People who have problems carrying out some routine tasks for a long time are mostly the hostage of hip arthritis. It is a condition when the joints forming the hip bone are inflamed and causes pain during movement.
If you are not able to pull off simple tasks like putting on socks and shoes, you need to visit a bone specialist for a proper diagnosis. Pulling up the socks and putting on shoes is a routine task that requires your hips to cover an adequate range of motion – putting up your foot and bending to put on the socks and shoes. Due to hip arthritis, the movement gets restricted and causes pain.
Let’s talk about the symptoms that will allow you to understand if you are suffering from hip arthritis.
How to know if you have hip arthritis
Not just detecting the problem, you can also comprehend for how long hip arthritis has affected you. The condition deteriorates rapidly and can get you to a condition where the only way of treatment left is hip replacement.
Here are the main signs and symptoms that indicate the possibility that you have hip arthritis:
- Increased pain in the rainy season
- Pain while bending or leaning over
- Flare-ups after strenuous activity
- Pain in the thigh or groin that spreads to the buttocks, knee or outer thigh.
- Pain that worsens in the morning or after sitting for long
- Difficulty in getting out of the car
- Pain that restricts walking (limping)
- Locking or sticking of the hip joint
- Grinding noises while moving around
Diagnosis of hip arthritis
If you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms that lasts long, it is best to seek medical attention from an expert orthopedist. A detailed diagnostic evaluation is what you need.
The process includes:
- A physical examination to understand the range of motion of your hip
- Reading your medical history including the areas where you often have pain
- X-rays or radiographs to detect any joint abnormalities
- Blood tests to identify antibodies that are sometimes associated with a particular arthritis type
Treatment for hip arthritis
Arthritis has no permanent cure in general, and the same goes for hip arthritis. However, there are ways to control and restrict the pain and other signs.
Some of the most common treatment options include:
- Rest and ice
- Weight loss
- Modifying activities
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Canes or crutches
- Collagen Peptides
- Rosehip extract
- TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation stops the messages of nerves (pain receptors) from reaching your brain.
- Corticosteroid injections to control inflammation, swelling and pain in the hip
- Hyaluronic acid injection as a lubricant and shock absorber for the joints
If nothing works and the condition gets severe, the surgical process of hip replacement is the solution. It is always smart to seek expert supervision as soon as you start noticing certain symptoms of hip arthritis.