Hip Arthritis

Southwest Orthopedic Group, LLP

Orthopedic Surgery located in Houston, TX & The Greater Houston Area

The lifetime risk of developing hip osteoarthritis is about 19% in men and 29% in women. When you develop hip pain, you can count on the physicians at Southwest Orthopedic Group, LLP. They’ve worked closely with many patients, developing customized treatment strategies that address your specific type of hip arthritis, provide optimal pain relief, and keep you active. If you struggle with hip pain and stiffness, schedule an appointment by calling one of the nine offices in Houston, Texas, and the greater Houston area.

Hip Arthritis Q & A

What is the most common type of hip arthritis?

In your hip joint, the top of your femur (thigh bone) fits into a socket in the pelvis. Where the bones meet, they’re covered by cartilage, which allows them to move smoothly within the joint.

The most common type of hip arthritis, osteoarthritis, develops when ongoing wear-and-tear breaks down the cartilage. As cartilage degenerates, the two bones in the joint rub against one another, causing pain and stiffness. As inflammation and bone spurs develop, your pain increases and hip movement decreases.

What is inflammatory hip arthritis?

Inflammatory hip arthritis may be caused by several different conditions, including:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks synovial tissue, which surrounds and lubricates the hip joint. As a result, inflammation, swelling, and pain develop. Over time, inflammation weakens soft tissues and erodes bone, causing joint deformity.

This type of arthritis develops in both hip joints. By comparison, osteoarthritis only affects one joint. Rheumatoid arthritis may spread throughout your body, causing problems with your eyes, heart, skin, nerves, and other organs.

Ankylosing spondylitis

This type of arthritis causes chronic inflammation in the sacroiliac joint, where your spine meets your pelvis. Over time, the inflammation affects your hip joint, but you may feel the pain in your groin, thigh, or knees, rather than in the hip.

Ankylosing spondylitis can appear at any age, but its symptoms typically first appear between the ages of 17 and 35. This is in sharp contrast with rheumatoid arthritis, which is first diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus isn’t a type of arthritis; it’s an autoimmune disease that causes body-wide inflammation. However, when lupus causes hip inflammation, it leads to ongoing joint damage and arthritis.

How is hip arthritis treated?

Treatment for all types of hip arthritis includes a structured exercise regimen and physical therapy to reduce inflammation and pain, and to maintain your range of motion. Your doctor at Southwest Orthopedic Group, LLP may also prescribe assistive devices or medications to reduce inflammation.

Specialized immunosuppressive medications are available for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. These medications preserve the hip joint by slowing arthritis progression.

If conservative treatments don’t help relieve your pain or your hip arthritis worsens, the doctors at Southwest Orthopedic Group, LLP may recommend surgery, such as joint replacement.

If you suffer from hip pain, call the team at Southwest Orthopedic Group, LLP today.

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