Hip Arthritis

Hip osteoarthritis is the gradual wearing down of the smooth cartilage that cushions the ball-and-socket joint. As the cartilage thins, the space between the bones narrows, the bones rub against each other, and bone spurs can form at the edges. It is one of the most common reasons people develop lasting hip pain with age. Arthritis cannot be cured, but it can be managed well. Treatment aims to relieve pain and keep the hip working rather than reverse the wear, and most people stay active for years.

Symptoms usually build slowly over time. Common ones include:

• Pain in the groin or front of the thigh, sometimes on the side of the hip or in the buttock
• Pain that comes with activity early on and, later, with less activity or at rest
• Stiffness after being still, especially in the morning, that eases as you move
• Loss of motion in tasks like putting on shoes or getting in and out of a car
• A grinding feeling with movement and trouble with longer walks or stairs

Hip arthritis is diagnosed from your symptoms, an examination that checks how the hip moves and which positions reproduce your pain, and standing X-rays of the pelvis and hip. An MRI is not needed for most cases and is reserved for specific questions. Blood tests are added when the pattern suggests a different type of arthritis.

Most people start with nonsurgical treatment, which controls symptoms well for years for many:

• Activity changes, such as trading high-impact activity for cycling or swimming
• Weight loss, which takes real force off the joint with every step
• Exercise and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip
• A cane held in the hand opposite the painful hip
• Anti-inflammatory medication, used with care about its risks
• A corticosteroid injection to settle a flare, spaced out over time

Surgery is considered when pain limits daily life and nonsurgical care no longer controls it. Total hip replacement is a reliable way to relieve pain and restore function for advanced arthritis.

• Total hip replacementHip

For a fuller explanation, including anatomy, diagnosis, and the full range of treatment:

• Hip Osteoarthritis — AAOS OrthoInfo