If you struggle with pain and stiffness in one or both hips, do you know what’s causing it? Is it arthritis or an inflammatory condition called bursitis? Here’s how your orthopedic surgeon in the Bismarck, ND, area can help you differentiate between the two conditions and what can be done to treat the discomfort.
The Hip Joint
The hip has a ball and socket joint. The upper end of the femur, or thigh bone, connects to and rotates in the socket, or acetabulum, of the pelvis. This weight-bearing and highly mobile joint contains cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and lubrication from synovial fluid.
Age, inactivity, overuse, injury, and disease conditions can impact the health and function of your hip joints. Two of the most common orthopedic conditions our orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat are arthritis and bursitis.
Though symptoms may overlap, these two orthopedic problems are distinctly different. Your doctor at The Bone & Joint Center can sort through your symptoms, health and lifestyle history, and imaging (X-ray) results to determine what’s happening in your hip and figure out how to treat it.
Hip Arthritis Symptoms and Treatments in Bismarck, ND
Over 21 million Americans suffer with the pain, stiffness, and poor mobility associated with the more than 100 types of arthritis. The most common kind is osteoarthritis (OA). It usually stems from advancing age, sports injuries, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and more. The knee, hip, and shoulder are most often impacted by OA and its symptoms, which are progressive in nature.
With hip arthritis, people usually feel:
- More pain and stiffness in the morning
- Discomfort that starts with the hip and radiates to the buttocks and down the leg
- Pain that’s worse with standing or sitting still for long periods of time
- A grinding sensation and hearing noises coming from the hip
While pain medications, assistive devices (canes and walkers), and physical therapy relieve pain and stiffness, as well as improve endurance and strength, surgery may be an eventuality in some cases.
As cartilage on bone ends and sockets deteriorates, patients and their orthopedic surgeons may opt for new joints through joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty) and hip resurfacing procedures. These state-of-the-art treatments are highly successful but involve a large degree of rehabilitation afterwards.
Hip Bursitis Symptoms and Treatments
Hip bursitis can also be progressive in nature. There is an acute form which is accompanied by pain, stiffness, and swelling. The trochanter bursa and the iliopsoas bursae, fluid-filled sacs at the femoral head and behind the groin are impacted by overuse, weight issues, and gout.
Bursitis pain:
- Feels worse at night
- Intensifies with a side-lying position while sleeping
- Can come on after falling on or overusing the hip
- Can resolve by itself over a period of days to weeks
When hip bursitis pain persists, it’s best to consult with an orthopedic surgeon who can determine the correct diagnosis and treatment plan. For bursitis, physical therapy, cortisone injections, over-the-counter medications for pain and a cane to off-load some weight can help.
Some patients with persistent symptoms may benefit from surgical intervention. The procedure, called arthroscopic removal of the bursa, or bursectomy, is a day surgery that takes out the inflamed bursa. A short period of rehabilitation helps strengthen surrounding muscles and improve flexibility.
The Bone & Joint Center in Bismarck, ND
At our 11 state-of-the-art facilities, our team of 9 board-certified orthopedic surgeons expertly diagnose diseases, injuries, and malformations of the musculoskeletal system. We specialize in the latest non-operative and surgical techniques and have been helping patients of all ages since 1974.
If you’re in pain, we know we can help. Please call us at (800) 424-2663 or (701) 946-7400 for a consultation with one of our doctors. Or, use our online appointment request form. You’ll receive the finest orthopedic care around!
