Hip pain can have different causes, the most common of which is arthritis. Hip arthritis usually affects people in their 60s and 70s, as it is an age-related condition that is usually due to years of wear-and-tear on the hip joint and an active lifestyle.
Diagnosing hip arthritis is sometimes tricky for a doctor, since hip pain may also radiate from the lower back to the leg due to nerve inflammation or impingement – not arthritis. Hip arthritis also shares symptoms with muscle and tendon injuries.
Because of the high rate of mortality after suffering a hip fracture, it is imperative to have hip pain evaluated and treated by an experienced orthopedist before arthritis can progress. Let’s talk about what is involved in the diagnosis and treatment phases of hip arthritis, and where you can go in North Dakota for world-class orthopedic treatment so you can enjoy a long and healthy life.
How Hip Arthritis Is Diagnosed
The first thing a doctor does is to review your medical history. Then, the physician will perform a physical exam which includes a comprehensive evaluation of your strength, mobility, and gait.
At that point, the doctor may order an X-ray or other imaging test to look at the bones and ancillary structures in your hip. The results of diagnostic imaging will reveal the severity of your arthritis or other underlying issues, and it will be used by your orthopedic doctor to plan and recommend treatment.
Treatments for Arthritis of the Hip
Treatment of hip arthritis largely depends on the severity of the condition. Your doctor will recommend treatment methods to help control your pain and to improve the range of motion in your hip, and the physician will consider the least-invasive methods possible first.
Examples of conservative (nonsurgical) treatment methods for hip arthritis include:
- Pain-relief medication
- Lifestyle changes (e.g., exercising, making certain dietary changes, losing weight)
- Activity modification by avoiding movements that put pressure on the hip
- Using assistive devices, such as a cane, to relieve pressure from the arthritic hip
- Physical therapy to relieve pain and to improve range of motion
If the hip arthritis is advanced, then your orthopedic doctor may recommend that you consider having hip replacement surgery. Fortunately, the latest advancements in orthopedic surgery have made it possible to repair or replace a hip joint in a minimally invasive manner, utilizing smaller incisions and miniature surgical tools. Because there is less cutting of tissues involved, the healing time after surgery is generally shorter than after traditional open hip surgery.
Hip Arthritis Doctor in North Dakota
Our orthopedic surgeons here at The Bone & Joint Center are highly experienced in successfully treating patients with hip arthritis. We have two orthopedic surgeons on our team who specialize in hip replacement surgeries, Dr. Timothy Bopp and Dr. Brian Dahl, and either one of them can give you an efficient evaluation and recommend the treatment that would work best for you.
If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with one of our orthopedic doctors, call us today at (800) 424-2663 or fill out our online request form. We look forward to being your orthopedic healthcare partner!
