Check Out Hip Osteoarthritis and Its Proper Treatment Methods for Safer Life

One of the differences between general hip pain and hip osteoarthritis is the cause. General hip pain results from injury or inflammation, while hip osteoarthritis results from cartilage degeneration from aging or heavy use.
Behaviors that lead to hip osteoarthritis include prolonged cross-legged sitting or sitting with both legs to the side, regular heavy lifting, excessive high-impact exercises, and so on.
Symptoms of hip osteoarthritis are thigh pain which typically occurs in the front or side of the thigh and groin pain
Diagnoses of hip osteoarthritis range from palpation for painful areas around the hip joint, plain radiography of the hip joint, joint fluid examination, to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT scan).
Treating hip pain without surgery includes medication and injections, while popular surgical treatment approaches for hip osteoarthritis are arthroscopic surgery, osteotomy surgery, and hip replacement surgery.
Treating hip osteoarthritis at kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, you will meet a team of medical experts in bones and joints who optimize surgical outcomes with an innovative robotic-assisted hip replacement surgery.

Many people may think that “hip osteoarthritis” is a disease that only affects elderly people. In fact, it can occur in people of all genders and ages. Therefore, checking hip joint health early can help manage the condition promptly, reduce symptom severity, and prevent impact on daily life.

Table of Contents

Differences between general hip pain and hip osteoarthritis

Although general hip pain and hip osteoarthritis both occur at the hip joint, the causes and severity levels of these two conditions differ. Understanding these differences helps you handle pain correctly.

Comparison table: hip pain vs hip osteoarthritis

	General hip pain	Hip osteoarthritis
Main cause	Injury, inflammation, or nerve compression	Cartilage degeneration from aging or heavy use
Pain symptoms	Acute or intermittent pain	Chronic pain that worsens when left untreated
Joint stiffness	May have some latent stiffness	Apparent stiffness, catching, moving difficulty
Joint sounds	No abnormal sounds	“Cracking” sounds when moving
Treatment	Depending on the cause; may use physical therapy or medication	Behavioral modification, physical therapy, medication, and possibly surgery in severe cases

After distinguishing between general hip pain and hip osteoarthritis, let’s delve deeper into hip osteoarthritis symptoms and useful information for treatment for hip osteoarthritis.

Getting to know hip osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis is a disease caused by degeneration and tear of the hip joint, as well as other nearby organs such as bones, synovial membranes, and tendons that support the hip area. Hip osteoarthritis causes pain when moving the hip, walking with weight-bearing, or constant pain when moving with the hip. Additionally, some patients may experience unequal leg lengths, resulting in reduced mobility or inability to walk at all that make daily life increasingly difficult.

6 main causes of hip osteoarthritis

Most factors causing hip osteoarthritis typically stem from other underlying causes. Unlike knee osteoarthritis that up to 80% of the cases occur when aging, age-related hip osteoarthritis accounts for only 10-20% and the main causes of this hip joint disease include:

1. Genetics

If a family member has a history of hip osteoarthritis or has abnormally shaped hip joints (curved, bent, or deformed) inherited through family genetics, this may increase the risk of developing this disease.

2. Heavy physical use

Those who must use their bodies heavily for work or daily life may result in easier wear and tear of various joints due to more movements compared to others.

3. History of hip joint injury

People with hip injuries such as hip dislocation or fractures can damage cartilage or cause deprived blood supply to joint surfaces, eventually leading to hip osteoarthritis.

4. Chronic diseases

Chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory arthritis in the hip and other organs can also lead to hip osteoarthritis.

5. Infection

Patients with a history of hip infections can develop hip osteoarthritis more easily than those who have never had hip joint infections.

6. Steroid use and alcohol consumption

Using steroid medications or drinking alcohol in large quantities continuously over extended periods can cause blood deprivation (avascular necrosis) or cell death at the femoral head, potentially leading to hip osteoarthritis in the future.

Are hip osteoarthritis and hip looseness different?

Hip osteoarthritis and hip looseness have both different and related aspects.

Differences

Hip osteoarthritis is the degeneration of cartilage, while hip looseness is the instability of a hip joint
Hip osteoarthritis causes pain and joint stiffness, while hip looseness causes abnormal hip movement and possible dislocation

Related Aspects

Untreated hip looseness may accelerate hip osteoarthritis
In some cases, severe hip osteoarthritis may cause hip looseness

Therefore, although hip osteoarthritis and hip looseness are not the same disease, they are related and can affect each other.

5 behaviors that may lead to hip osteoarthritis

Certain daily behaviors can increase the risk of hip osteoarthritis. Here are 5 behaviors to avoid to maintain good hip joint health in a long run:

1. Prolonged cross-legged sitting or sitting with both legs to a side

Sitting cross-legged or with both legs to a side for extended periods puts the hip joint in positions that bear abnormal weight and pressure, potentially accelerating cartilage degeneration.

2. Regular heavy lifting and improper lifting postures

Heavy lifting applies pressure to hip joints, causing degeneration in cartilage. Improper lifting postures, such as bending the back and lifting without using leg strength from knee bending, also contribute to the problem.

3. Excessive high-impact exercises

Exercises such as long-distance running on non-supportive surfaces, high jumping, or sports requiring frequent hip impact can increase the risk of hip osteoarthritis.

4. Prolonged sitting or standing without changing postures

Prolonged sitting keeps hip joints in one position for extended periods, potentially reducing blood circulation. Standing for long periods without movement also increases pressure on hip joints.

5. Excessive body weight

Excessive body weight makes hip joints bear more weight and accelerates cartilage degeneration. The overweight pose a higher risk for hip osteoarthritis than people with normal weight.

What are the symptoms of hip osteoarthritis?

Thigh pain

Thigh pain typically occurs in the front or side of the thigh. This pain stems from muscle or tendon inflammation and occurs especially in patients with certain knee conditions such as knee osteoarthritis or patellar tendonitis as they are more prone to pain in this area. Therefore, patients with thigh pain need diagnosis at the hip along with the knee.

Groin pain

Groin pain is the most common symptom in people with hip joint diseases because the hip joint bone is located in this area. However, because the groin area is closest to various abdominal organs, groin pain may result from other diseases within the abdominal area, such as kidney stones, hernias, or urinary tract infections. Groin pain is especially found more in females, which may indicate abnormalities in pelvic organs such as ovarian, uterine, or cervical diseases as well as pelvic infections. Therefore, if patients experience groin pain, they should see a doctor promptly and have abdominal and pelvic examinations before proceeding with hip treatment.

5 methods for diagnosing hip osteoarthritis

Before diagnosing patient symptoms of arthritis in the hip, taking a medical history is essential. Because patients come with different symptoms such as pain, joint stiffness, or joint catching during movement, detailed medical history taking helps identify locations of pain, pain duration, symptom characteristics, and factors that improve or worsen symptoms. Other important details like injury history and personal information such as gender, age, and chronic diseases are able to guide doctors in selecting the next appropriate diagnostic methods.

1. Palpation for painful areas around the hip joint

Palpation is a basic method for finding painful areas around the hip. This method is very useful when external joint pain can be palpated. However, for some patients with deep pain, this method will not be effective.

2. Plain radiography of the hip joint

Plain radiography of the hip joint is the most commonly used examination, especially for patients with injury history, to assess bone fractures or joint dislocation. This method can give additional information of the patients whose conditions cannot be clearly diagnosed through history or physical examination for treatment planning.

3. Joint fluid examination

Joint fluid examination is typically used for patients whom doctors find more joint fluid than normal. This method involves needle aspiration of joint fluid, then examining its characteristics, color, viscosity, and number of white blood cells before culturing. Joint fluid examination results help doctors differentiate between infectious and non-infectious arthritis in the hip.

4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI is typically used when patients have symptoms in areas that plain radiography cannot assess, such as cartilage, soft tissues around the hip joint, and bone marrow. The advantage of MRI is detailed and clear imaging, making diagnosis more accurate. However, the disadvantage is high cost.

5. Computerized tomography (CT scan)

CT scan is typically used when doctors suspect that pain originates from bone areas, like fractures, and can develop hip osteoarthritis. This examination is required when surgical planning is needed or after preliminary diagnosis from plain radiography.

Treatment methods for hip osteoarthritis

There are 2 main treatment methods for hip osteoarthritis: non-surgical hip osteoarthritis treatment approaches and surgical treatment approaches. Each treatment method is appropriate for patients with different symptoms and severity levels. Therefore, treatment selection depends on the doctor’s judgment.

3 methods of treating hip pain without surgery

Non-surgical treatment methods are symptomatic treatment suitable for patients with early-stage hip osteoarthritis or those with less severe symptoms. Popular non-surgical treatment methods can be divided into 3 approaches:

1. Treatment through lifestyle modification

Lifestyle modification treatment involves appropriately adjusting daily routines to treat hip osteoarthritis in patients with less severe symptoms. This can be done by avoiding incorrect postures, resting the hip after usage, and doing light exercises regularly, which can help relieve pain, improve patient symptoms, and increase mobility. Additionally, this method can be easily done at home without additional cost.

2. Treatment through medication

Medication treatment is preferred among many patients in treating hip pain without surgery because its effects show quickly, reducing pain within hours of taking medication. However, many medicines have side effects that may be harmful to the body. Therefore, taking pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be under medical and pharmaceutical supervision. Self-medication should be avoided completely. Additionally, long-term use of these medicines should be avoided due to potential side effects.

3. Treatment through injections

Injection treatment is another common treatment method. Doctors inject pain medication in cases of severe pain that bothers daily activities. There are also lubricant (hyaluronic acid) injections into the hip joint, but they are not as effective as injections for knee joints. Injection methods must be under medical supervision only.

Surgical treatment approaches for hip osteoarthritis

Surgical treatment is appropriate for patients whose symptoms cannot be treated or relieved through non-surgical methods. These are 3 popular surgical treatment methods for hip osteoarthritis:

1. Arthroscopic surgery

Arthroscopic surgery is suitable for limited indications or appropriate conditions. Generally, doctors use this method only for patients with early-stage symptoms or treating hip osteoarthritis in specific areas with low severity. Doctors use this method for treating arthritis in the hip only when hip cartilage is torn or there are slipped bone fragments or cartilage fragments in the joint that cause hip joint friction, hinder movement, or create pain when moving the body.

2. Osteotomy surgery

Osteotomy surgery is an extremely complex surgical method, only used for patients with localized degeneration or those who have previously suffered bone fractures. Osteotomy surgery is not suitable for patients with mild symptoms or those who can be treated with other methods because this hip joint surgery requires a considerably long recovery period. In other words, unless absolutely necessary, doctors will not recommend this treatment method.

3. Hip replacement surgery

Hip replacement surgery is typically used for patients with severe hip osteoarthritis pain or hip deformity that obstructs daily life. This method is very preferable because the patient’s leg length and movement can be regained close to normal after surgery. Additionally, patients can get over quickly without long recovery periods because doctors have patients do physical therapy by walking on the day after surgery. Therefore, this treatment for hip osteoarthritis provides the clearest outcomes and reliability of over 95%. Hip replacement surgery is also recommended for treating patients who have not responded to other treatment methods.

kdms Hospital applies an innovative robotic-assisted hip replacement surgery in hip osteoarthritis treatment

In addition to the surgeries mentioned above, kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, applies an innovative robotic assistant in helping with hip replacement surgery. Using robotic assistant in surgery has the following advantages:

Helps plan personalized surgeries ahead in details
Helps specialized surgeons perform surgery with increased accuracy
Prevents tissue and blood vessel injury
Less injury, faster recovery

When reading to this point, don’t worry too much about surgical treatment for hip osteoarthritis because there are possibilities of treating hip pain without surgery regarding the severity of the symptoms. However, seeing a doctor for timely treatment is advisable to prevent arthritis symptoms in the hip from getting worse.

In summary

Hip osteoarthritis can result from multiple causes including genetics, steroid use, alcohol consumption, heavy daily physical use, previous injuries, or chronic diseases. When pain or abnormalities in the hip joint occur, patients should see a doctor as soon as possible to assess severity levels and prevent increased degeneration. In addition, consulting a doctor gives you the benefits of personalized treatment planning with non-surgical or surgical methods according to medical indications and judgment as appropriate for each patient, ensuring timely treatment with the best results.

Q & A

There are multiple factors leading to hip osteoarthritis including genetics, heavy physical use, previous hip joint injuries, and chronic diseases like inflammatory arthritis in the hip.

Thigh pain: Typically occurs in the front or side of the thigh. This pain stems from muscle or tendon inflammation
Groin pain: The most common symptom in people with hip joint diseases because the hip joint bone is located in this area. Moreover, the groin area is closest to various abdominal organs.

Appropriate exercises such as swimming, cycling, or yoga helps strengthen muscles around the hip joint, reduce pressure on the joint, and increase body flexibility. These help relieve pain and slow joint degeneration.

Treating hip pain without surgery is possible depending on the severity. Early stages of hip osteoarthritis can be treated with medication, physical therapy, weight control, and behavioral modification. If the symptoms are so severe that they impact daily life, hip replacement surgery may be considered.

Many people still have misconceptions about hip osteoarthritis. The following 5 myths are common misunderstandings with factually corrected information:

1. Hip osteoarthritis only affects elderly people

Although hip osteoarthritis is commonly found in the elderly, young people can also develop it, especially those with risk factors such as genetics, previous accidents at the hip joint, excessive weight, or chronic inflammatory diseases.

2. Exercises are prohibited if you have hip osteoarthritis

The truth is that exercises such as swimming, yoga, or cycling can help strengthen muscles around the hip joint, reduce pain, and slow joint degeneration.

3. All hip pain is caused by hip osteoarthritis

Hip pain may actually result from other causes such as muscle inflammation, tendon inflammation, or other diseases. Proper diagnosis is important for appropriate treatment.

4. Pain medication is the best treatment method for hip osteoarthritis

Some people may have hip osteoarthritis visible on x-rays but have no pain symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms may be present as hip joint stiffness and moving difficulty without much pain.

5. Body weight is unrelated to hip osteoarthritis

The fact is that excessive body weight increases pressure on hip joints, which worsens the symptoms of arthritis in the hip and accelerates joint degeneration.

Risk of hip osteoarthritis can be reduced through weight control, appropriate exercises, and avoiding excessive hip joint use such as heavy lifting, prolonged sitting with both legs to a side, and cross-legged sitting position.

An article by Napon Sinthuvanich, M.D., Experienced Orthopedic Surgeon (Knee and Hip Replacement Surgery)

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