With hip arthritis, the pain is mainly felt in the groin, and occasionally in the outer thigh and upper buttock area. Pain can get worse after standing or walking for long periods of time or after a period of rest (waking up in the morning). Stiffness in the hip makes it difficult to move the hip or rotate the leg.
During the physical examination, your doctor will evaluate the range of motion in your hip. Increased pain and limitation during some movements may be a sign of inflammatory arthritis. The doctor will also look for a limp or other problems with your gait (the way you walk) due to stiffness of the hip.
Pain in or around the hip joint and groin area is the most common symptom of hip osteoarthritis. Additionally, pain in the groin or thigh that moves into the buttocks or knee is another symptom. Pain may develop over a gradual period initially and can worsen over time.
“Pain coming from the hip joint is most often due to hip arthritis (osteoarthritis). If the pain seems to be in the front of the thigh, including deep in the groin area, then this is an indication of hip joint pain and probably hip arthritis.” The pain may become worse with activity or with sudden pivoting movements.
There are a few basic ways to know if you have hip bursitis or arthritis. If the pain you feel is sharp and severe before spreading out into an ache in the affected area, you may have hip bursitis. On the other hand, if your pain develops slower and is more painful in the morning, it may be hip arthritis.
The one leg test
If you can't stand on your problem leg for longer than a minute – even with the support of a door frame or table-top for balance, then you might have a problem with your hip. There are some other exercises you can try at home to see if you could benefit from hip pain treatment.
Nonsurgical treatment of arthritis of the hip may include any of the following: Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen. Corticosteroids, injections to block the inflammation in the joint. Physical therapy or exercise programs to improve flexibility, build up strength, and maintain muscle tone.
Many doctors recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications are taken by mouth and are available at drugstores.
Hip arthritis can flare up due to overexertion or carrying out repetitive movements. The sudden or unexpected activity can also cause stress on the joints, causing pain.
Since most American adults are aware of arthritis as something they may experience as they age, this is a common assumption. However, there is a similar condition that is often overlooked: hip bursitis.
Walking: Bone and joint specialists suggest that walking is one of the best forms of exercise for hip arthritis. Walking boosts blood flow to your cartilage, giving it the nutrients necessary to provide cushion to the ends of your joints.
Managing osteoarthritis of the hip. There's no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are things you can do for yourself that can make a difference to how the condition affects you. There are also some treatments available that could significantly reduce your pain and improve your mobility.
They are used for all forms of arthritis and other painful hip conditions. Most NSAIDs are taken orally, but topical preparations are available, such as Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel and Pennsaid. Corticosteroids.
Pain from arthritis can be constant or it may come and go. It may occur when at rest or while moving. Pain may be in one part of the body or in many different parts. Some types of arthritis cause the skin over the affected joint to become red and swollen, feeling warm to the touch.
Untreated arthritis will add to the degradation of the structures in and around the joint leading to more and more pain and a loss of function. The progression of arthritis may lead to requiring a total joint replacement.
Walking is good for hip pain and you should try to walk as much as you can each day. You'll find that in time and with consistency, your hip pain will diminish, and in a best case scenario, it will disappear altogether.
If you have a problem with your hip joint you may feel pain in the groin, down the front of the leg and in the knee. Sometimes knee pain is the only sign of a hip problem – this is called referred pain or radiated pain and is fairly common.
Diagnosis of hip pain
Diagnosis may also be based on imaging scans such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, which provide an accurate picture of the bones and soft tissues such as ligaments and bursae surrounding your hip joint. Blood tests or joint aspiration may be needed for a correct diagnosis as well.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a serious condition. Osteoarthritis is the most common of the more than 100 kinds of arthritis and the hip joint is the second most commonly affected large joint in the body. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that can takes months to years to appear.
Hip osteoarthritis can be confirmed with x-rays. X-rays show: How much space there is between the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvic bone (the hip's ball and socket). No space or an abnormally small space indicates a loss of cartilage.