Hip Arthritis

Relieving Severe Hip Pain Caused by Arthritis

What is Hip Arthritis?

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of hip pain. Hip arthritis is a progressive disease which means it gradually worsens over time. Hip arthritis is a loss of cartilage that impacts hip movement and mobility due to bone rubbing on bone which causes hip pain, tenderness, welling, stiffness and inflammation. All of this can affect your daily life including sleeping, walking or getting in and out of chairs.

Causes of Hip Arthritis

Arthritis of the hip typically occurs in older patients (60 years old or more) or patients who have suffered from a previous hip joint injury. Since arthritis typically affects weight-bearing joints, patients who are overweight may have a higher chance of getting arthritis given the strain on the joint due to added weight.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis:

The most common place patients feel pain from hip arthritis is in your groin or buttock area. Below is a list of other symptoms commonly associated with hip arthritis.

Inflammation of the hip joint
Pain in the groin, buttock, thigh or knee
Limited mobility impacting ability to perform daily tasks (Tying shoes, putting on socks, or rising from a chair)
Uneven leg length
Decreased range of motion impacting ability to walk or climb stairs
Locking or sticking of the hip joint and a grinding noise

Types of Hip Arthritis:

There are different types of arthritis that can affect the hip and treatment may vary depending on the type of arthritis you have.

Hip Osteoarthritis: Hip Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear arthritis which typically affects people as they age. It often occurs in weight-bearing joints such as the hip. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the hip joint wears down over time. Osteoarthritis causes hip pain and stiffness.
Post-Traumatic Hip Arthritis: When a traumatic hip injury or hip fracture occurs, it can increase a person’s chances of developing arthritis of the hip later in life. The cartilage may become damaged over time, even after the initial injury seemed to have healed years prior, leading to hip pain and stiffness.
Inflammatory Arthritis: Is caused by an overactive immune system and typically affects multiple joints at the same time. Below are common types of inflammatory arthritis that can impact the hip joint.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: Is an inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine and large joints such as the hip joint. Pain in the back and joints is common.
- Psoriatic arthritis: Is a form of arthritis that affects patients who have psoriasis. This is considered to be a type of inflammatory arthritis which causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is a chronic inflammatory disorder which is caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue, such as the lining of your hip joint, causing painful swelling that can lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.

Nonsurgical Treatment of Hip Arthritis

The hip surgeons at Newport Orthopedic Institute will create a custom treatment plan to treat your hip arthritis. Switching to lower impact activities and avoiding activities that aggravate the condition, such as climbing stairs. Non-surgical treatments that can relieve hip pain caused from arthritis include:

Weight loss
Physical Therapy
RICE Method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs – Ibuprofen or naproxen)
Corticosteroids or cortisone
Image-guided Steroid Injections
PRP Injections ¹

¹ PRP Injections are not yet approved by the FDA and therefore is considered an experimental medical procedure and is not covered by insurance.

Surgical Treatments for Hip Arthritis

If you have exhausted non-surgical treatments and continue to have hip pain, your board-certified orthopedic hip surgeon at Newport Orthopedic Institute may recommend hip replacement surgery. There are several things to consider with hip replacement surgery from the type of implant to the surgical approach (anterior or posterior approach). Schedule a consult today with one of our hip surgeons to determine the best treatment option for your specific condition. Below are the types of hip replacement surgery offered at NOI: