A Brief Guide to Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip Osteoarthritis | THSOC

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. Often known as degenerative disease, osteoarthritis is more common in senior citizens and is caused due to regular wear and tear of joints. Other risk factors that may result in osteoarthritis are obesity, stress injuries, and structural problems with the hip joint. Osteoarthritis, impacts different body parts such as fingers, thumbs, spine, knees, and hips. Among these parts, hips are at a considerably higher risk as they support the body, exposing the joints to intensive wear and tear and cartilage thinning. Hip osteoarthritis can impact the hip’s flexibility, often limiting its range of motions. For immediate relief, patients must visit a hip pain treatment in Plano or any other part of the country. To help understand hip osteoarthritis better, the post lists some vital info about the health condition. Take a look.  

Hip Arthritis Symptoms

• Stiffness in the joints.
• Pain or tenderness in the hip joints.
• Crunching sound of the bones rubbing against each other.
• Mobility issues with the hip joint.

Diagnosis    

To test the hip’s functionality in patients suspected to suffer from hip osteoarthritis, hip pain treatment clinics in Plano and other parts of the country perform a number of physical examinations and will also study the patient’s medical history. The expert can also recommend a number of tests including X-ray and MRI. In patients suffering from the health issue, the X-ray report reveals abnormal characteristics such as narrowing of the joints and spurring of the joint margins.

Prevention

Hip osteoarthritis is more common in senior citizens. Obese people, too, are at a high risk. Many health experts believe the key to avoiding the health condition is maintaining a healthy body weight. To minimize their risk of hip osteoarthritis, it is advisable that adults exercise regularly. Exercising also strengthens the muscles around the hip joints and can help keep a tab on the rate of wear and tear on cartilage.

Related Read : Hip Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Treatment

To help alleviate pain, hip pain treatment experts in Plano first explore non-surgical treatment methods and may ask their patients to reduce their weight (in obese patients), or modify their activity and take periodic rest. They may also recommend analgesics, NSAIDs, and steroid injections.  Patients can also benefit from using a cane, walker or cushioning shoe inserts for stability. If, however, these methods do not produce any significant results, the doctor may recommend exploring surgical options such as Arthroscopy, Osteotomy, or Arthroplasty.

Conclusion

Hip osteoarthritis can severely impact a person’s quality of life. Though more prevalent among senior citizens, even young adults can be a target, which is why it is important to discuss the issue with their doctor. If a friend or family member is suffering from hip pain or joint stiffness for a long time, consult an expert immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can help improve the quality of life considerably.