Which Stage Of Hip Osteoarthritis Are You In
Do you have arthritis? A lot of your friends and family members probably have arthritis too. As a matter of fact, osteoarthritis is diagnosed by physicians more often than any other joint disease or disorder.
However, not everyone experiences osteoarthritis in the same way. You may only feel some pain when you get out of bed in the morning, or after sitting for a long period of time. And you might feel fine once you get going.
Although there are many different types of arthritis, there is a good chance you are suffering from osteoarthritis, which is the most common type. In fact, you can have signs of arthritis on your X-rays even though you have no pain at all.
Why doesnt everyone who has osteoarthritis experience the same problems? The answer to this question becomes clearer when you understand that osteoarthritis is a progressive disease meaning that the longer you have it, especially if you dont change some of your habits, the worse it can get.
The reason you might experience hip arthritis differently than your best friend or your family member is because you are probably in a different stage of the disease than they are. Osteoarthritis can be classified into four different stages, and the stage you are in will determine your best choice of treatment.
So, which stage of hip osteoarthritis are you in? Your orthopedic surgeon is most qualified to identify this for you, but here are some general rules of thumb.
Hip Arthritis Diagnosis And Treatment In Palm Beaches Florida
At Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches, our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic doctors and expert physical therapists provide the best orthopedic, sports medicine, rehabilitative and spine care available. Whether its treating a sports injury or general orthopedics, we employ the latest techniques, both non-operatively and operatively, to ensure our patients have the most successful outcomes. If you believe you are in the early stages of arthritis, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan to keep you active and pain free as long as possible. To schedule a consultation, call Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches today at 733-5888 or request an appointment online now. We are conveniently located in Boynton Beach.
Signs Of Advanced Hip Arthritis
Of course, the symptoms for arthritis in the hip change and increase as the disease progresses. Even with treatment, this degenerative disease continues to worsen in the following ways.
- Increased pain even without weight-bearing activities
- Limping or difficulty walking
- Difficulty getting up and down from chairs
- Hip swelling
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What Is Osteoarthritis
Arthritis means “joint inflammation.” It causes pain and swelling in the body’s joints, such as the knees or hips. There are many types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common. Also known as degenerative joint disease or age-related arthritis, osteoarthritis is more likely to develop as people get older.
Osteoarthritis occurs when inflammation and injury to a joint cause a breaking down of cartilage tissue. In turn, that breakdown causes pain, swelling, and deformity. Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints. It is primarily made up of water and proteins. The primary function of cartilage is to reduce friction in the joints and serve as a “shock absorber.” The shock-absorbing quality of normal cartilage comes from its ability to change shape when compressed. It can do this because of its high water content. Although cartilage may undergo some repair when damaged, the body does not grow new cartilage after it is injured.
The changes in osteoarthritis usually occur slowly over many years. There are, though, occasional exceptions.
The two main types of osteoarthritis are:
- Primary: More generalized osteoarthritis that affects the fingers, thumbs, spine, hips, and knees
- Secondary: Osteoarthritis that occurs after injury or inflammation in a joint, or as a result of another condition that may affect the composition of the cartilage, such as hemochromatosis
What Tests Are There
X-rays
X-rays are often the best way of finding out whats wrong with your hip as they show the condition of the bones. They may also show problems in your pelvis which could explain your pain. Theyre not as useful for looking at the soft tissues around the joint.
CT scans
A CT scan can often be very helpful to work out if the hip joint has an unusual shape. CT scans use x-rays to show sections or slices of the hip, which a computer then puts together to form a 3D image of the hip.
There are conditions where the socket of the hip can be very shallow, and a CT scan can show this.
MRI scans
MRI scans use radio waves to build a picture to show whats happening to the soft tissue, such as the muscles and tendons, inside your hip. Theyre particularly helpful for diagnosing the painful condition avascular necrosis, which reduces the flow of blood to the ends of bone, causing them to collapse .
Blood tests
If your doctor thinks your pain is caused by an infection or rheumatoid arthritis, blood tests can often help.
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How Does Osteoarthritis Affect The Hip Joint
Patients who have osteoarthritis of the hip sometimes have problems walking. Diagnosis can be difficult at first. That’s because pain can appear in different locations, including the groin, thigh, buttocks, or knee. The pain can be stabbing and sharp or it can be a dull ache, and the hip is often stiff.
Conditions With Similar Symptoms
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.
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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.
What Is Hip Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and the older you are, the more likely you will have some degree of the disease especially in your hips and knees. Simply put, it is usually caused by the wear and tear on your joints from years of use, from overuse and repetitive motions, or from injury. Your weight-bearing joints are particularly vulnerable to developing arthritis, because they must absorb the physical stress and impact of your active lifestyle. Your knees and hips bear the brunt of every step, leap, jump, or stride you perform in your lifetime.
Luckily, our joints are made to handle this stress. In fact, the cartilage inside of your joints consists of a smooth surface that acts as a shock absorber. The synovial fluid in this same space acts as a lubricant. All of this works together to protect the bones that make up your joints that is, until these protective tissues wear down and stop working as well as they used to.
Lets take a look at the different stages of hip osteoarthritis in order to help you understand some of your symptoms and possible treatment options.
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Osteoarthritis
Researchers suspect that osteoarthritis is caused by a combination of factors in the body and the environment. The chance of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
Putting too much stress on a joint that has been previously injured, improper alignment of joints, and excess weight all may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Stage 3 Hip Osteoarthritis
If you have Stage 3 osteoarthritis of the hip, youre not only experiencing pain and stiffness when you first get moving. You will also probably experience pain with activity. Going up and down steps, being on your feet for long periods of time, and even walking might be bothersome.
The longer you are active, the more swelling and inflammation there will be in the hip with arthritis. This is because you now have larger bone spurs in an increasing number that may be scraping, as well as eroded cartilage and a narrowing space between the hip bones. The changes in your hip at this point may even cause a popping or snapping sound.
You should continue doing everything youve been doing for Stage 1 or 2 to help your discomfort. However, it may be necessary now to add some pain medications. Acetaminophen, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , should help ease the pain but consult with your doctor before taking anything to make sure it is the right medication for you.
If you are overweight, losing weight will make a difference in reducing your hip arthritis pain. Extra weight will only put added stress on your hip and can accelerate the rate at which your arthritis develops.
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Surgical Treatments For Hip Arthritis
If the non-operative methods have failed to make a person’s condition bearable, surgery may be the best option to treat hip arthritis. The exact type of surgery depends upon a patient’s age, anatomy, and underlying condition.
Surgical options for hip arthritis range from operations that preserve the hip joint to those that completely rebuild it. They include:
How Is Osteoarthritis Of The Hip Diagnosed
There is no single test for diagnosing osteoarthritis, but often it is diagnosed by an abnormal X-ray that shows characteristic features such as narrowing of the joint and spurring of the joint margins. Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination. This will include a check of how your hip is functioning and may uncover loss of motion.
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Signs Of Hip Arthritis
Arthritis can strike most any joint in your body, but your more active joints are especially vulnerable, which certainly describes your hips. The prevalence of hip arthritis isnt small hip osteoarthritis alone is found in more than one-quarter of people 45 years or older in the United States. In fact, arthritis is what drives more than 450,000 hip replacement surgeries each year.
To avoid having to replace your hip too soon , Dr. Brian White of Western Orthopaedics and our team believe that intervening at the first sign of trouble is best. With that in mind, weve pulled together 6 symptoms that may indicate you have hip arthritis.
What Are The Early Signs Of Arthritis In The Legs
The early signs and symptoms of arthritis in the lower limbs may vary depending upon several factors such as
- The type of arthritis
- The extent of joint involvement
The early signs and symptoms of arthritis in the legs include
- Pain in the affected area
- Swelling at the affected site
- Stiffness in the affected joints, which may be worse in the morning
- The skin over the affected joint may appear red and inflamed
- Loss of function of the involved joint or muscle
- Loss of muscle mass at the affected site
- Presence of small, bony bump-like swellings
- The skin over the affected joint may be warm to the touch
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Deformities in the affected leg, ankle or foot
- Fever
- A grating sensation inside the joint with movement
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Stage 1 Hip Osteoarthritis
You may not even know if you have Stage 1 osteoarthritis because many people have no symptoms. If anything, you may have a little pain or stiffness, and there may be small bone spurs in your hip joint.
At this point, prevention is the best medicine. Your doctor may recommend the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. It is also advisable to stay active, engaging in regular exercise to strengthen your muscles and to stabilize and improve the flexibility of your joints.
How Can Osteoarthritis Of The Hip Be Prevented
One method for preventing osteoarthritis of the hip is to maintain a healthy weight.
In addition, you should exercise. Exercise strengthens muscles around joints. Such strengthening can help prevent wear and tear on cartilage in a joint. Your health care provider may be able to offer additional suggestions to minimize your risk for hip osteoarthritis.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Hip Arthritis
For osteoarthritis of the hip, symptoms may include:
- aching pain in the groin area, outer thigh and buttocks
- joint stiffness
- reduced range of motion
In people who have hip osteoarthritis, walking and other motion that stresses the diseased hip cartilage usually increases pain symptoms and reduce a person’s ability to be active levels. At the same time, reduced activity not moving the body much can weaken the muscles that control the hip joint, which may make it even more difficult to perform daily activities.
Because of the loss of the gliding surfaces of the bone, people with arthritis may feel as though their hip is stiff and their motion is limited. Sometimes people actually feel a sense of catching, snapping or clicking within the hip. The pain is usually felt in the groin, but also may be felt on the side of the hip, the buttock and occasionally down into the knee. Activities such as walking long distances, standing for long periods of time or climbing stairs puts stress on the hip that generally makes arthritis pain worse.
In people who have rheumatoid arthritis in the hip, pain is usually worst after periods of rest and inactivity, such as first thing after waking up in the morning. This is because the inactivity causes the joints to stiffen. Pain is often relieved after a period of walking or other activity as the joint becomes more flexible. Some rheumatoid arthritis patients may experience pain, swelling, redness and warmth, especially in the morning.
Basics Of Hip Arthritis
Many kinds of arthritis can affect the hip joint. The most common type of hip arthritis is osteoarthritis, which some people call “degenerative joint disease.”
Osteoarthritis occurs when the joint surface cartilage becomes worn away leaving the raw bone beneath exposed. The cartilage normally serves as a pad or a bearing in the joint. Under normal conditions, the cartilage bearing is slicker than a hockey puck on ice. When the bearing wears away, the result is a roughed joint surface that causes the pain and stiffness that people associate with osteoarthritis .
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a serious condition. Osteoarthritis is the most common of the more than 100 kinds of arthritis and the hip joint is the second most commonly affected large joint in the body.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that can takes months to years to appear. While it is not curable, it most certainly is treatable using activity modifications, medications, and/or injections. If those interventions dont work, hip replacement surgery often will relieve the pain associated with hip arthritis.
Osteoarthritis of the hip results in pain, stiffness, and joint deformity. The symptoms of osteoarthritis can affect ones ability to walk, work, and enjoy life.
For most patients who have mild arthritis, pain can be managed with ice, rest, activity modifications, pills, or joint injections.
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