cartilage of weight-bearing joints like knees and hips to deteriorate.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a very painful joint condition that can worsen with time, affecting your mobility, joint function, and overall quality of life. While it is a chronic condition with no cure except joint replacement, there are some tips you can follow to reduce further damage to the joint and ease your symptoms.
Let’s talk about the tips and where you can go for the treatment of hip arthritis in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Tip #1 Keep Your Hip Joint Moving
Of course, some pains are your body’s saying, “take it easy”. But if you have chronic hip pain due to arthritis of the hip joint, your pain and joint stiffness will be worse if you heed this saying too often.
With that being said, physical activity – not strenuous but light and joint-friendly – is crucial to improve your arthritis pain, mood, function, and overall quality of life.
Tryto indulge in joint-friendly physical activities such as walking, biking, and swimming.
Tip #2 Manage Your Pain
It is not a good idea to suffer in pain – nor does anyone want to. Thankfully, to manage the pain of hip arthritis, there are many types of medications available. These may include over-the-counter pain medications, topical creams containing capsaicin, and prescription pain relievers.
Talk to your doctor about your options to relieve arthritis pain and ease other symptoms.
Tip #3 Shed Your Extra Pounds
The importance of losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight must be addressed, particularly for people with arthritis.
For people with extra pounds of fat, losing extra fat can reduce stress on joints, particularly weight-bearing joints like hips and knees.
What’s more? Losing as little as 10 to 12 pounds of extra weight can reduce arthritis pain and improve the physical function of people with arthritis.
Healthy dietary changes and low-impact, arthritis-friendly daily activity can significantly help you lose weight.
Tip #4 Protect Your Joints
It may come as a surprise to you that joint injuries not only cause arthritis but also worsen the existing osteoarthritis. So, if your occupation or hobby involves activities like running, jumping, or other high-impact activities that may pose a risk of injury to your arthritic hip joint, consider quitting such activities – and opt for low-impact activities that don’t stress your joints too much.
If needed, use assistive devices such as braces, canes, walkers orthotics, or shoe inserts to avoid the risk of injuries.
Hip Arthritis Treatment in Bismarck, North Dakota
If you or your loved one has hip arthritis and seeking a lasting solution, visit us at The Bone & Joint Center. We have a team of highly trained and experienced orthopedic surgeons.Dr. Timothy Bopp and Dr. Brian Dahl specialize in hip replacement surgeries and can provide you lasting relief from your hip arthritis symptoms. Our surgeons utilize nonoperative options for hip arthritis treatment before turning to surgical treatment.
To know more about our services or schedule a consultation, call us today at (800) 424-2663 or fill out our online appointment request form.
