Understanding Hip Pain

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Your joints are involved in almost every activity you do. Movements such as walking, bending and turning require the use of your hip and knee joints. When your hip becomes diseased or injured, the resulting pain can severely limit your ability to move and work.

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Common Causes of Hip Pain

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it is a "wearing out" condition involving the breakdown of cartilage and bones. With osteoarthritis, the cushioning cartilage at the end of the femur may have worn down, making walking painful as bone rubs against bone.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune response negatively affects the lining of the joints (called the synovial membrane), causing chronic inflammation and pain. The synovium becomes thickened and inflamed. In turn, too much synovial fluid is produced within the joint space, which causes a chronic inflammation that damages the cartilage. This results in cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness.

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Avascular Necrosis (AVN) results when bone is deprived of its normal blood supply. Without proper nutrition from the blood, the bone's structure weakens, may collapse and damage the cartilage. Since this is most often seen at the ends of bones, your joints may be greatly affected. This is especially true of the hip joint and most commonly appears at the end of the femur, the long bone that extends from the knee to the hip joint.

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Treatment Options for Hip Pain

 

Take the first step towards returning to your favorite activities by scheduling an appointment with a surgeon. Your orthopaedic surgeon will review and discuss their diagnosis with you. Based on his or her diagnosis, your treatment options may include:

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• Medication

• Joint fluid supplements

• Physical therapy

• Hip replacement utilizing Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery

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