Hip degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, is a chronic disease of the bone and joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis develops as people get older or when the protective cartilage tissue wears down over time. It causes hip pain and joint inflammation.
How Does Osteoarthritis Affect the Hip Joint?
Walking can be challenging for people who have osteoarthritis of the hip. Diagnosis can be difficult because pain can occur in various locations such as knee, groin, thighs, or buttocks. The hip is stiff and the pain can either be dull or sharp.
What Causes Osteoarthritis of the Hip Joint?
Anyone can develop osteoarthritis of the hip, but people who have a family history of osteoarthritis are at an increased risk for the condition.
Other factors that may increase your risk for the condition include:
- Older age
- Obesity
- Joint injuries
- Applying more stress on the joints
- Performing activities that involve the hip
- Being born with defective cartilage, malformed joints, or other bone deformities
- Certain metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hemochromatosis
What Are Its Symptoms?
Some common symptoms of the osteoarthritis of the hip include:
- You might not be able to perform routine activities that involve the hip
- Joint stiffness upon walking, after sitting for a long time, getting out of bed, or after being inactive
- Tenderness, pain, or swelling in the hip joint
- You may experience the grating sensation of bone rubbing against another bone or hear popping or crackling sound
- Inability to use your joint to its full range of motion
- Joint pain during and after movement
How Is Osteoarthritis of the Hip Diagnosed?
Your doctor will take X-rays of your hip to determine the condition of the hip joints, and they will conduct a physical test to check for pain and functioning of the hip in certain positions. Your doctor will diagnose your condition and the extent of your damage based on your test results.
Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Hip
The treatment for osteoarthritis can help the hip function better, control pain, and improve the lifestyle and mobility of the patient. The treatment plans include:
- Medications to control pain
- Rest and joint care
- Exercise to strengthen muscles around the joints
- Non-drug pain relief techniques to control pain
- Losing excess weight
- Minimizing the use of the hip
Your doctor may recommend alternative therapies or surgery when the above treatment plans do not work.
