Tuesday, March 19, 2024

How To Diagnose Arthritis In Hip

Diagnosis Of Arthritis Of The Hip

How is arthritis of the hip diagnosed?

Your University of Michigan surgeon will:

  • Take a thorough medical history and talk with you about your pattern of symptoms.
  • Conduct a physical exam that may include an assessment of your range of motion, gait, neurovascular status, and reproduction of the pain in the front pocket distribution with seated range of motion of the hip joint.
  • Possibly give you a diagnostic hip injection. Injections don’t usually provide long-term relief for hip pain. However, your surgeon may order an injection to help make the diagnosis, particularly if there are also symptoms that could be related to low back issues. These injections will be performed by a trained individual using an ultrasound machine or fluoroscopic X-ray machine to assure that the injection is in the hip.

Theres A Difference Between How You And Your Rheumatologist Define The Hip Joint

When patients talk about the sides of their hips and that kind of stuff, we dont actually consider that the hip joint, says Steven C. Vlad, MD, a rheumatologist at Tufts University Medical Center in Boston. It helps to think of a ball and socket: Your hip joint is where the thigh bone fits into the pelvic cavity known as the acetabulum.

How Is Hip Osteoarthritis Diagnosed

  • Medical history evaluation: During a medical history evaluation, your physician will ask questions about your past medical conditions, family medical history, and what caused your initial hip pain.
  • Physical exam: A physical exam of the hip area is done to evaluate your pain and to help diagnose your hip condition.
  • Imaging tests: Often, X-rays or other imaging tests will help your physician to determine the severity of your joint and bone damage.

Don’t Miss: Rheumatoid Arthritis And Itchy Skin

Other Causes Of Groin Pain

Groin pain is very commonly caused by problems with the hip. However, it can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as:

  • a hernia a painful lump, often in the groin, which may need surgery
  • lymph nodes in the groin these usually occur if theres infection in the lower leg
  • gynaecological problems, which can occasionally be felt as hip pain.

We’re currently funding research into developing new techniques to measure hip shape and abnormalities in babies and children.

Children with hip problems are more likely to develop osteoarthritis and to need hip replacement surgeries as young adults. This study will develop a tool to identify children who would most benefit from treatment as early as possible, reducing long-term pain and disability.

Researchers at our Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis are also studying the reasons why hip pain is commonly seen in young footballers.

We’re also funding research looking into whether it is possible to predict the success of joint replacement surgery by looking at genetic risk factors.

This study will help doctors understand which patients are most likely to have good outcomes from joint replacement. It aims to improve patients experiences of surgery and make their new joints last longer.

Our researchers are also developing a tool to help patients make informed decisions about their treatment according to their lifestyle and needs.

Is There A Special Preparation Needed For An X

Understanding Hip Osteoarthritis

There is no special preparation required for an arthritis X-Ray. The only people who should consider are the pregnant women. The pregnant women must inform the technician about their pregnancy because the exposure to radiation may cause harm to the fetus, so it must be minimized.

At the time of X-Ray, a person should take off their jewelry before taking a test. There could be a requirement to remove some clothes, depending on the body parts to be tested. The technician will provide some something to cover the body part.

Read Also: How To Deal With Arthritis

How Is It Diagnosed

If you see your physical therapist first, the therapist will conduct a full examination that includes your medical history, and will ask you questions such as:

  • When and how frequently do you feel pain and/or stiffness?
  • What activities in your life are made difficult by this pain and stiffness?

Your physical therapist will perform special tests to help determine whether you have hip OA, such as:

  • Gently moving your leg in all directions
  • Asking you to resist as the physical therapist tries to gently push your leg and hip in different directions
  • Watching you walk to check for limping
  • Asking you to balance while standing
  • Testing the mobility of the hip joint
  • Watching how you climb stairs, how you move from one position to another, etc.

Your physical therapist may use additional tests to look for problems in other parts of your body, such as your lower back. The therapist may recommend that you consult with an orthopedist, who can order diagnostic testing such as an X-ray or MRI to confirm the diagnosis.

It’s Easy To Get The Care You Need

See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.

Pain in your groin and at the front of your thigh could be a symptom ofosteoarthritis in a hip joint. And if you feel stiffness in the joint, particularly after youve been inactive for a time, that could also be a sign that you have osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, results from the wearing away over time of cartilage, the soft, protective tissue at the ends of bones where they form joints. As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, which can cause pain, stiffness, loss of movement, and formation of bony growths, called spurs.

Also Check: Can You Stop Rheumatoid Arthritis From Progressing

Primary Osteoarthritis Versus Secondary Osteoarthritis

In primary OA, the disease is of idiopathic origin and usually affects multiple joints in a relatively elderly population. Secondary OA usually is a monoarticular condition and develops as a result of a defined disorder affecting the joint articular surface . or from abnormalities of joint eg acetabular displasia. Pistol grip deformities are seen in some cases, mostly linked with slipped upper femoral epiphysis. Although seen as a specific condition, it is often linked with metabolic abnormalities.

  • Aggravated – movement when hip is loaded wrong or too long cold weather
  • Eased with continuous movement
  • Commonly in groin/thigh, radiating to buttocks or knee. According to new systematic review published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, thigh/groin pain and constant back/buttock pain are better indicators of hip OA than stand-alone tests.
  • End-stage: Constant pain, night pain
  • Stiffness:
  • Morning stiffness with end-stage osteoarthritis, usually eased with movement
  • “Locking” of hip movement
  • Crepitis with movement. Research suggests reported hip crepitus is a strong indicator of intra-articular hip pathology.
  • Gait abnormalities – short limb gait, antalgic gait, trendelenburg gait, stiff hip gait
  • Leg length discrepancy
    • Osteophytes on hip x-rays
    • Joint space narrowing on x-rays
  • self-reported squatting as an aggravating factor
  • active hip flexion causing lateral hip pain
  • scour test with adduction causing lateral hip or groin pain
  • Physical examination:
  • What Is Hip Arthritis

    How to diagnose arthritis in hip | B Episode 123

    Hip arthritis is deterioration of the cartilage of the hip joint. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint with the ball at the top of the thighbone . The ball is separated from the socket by cartilage. The cartilage acts as a slippery coating between the ball and the socket that allows the ball to glide and rotate smoothly when the leg moves. The labrum, a strong cartilage that lines the outer rim of the socket, provides stability.

    When cartilage in the hip is damaged, it becomes rough. Thinning of cartilage narrows the space between the bones. In advanced cases, bone rubs on bone, and any movement can cause pain and stiffness. When there is friction at any point between bones, it can also lead to bone spurs bone growths on the edges of a bone that change its shape.

    Don’t Miss: What To Do For Rheumatoid Arthritis In Hands

    Managing Hip Pain At Home

    If you do not need to see a doctor straight away, consider managing and monitoring the problem at home.

    You may find it helpful to:

    • lose weight if you’re overweight to relieve some of the strain on your hip
    • avoid activities that make the pain worse, such as downhill running
    • wear flat shoes and avoid standing for long periods
    • see a physiotherapist for some muscle-strengthening exercises
    • take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen

    Diagnosing Hip Pain In Psa

    To check if its actually the hip joint being affected, a rheumatologist will do the following:

    Take a history of the pain. Youll be asked when the pain started, where it hurts , and when .

    Do a physical exam. Your provider will move your leg around to see what happens to the hip joint. If theres a problem, we expect people to feel pain as we move the joint or we might see limitations in range of motions. Those are major things, says Dr. Vlad.

    Do some imaging tests . If you already have PsA, youve already had an MRI or CT-scan and there might not be any need to do more, especially if its clear from the history and physical exam that, yes, its your hip joint thats causing the problem, says Dr. Vlad.

    In the rare instance where hip pain may be the first sign of PsA, a rheumatologist will definitely order imaging. Doctors are looking for abnormalities in the synovium, the lining of the joint. When somebody has psoriatic arthritis and its affecting their hip, we can see fluid in the joint. We can see swelling of the synovium, and both of those are a hint that theres abnormal inflammation, he explains.

    In PsA, your immune system is targeting your joints and damaging them with the resulting inflammation versus the wear and tear of osteoarthritis.

    Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Arthritis Pain In Your Knee

    What Is Dry Needling

    Dry needling is an effective and efficient technique for the treatment of muscular pain and myofascial dysfunction. Dry needling or intramuscular stimulation is a technique that Dr Chan Gunn developed. Dry needling is a beneficial method to relax overactive muscles.

    In simple terms, the treatment involves the needling of a muscles trigger points without injecting any substance. Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles are the basis of dry needling. It should not be confused with the Traditional Chinese Medicine technique of acupuncture. However, since both dry needling and acupuncture utilise the same filament needles, the confusion is understandable.

    In his IMS approach, Dr Chan Gunn and Dr Fischer, in his segmental approach to Dry Needling, strongly advocate the importance of clearing trigger points in both peripheral and spinal areas.

    Dry needling trained health practitioners use dry needling daily for the treatment of muscular pain and dysfunction.

    Conditions With Similar Symptoms

    Signs and Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis

    A number of conditions that are not actually related to the hip joint can cause hip joint pain and symptoms in the “hip” area. These include:

    Spinal stenosis This condition most commonly causes pain in the buttock, low back, and back of the upper thigh . Spinal stenos is a lower-back problem, not a hip problem. Spinal stenosis causes pain in the buttock area that some identify as part of the “hip.”

    Greater trochanteric bursitisThis causes pain over the point of the hip . It also causes tenderness and sensitivity to pressure. Although this seems like a hip problem, it is a problem well away from the joint itself and is related to an inflammation in a lubrication point called a bursa. Greater trochanteric bersitis is not a joint problem .

    Non-orthopedic conditionsVery occasionally, non-orthopedic conditions can cause pain in the groin that masquerades as hip joint symptoms ovarian cysts, hernias, and other intra-pelvic conditions can sometimes cause pain that is mistaken for hip joint pain.

    Other types of arthritisOther forms of arthritis can cause similar symptoms to osteoarthritis of the hip in particular, post-traumatic arthritis and avascular necrosis are almost indistinguishable in many cases from osteoarthritis of the hip.

    The diagnosis of osteoarthritis versus rheumatoid arthritis can be made by a physician with experience in treating conditions of this type.

    Read Also: How To Deal With Arthritis

    Common Activities That Exacerbate Osteoarthritis Hip Pain

    • Prolonged inactivity

    • Getting into and out of a car

    • Prolonged physical activity

    Physical Therapy

    Physical therapy is the mainstay of treatment in mild and early hip OA and is aimed at strengthening hip muscles and maintaining joint mobility. Physical therapy that is provided during the later stages of hip OA may provide little or no benefit.

    Weight Reduction

    Gaining 10 pounds can exert an extra 60 pounds of pressure upon a hip with each step. Unloading the joint through weight loss can slow cartilage loss and decrease joint impact. Weight recommendations that address hip OA are based upon findings from many cohort studies. An individualized exercise program combined with effective behavioral strategies aimed at weight loss may be most beneficial in reducing pain for overweight patients.

    Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

    Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation should be considered as an adjunct to core treatments for pain relief for patients with hip OA.

    Temperature Extremes

    Hot and cold treatments sometimes are effective pain relief modalities. Heat treatments enhance circulation and soothe stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold treatments slow circulation, reduce swelling, and alleviate acute pain. A patient may need to experiment and/or alternate use of heat and cold therapies to determine which is most effective.

    Proper Footwear and Bracing/Joint Supports/Insoles

    Assistive Devices

    What Causes Osteoarthritis

    The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is associated with injuries, wear-and-tear processes, and genetics. An arthritis joint will demonstrate the narrow bone spaces due to various reasons. The cartilage thins, the formation of cysts within bones, bones spurs seen on the edges, deformity of joints are some of the reasons, which leads to crooked joints.

    *All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.

    You can get rid of joint pain instantly by browsing through the best joint supplement reviews on the market. Read them carefully to arrive at the decision of buying the best product on the market.

    Recommended Reading: Does Arthritis Hurt All The Time

    Pagets Disease Of Bone

    Pagets disease affects the way bone develops and renews itself, causing it to become weaker. It usually affects the pelvis, causing it to grow out of shape. This can often lead to hip pain, but it is treatable with a group of drugs called bisphosphonates.

    Bisphosphonates are drugs used to prevent the loss of bone mass and treat bone disorders such as osteoporosis and Pagets disease.

    For more information see our sections on Pagets disease and bisphosphonates.

    Pain In The Hip Groin Back Or Thigh

    Diagnosing an Arthritic Hip Joint

    The sudden and intense pain starts from the groin and travels into your thigh. In addition, you may feel pain in the lateral hip, buttock, or at the back of your thigh.

    The pain becomes aggressive when you:

    • Remain seated for a longer duration
    • Perform weight-bearing activities like standing and jogging
    • Bend or rotate your legs in different directions
    • Perform vigorous activities like sports and gardening

    If you think that your movements and activities are restricted, you may undergo diagnostic tests. To diagnose arthritis in hip signs, you may contact Germanten Hospitals. We are equipped with an advanced diagnostic centre that will help us detect and prevent the progression of hip arthritis.

    WHY CHOOSE US?

    Germanten Hospital has been one of Indias leading facilities for various medical treatments. Under insightful leadership, we have acquired excellence when it comes to treatments in neurology, plastic or cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and reconstructive surgery.

    Dr. Mir Jawad Zar Khan has led our hospital to the forefront of the medical industry. He has experience of 20 years in orthopaedics. His alma mater is Osmania University, where Dr. Khan achieved a gold medal for his excellence in education. He then completed advanced training in the USA and Germany.

    We have gained access to state-of-the-art medical technology and the latest advanced equipment, which has proven to be quite beneficial for our patients.

    You May Like: How To Deal With Arthritis

    How Does The Hip Joint Work

    The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The ball, at the top of the femur is called the femoral head. The socket, called the acetabulum, is a part of the pelvis. The ball moves in the socket, allowing the leg to rotate and move forward, backward and sideways.

    In a healthy hip, the ball and socket are covered by a glistening layer called articular cartilage. This cartilage, which can be seen on an as the space in between the ball and the socket, is what allows the bones of the hip joint to glide together smoothly with less resistance than ice sliding on ice. In addition, there is a special layer of exceptionally strong cartilage in the acetabulum called the labrum. The structure of the hip joint gives it a wide range of motion. It is a very stable joint because of the large area of between the femoral head and the labrum-lined acetabulum.

    Illustration and X-ray image of a healthy hip joint.

    Suffering From Hip Arthritis Contact Our Bone And Joint Specialists Today

    At The Bone & Joint Center Orthopedic Center of Excellence, our orthopedic surgeons can quickly evaluate your hip pain and determine the root cause. We provide the best and most effective treatments. Our aim is to provide relief from your pain through the least-invasive treatment.

    We also have an experienced team of physical therapists and occupational therapists who can help you learn excellent exercises for strengthening your hip, movements to avoid preventing overstress on the hip, and other tips to keep your hip and other joints in the greatest condition possible.

    If you are experiencing hip pain from arthritis or any other condition, seek treatment now. Call us at 424-2663 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, or you can visit our appointment request page now. We look forward to helping relieve your hip pain, so you can maintain the active lifestyle you enjoy.

    Don’t Miss: Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Reversible

    Can You Tell If You Have Arthritis From An X

    The image above is the X-Ray image of a patient that is diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hand. Many things can be observed by looking at this image. In the case of osteoarthritis on the hand, the base of the thumb and joints near to the fingertips are the most commonly affected joints.

    The image from the X-Ray clearly found these things:

    • Joint Sclerosis
    • Crooked Fingers

    Popular Articles
    Related news