Arthritis Of The Hip: All You Need To Know About this Condition

Arthritis Of The Hip

Arthritis of the hip is manifested by a dull aching pain in the groin, buttocks or outer thigh. Based on patient observations, the pain is mostly worst during the morning and gradually decreases with increased activity. Keep in mind though that vigorous form of activities will cause more stiffness and pain therefore this must be avoided. With this disease, moderation is the key to a relatively healthy and productive lifestyle.

 

Arthritis Of The Hip – The Diagnosis

 

As with all kinds of diseases, it is important that early diagnosis of hip arthritis is done in order that proper management and treatment can be done for the patient. In order to properly diagnose this medical condition, a physician may ask you to move the hips in numerous directions so as to determine which movements or combination of causes discomfort associated with inflammation of the joints. Also, your physician may ask you several questions about your daily activities, all of which are vital to the accurate diagnosis of your condition.

 

Diagnosis for arthritis of the hip may only be conclusive after several tests are done like x-rays or radiographs and other laboratory studies. The former will determine if the following symptoms have occurred: erosion of the bones, thinning of the bones, and loss of joint space and presence of excess fluids while the latter will conclusively detect rheumatoid factor (antibodies). Arthritis is an autoimmune disease wherein the white blood cells of your body release substances that harm the healthy tissues which is why the presence of antibodies will help in the diagnosis of such medical condition.

 

Although there have been no known cure for all kinds of arthritis, there are several treatments that can be applied which is dependent largely on the diagnosis. That is why it is important that a reliable physician be consulted for this condition, if possible get a second opinion to validate the first. There are two general kinds of treatment for arthritis of the hip—surgical and non surgical.

 

There are relatively few complications and side effects for non surgical treatments of hip arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or aspirin may help, provided that a doctor has been consulted beforehand. Aspirin is contraindicated for some other diseases so be extra careful in taking these alone or in tandem with other medications.

 

Corticosteroids are also potent against inflammation which is called symptom modifying anti rheumatic drugs or SMARDs. They are either taken orally or by mouth, through injections, or topically or by the skin like in creams and gels. On the other hand, sulfasalazine and methotrexate are prescribed in order to arrest or slow down the disease’s progress. These in turn are called disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs or DMARDs.

 

Arthritis Of The Hip – Conclusions

 

Lastly, still under non-surgical treatments, physical therapy and assistive devices like walkers, canes, reachers and wheelchairs may be used in order to provide relief to the patient. The former will help increase the range of motion as well as strengthen the muscles while the latter will make it easier for the patient to complete their daily activities of living.

 

Surgical treatments such as total hip replacement, bone grafts, core decompressions, and synovectomy may also be applied for arthritis of the hip, however, these are drastic measures which should not be taken unless prescribed by a reliable physician with vast knowledge on the disease, the treatments and their many implications.

 

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