Hip Services

Is My “Hip Pain” Coming From My Hip Joint?

The term “hip pain” means different things to different people. Hip pain can result from problems in the hip joint, the low back, or the muscles and soft tissues on the outside of the hip. It is essential to determine the exact cause of the pain before undergoing any treatment. Chronic pain located in the groin (the inner aspect of the joint on the front side of the body) is most commonly related to hip arthritis.  

What Is Hip Arthritis?

Whatever the cause, the term “arthritis” refers to damage or wear of the cartilage between the ball and socket in the hip joint. Although there are other causes of damage to the joint, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic hip joint pain. Hip arthritis often flares up with heavy physical activity and often hurts with the first steps after sitting for a period of time.

Nonsurgical Treatment of Hip Arthritis

When the damage involving the hip joint is mild, the symptoms are typically tolerable and intermittent. Nonoperative treatments for hip arthritis like medicines, injections, low-impact exercise, and activity modification offer temporary relief of the symptoms but do not “fix” the loss of cartilage. If the use of nonsurgical treatments provides good relief, they can be continued as long as they remain effective.

Hip Replacement Surgery

Unfortunately, the symptoms of hip arthritis will typically get worse with time. If the pain and loss of function of the joint result in a significant decline in activity levels and quality of life, hip replacement surgery is the most powerful “fix” and will restore quality of life better than any other treatment option.

If you are considering hip replacement surgery, it is essential that you have your surgery performed by a surgeon with specialty training in hip replacement surgery who focuses his or her practice on hip replacement surgery—this is the Total Joint Specialists difference.

‍