Hip Arthritis – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Overview

Annually, arthritis affects nearly 15 million adults, ranging between 22% to 39% in India. As arthritis progresses, the hip joint is permanently damaged. There are, however, some things you can do to reduce hip arthritis symptoms. The condition does not cure and gradually worsens in due course if not taken prompt treatment. 

Hip arthritis is one of the common conditions that typically occur at age of 65-85 years. This condition ends up causing serious effects on the hip joint leading to pain while walking and sitting. The hip joint is one of the largest bone joints present in the body. It is a ball and socket joint. The socket is a part of the large pelvis bone and is formed by the acetabulum. Wherein the ball in the joint is a femoral head, i.e, the upper end of the thigh bone (femur).

What is hip arthritis?

Hip arthritis is a condition where the cartilage in the hip joint starts deteriorating. This condition affects the mobility of the hip joint. Joint surfaces are covered by a thin lining called synovium. In a healthy hip, the synovium produces a small amount of fluid that lubricates the cartilage and helps in movement. When the cartilage gets thinner, the movement becomes rough and painful. The friction between the bones of the hip joint leads to swelling in the affected area and results in the changed shape of the bone. 

What are the types of arthritis that affect the hip joint?

• Osteoarthritis- It is one of the degenerative joint diseases. Osteoarthritis of the hip causes pain and stiffness. It can make it hard to do everyday activities like bending over to pick something, standing suddenly from a chair, or taking a short walk. The inflammation caused due to osteoarthritis leads to excruciating pain affecting the quality of life. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis- This is a disease when the immune system starts attacking the healthy tissue in the joint, including the hip joint. The inflammation in the cells discharges certain substances that break down the cartilage of the hip in due course. However, this type of arthritis usually affects the smaller joints present in the body, such as fingers, wrist, elbow, etc. 
• Ankylosing spondylitis- It is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the spine and sacroiliac joint that can affect the hip joint as well. Ankylosing spondylitis can affect people at any age, including children. 
• Psoriatic arthritis- Psoriasis is one of the autoimmune skin conditions. The inflammation in the joints because of psoriasis is known as psoriatic arthritis. At times, delayed treatment of psoriatic arthritis results in damaged hip joints. It is a chronic condition of the hip.

What are the stages of hip arthritis?

• Stage-1- In this stage, the hip joint has minor wear and tear, resulting in little to no pain. 
• Stage-2- This stage is diagnosed when the cartilage starts to tear and has visibility on X-ray scans. Hip arthritis in stage 2 includes discomfort and pain in the hip joint. 
• Stage-3- The cartilage present in the hip joint begins to erode and the gap starts to narrow. In this stage, walking, squatting, or kneeling cause pain and swelling. Stage 3 also refers to moderate hip osteoarthritis. 
• Stage-4- This is the last and most severe stage of hip arthritis. During this stage, the cartilage is completely damaged, which leads to inflammation. The stiffness and pain in the hip joint feel all the time in this stage. 

What causes hip arthritis?

There is no single specific cause of osteoarthritis, but there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing the disease, such as-

• Obesity
• Aging
• Family history of osteoarthritis
• Previous injury to the hip joint
• Developmental dysplasia of the hip joint (a condition in which there is the improper formation of the hip joint at birth)

People with no above-mentioned conditions or risk factors can still develop osteoarthritis.

What are the signs and symptoms of hip arthritis?

The following are a few signs and symptoms that can indicate hip arthritis condition-

• Stiffness in the hip joint makes it difficult to sit or even rotate the leg. 
• Popping sensation is the sound of clicking, cracking, or snapping while moving from one place to another or doing any other activity. 
• Pain in the hip area minimizes physical activity resulting in weakening of the hip joint. 

How can hip arthritis be diagnosed?

The doctor will diagnose the condition thoroughly to determine the best-suited hip arthritis treatment. The diagnosis includes a physical examination and the doctor may ask about your medical and family history to check the root cause of the condition. S/he may recommend a few diagnostic tests to detect the severity of the condition- 

• Radiographs
• X-rays
• Blood Test
• MRIs

What are the treatments for hip arthritis?

Hip replacement surgeries can be classified into three categories.

• Total Hip Replacement is the most common form of hip replacement and is done to replace worn-out sections of the hip with artificial implants.
• Partial Hip Replacement, also known as a hemiarthroplasty, replaces only one side of the hip joint.  this procedure is usually done in elderly patients who have fractured their hip
• Hip Resurfacing of the socket and the femoral head. This procedure is preferred for younger, more active patients. 

Also Read- Hip Replacement Surgery Cost, Procedure And Recovery

How can you book an appointment with the best orthopedic surgeon for hip arthritis?

If you are feeling chronic pain in the hip joint or suffering from hip arthritis, get in touch with one of our best orthopedic surgeons today. You can book an appointment with our orthopedic doctor near you, give us a call by clicking on the button available below in the right corner. Or, fill out the form given below on the left corner with all the required details of the patients. Our medical coordinator will call you at the earliest to book your appointment with our best orthopedic doctor and will give you all the necessary information about the hip arthritis treatments available at Pristyn Care.