| Like other joints that
carry your weight, your hips may be at
risk for "wear and tear" arthritis
(osteoarthritis), the most common form
of the disease. The smooth and
glistening covering (articular
cartilage) on the ends of your bones
that helps your hip joint glide may wear
thin. Your first sign may be a bit of
discomfort and stiffness in your groin,
buttock or thigh when you wake up in the
morning. The pain flares when you're
active and gets better when you rest.
If you don't get treatment for
osteoarthritis of the hip, the condition
keeps getting worse until resting no
longer relieves your pain. The hip joint
gets stiff and inflamed. Bone spurs
might build up at the edges of the
joint. When the cartilage wears away
completely, bones rub directly against
each other. This makes it very painful
for you to move. You may lose the
ability to rotate, flex or extend your
hip. If you become less active to avoid
the pain the muscles controlling your
joint get weak, and you may start to
limp.
About 10 million Americans reported
having been diagnosed with
osteoarthritis. You're more likely to
get it if you have a family history of
the disease. You're also at risk if you
are elderly, obese or have an injury
that puts stress on your hip cartilage.
You can get osteoarthritis if you don't
have any risk factors. See your doctor
as soon as possible if you think you may
have it.
Evaluation
While you cannot reverse the effects
of osteoarthritis, early nonsurgical
treatment may help you avoid a lot of
pain and disability and slow progression
of the disease. Surgery can help you if
your condition is already severe. You
doctor will determine how much the
disease has progressed. Describe your
symptoms and when they began. Your
doctor may rotate, flex and extend your
hips to check for pain. He or she may
want you to walk or stand on one leg to
see how your hips line up. Both hips
will probably be X-rayed to check if hip
joint space has changed, and if you have
developed bone spurs or other
abnormalities.
Nonsurgical treatment
If you have early stages of
osteoarthritis of the hip, the first
treatment may be:
-
Rest your hip from overuse.
-
Follow a physical therapy program of
gentle, regular exercise like
swimming, water aerobics or cycling
to keep your joint functioning and
improve its strength and range of
motion.
-
Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medications like ibuprofen for pain.
-
Get enough sleep each night.
You may need to lose weight if you
are overweight. As the disease
progresses, you may need to use a cane.
Total hip replacement surgery
If you have later stages of
osteoarthritis, your hip joint hurts
when you rest at night and/or your hip
is severely deformed, your doctor may
recommend total hip replacement surgery
(arthroplasty). You will get a two-piece
ball and socket replacement for your hip
joint. This will cure your pain and
improve your ability to walk. You may
need crutches or a walker for awhile
after surgery. Rehabilitation is
important to restore your hip's
flexibility and work your muscles back
into shape. |
