What is Hip Arthritis?

Arthritis of the hip is a common type of joint disease. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two broad categories of arthritis affecting the hip joint. Osteoarthritis affects the hip more often as the hip consists of major load bearing joints. This is a degenerative form of arthritis which causes the cartilage to wear away and can gradually destroy the joint by causing the bones to rub against each other. This can cause inflammation in the joint with pain and stiffness leading to loss of mobility. This form of arthritis affects only the joints, not affecting the internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic arthritis and is mainly an inflammatory form of arthritis. This form of arthritis can lead to loss of bone density and sometimes spread to the internal organs.

The symptoms of hip arthritis set in slowly over a period of time with variations in intensity which makes it difficult to estimate the progression of the condition by studying it on any particular day. One of the first signs of hip arthritis might be pain and stiffness in the groin, thigh or buttock area after a period of rest like after waking in the morning. The weather can also often make the symptoms get better or worsen. 

Some common Symptoms of Hip Arthritis are
• Flaring of pain with activity which gets better when you rest.
• Loss of ease in the ability to move, rotate or flex the hip joint.
• Weakness in hip joint muscles which may cause you to walk with a limp.

There are more chances of developing arthritis of the hip over the age of 50, but younger people can be affected in rare cases. This can be a hereditary condition, certain people can be genetically predisposed to developing arthritis of the hip. Another factor which puts a person at risk for developing arthritis is being obese or overweight, which can overload the hip joint causing arthritis. Other factors include injury or trauma to the bone around the hip joint.

Doctors diagnose hip arthritis by evaluating the patients medical history, conducting a physical examination and studying X-rays. Taking into account the description of the symptoms by the patient as well as looking for the extent of range of motion also helps in determining the progression of the disease.

Treatment plans are individually determined for each patient. Surgery or total hip replacement is advised in advanced cases of the disease. 

Some of the Treatment Plans Include
• Losing weight if the patient is overweight to reduce stress on the load bearing joint and make regular activities less painful.
• Modification of certain activities and limiting certain other activities which increase stress on the joint. Examples may be introducing the patient to aquatic exercises instead of high impact sports.
• Using walking aids to decrease the weight on the affected area.
• Preventing atrophy of the muscles around the joint by using physical therapy to strengthen them.
• Prescribing NSAIDs or non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help treat inflammation and pain.
• Using supplements like glucosamine to strengthen joints.
• Performing total hip replacement surgery by removing the cartilage and implanting metal and plastic into the joint.