Arthritis is a common cause of pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the hip joint. The term arthritis means “inflammation of the joint.” There are several different types of hip arthritis, and many factors can contribute to the various types, including genetics. All types of hip arthritis can cause permanent damage to the hip joint.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2013 to 2015, about 54.4 million adults in the U.S. were diagnosed each year with some type of arthritis. That’s about 22.7 percent of the U.S. adult population.
Types of Hip Arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease that results in joint pain, stiffness, immobility, and swelling. Arthritis is actually a term used for a group of over 100 diseases affecting the skeletal system, especially the joints.
Arthritis conditions that commonly cause pain in the hip area include:
- Osteoarthritis, which is a common cause of hip pain in adults. It may also be called “wear-and-tear” arthritis and is usually characterized by the progressive wearing of the joint cartilage.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1.5 million adults in the U.S. With RA, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, which is chronic inflammation that typically happens in flare-ups of discomfort and pain. People usually start having symptoms between the ages of 17-35.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus, which is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks tissues and organs by mistake. It is more common in women between the ages of 15-35.
- Psoriatic arthritis, which is linked to a skin condition called psoriasis. It may result in joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Do You Have Hip Arthritis?
The primary symptom of hip arthritis is pain. It ranges from being mild to severe and is described as dull aching, sharp, burning, or throbbing, among other sensations. Pain is typically felt in the hip area but the exact location of the pain may vary.
Apart from pain, common symptoms may also include:
- Limited range of motion
- Stiffness in the hip area, particularly right after waking up in the morning
- Pain radiating to the groin, buttock, lower back, thigh, or knee
- Walking with a limp
In general, pain may be felt differently between the two main categories of arthritis:
- Inflammatory arthritis pain is often described as deep, sharp, stiff, burning, or tingling. Inflammatory pain is usually relieved with movement and may be worsened with prolonged rest.
- Osteoarthritis pain is commonly described as dull aching or soreness. This kind of pain typically gets worse with movement or activity and improves with periods of rest.
A person experiencing hip arthritis can expect to have these symptoms get worse over time. At first, it can be intermittent and limited to certain activities, but the hip joint will often keep deteriorating. Hip arthritis onset may be rapid with deterioration of the range of motion in the hip. A patient can go from having no signs to requiring a hip replacement in less than 24 months.
What Are the Treatment Options for Hip Pain?
If hip arthritis is what is causing your hip pain, your doctor will recommend the appropriate treatment for your condition.
Arthritis has no cure, so most treatment methods are usually focused on managing symptoms. Your doctor will likely recommend one of these options:
- Physical therapy
- Pain medication
- Therapeutic injections
- PRP therapy
- Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture
Your doctor will use up all non-invasive treatment options before recommending surgery. However, if you are experiencing severe hip arthritis, surgery might be your best treatment option. The type of surgery for hip arthritis varies according to your needs. These include:
- Anterior hip replacement
- Partial hip replacement
- Total hip replacement
- Hip resurfacing
Patients who are suffering from severe arthritis often benefit from hip replacement surgery. Our hip surgeons, Dr. Timothy Bopp and Dr. Brian Dahl, at The Bone & Joint Center, offer a range of hip replacement options, including total hip replacement, minimally invasive total hip replacement, anterior minimally invasive hip replacement, and computer navigation hip replacement.
Suffering from Hip Arthritis? Contact Our Bone and Joint Specialists Today!
At The Bone & Joint Center Orthopedic Center of Excellence, our orthopedic surgeons can quickly evaluate your hip pain and determine the root cause. We provide the best and most effective treatments. Our aim is to provide relief from your pain through the least-invasive treatment.
We also have an experienced team of physical therapists and occupational therapists who can help you learn excellent exercises for strengthening your hip, movements to avoid preventing overstress on the hip, and other tips to keep your hip and other joints in the greatest condition possible.
If you are experiencing hip pain from arthritis or any other condition, seek treatment now. Call us at (800) 424-2663 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, or you can visit our appointment request page now. We look forward to helping relieve your hip pain, so you can maintain the active lifestyle you enjoy.
