The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the acetabulum of the pelvis (socket) and the femoral head (ball). The ends of the bones are lined by hyaline cartilage which provides a smooth frictionless, painless range of motion. Osteoarthritis (OA) or wear and tear of this joint is common and can result in pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that will typically progress over the years.
Several factors may contribute to the development of hip osteoarthritis, including:
1. Age: The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, as the cartilage in the joints naturally wears down over time.
2. Genetics: Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to developing osteoarthritis.
3. Obesity: Excess weight can increase the stress on the hip joints, leading to accelerated cartilage wear and osteoarthritis.
4. Previous injury: Injuries to the hip joint, such as fractures or dislocations, can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis later in life.
5. Joint overuse: Repetitive stress on the hip joint, such as from certain sports or occupations, may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
The most common symptoms patients complain about with hip OA are pain. The location and character of the pain can vary patient to patient but generally begins when exercising or partaking in certain activities for prolonged periods of time and progresses to the point of pain which is present for much of the day. As it becomes more severe it can interfere with sleeping and performing simple everyday tasks.
Symptoms may include:
1. Pain: Pain in the hip joint is the most common symptom of hip osteoarthritis. It may occur during activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or getting up from a seated position. The pain may also be present at rest and can range from mild to severe.
2. Stiffness: Stiffness in the hip joint, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity, is another common symptom. This stiffness may make it difficult to move the hip joint smoothly.
3. Reduced range of motion: Hip osteoarthritis can lead to a decreased range of motion in the hip joint, making it challenging to perform certain movements such as bending or rotating the hip.
The diagnosis of hip OA can most often be made during the medical consultation after a thorough history and examination. X-rays of your hip are taken to confirm the diagnosis. If the X-ray is unclear or there are some atypical features of your presentation an MRI of your hip may be requested.
Once damage to the articular cartilage has occurred there are no treatments that can reverse the damage. How to treat your condition then revolves around managing your symptoms.
Non-operative treatments:
- The starting point for hip OA is maximising non-operative management. This includes simple pain-relieving medication such as paracetamol and anti-inflammatories. Activity modification and avoiding those activities that make the pain worse. Maintain a healthy weight and keeping strong around the hip and pelvis is important as is commencing low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling, yoga and Pilates.
- Injections (Hydrocortisone + local anaesthetic) can help to reduce short to mid-term pain and Dr Shales may recommend these to you.
Operative treatments:
- In more severe cases or where non-operative measures are failing Dr Shales may offer you a total hip replacement
As Hip OA is a chronic condition with no chance or reversing the damage to the cartilage symptoms may continue to worsen. As you get older and the everyday demands on your body reduce you may find that you manage with symptoms with continues non-operative management.
If this is not the case and you are thinking about a Total Hip Replacement then you be please to know that the results of hip replacement surgery is extremely successful.
Whilst there is no known way to completely prevent hip OA the following are ways of keeping the hip in a healthy conditions.
Hip osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility in the hip joint. While there is no cure, various treatment options and lifestyle modifications can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
If you are experiencing symptoms of hip osteoarthritis, please make an appointment with Dr Shales for an accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment plan.
