Hip Pain
What causes hip pain?
Hip pain generally occurs with use and age as the cartilage in the hip joint wears down. Pain in the hip may involve injury to muscles, tendons or bursae (small fluid-filled sacs that cushion and lubricate joints). Some of the conditions that lead to hip pain include:
- Arthritis. The most common cause of hip pain. There are three kinds of arthritis that commonly affect the hip, including the following:
- Osteoarthritis. Involves the wearing away of cartilage that cushions the bones of the hip, letting the bones then rub together, causing pain and stiffness.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. A disease in which, for unknown reasons, the synovial membrane becomes irritated and produces too much fluid, damanaging the cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness.
- Traumatic arthritis. Often the result of an injury or fracture, there are more than 300,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures in the U.S. every year.
- Avascular necrosis. Involves the loss of bone caused by insufficient blood supply, injury and bone tumors and may lead to breakdown of the hip joint.
- Bursitis. In this condition, the bursa, a closed fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body, becomes inflamed.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling or inflammation
- Stiffness
- Difficulty walking
What treatment options are available?
Osteotomy
Osteotomy is a surgical procedure to remove part of the bone that’s near damaged cartilage to shift weight to more healthy cartilage. This procedure may help delay a total joint replacement while still allowing you to remain active.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery replaces a worn out or damaged hip with an artificial joint called a prosthesis. This surgery may be considered following a hip fracture, or for someone who has severe pain due to arthritis. The goal of hip replacement surgery is to replace the parts of the hip joint that have been damaged and to relieve hip pain that cannot be controlled by other treatments. Full recovery after the procedure usually takes about three to six months, depending on the type of surgery, overall health of the patient and the success of rehabilitation.
The surgeons of OrthoArkansas Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have partnered with Baptist Health to develop the “Joint Replacement Team,” a comprehensive and planned course of treatment for patients requiring joint replacement surgery. We find that patients who take an active role in their recovery experience the most positive results. Our intention is to involve you in your treatment through each step of the program, beginning with a comprehensive “Playbook” outlining what you can expect and what you will need to do to prepare for a successful surgery and then how to care for your new joint after surgery. This Playbook also provides you and your caregivers a tool to record and monitor your progress throughout the entire surgical process.
The Joint Replacement Team is dedicated exclusively to the surgical care and rehabilitation of patients requiring joint replacement surgery. All surgery is performed in surgical suites exclusively designed for orthopedic care.
What are the patient outcomes?
The best advocates for the care you can expect from Baptist Health are the patients themselves. Hear this patient’s success story.
Mark Tolliver, Hip Resurfacing Patient (2:27)
Mark had suffered from advanced arthritis in his hip to the point he could barely sleep at night. His hip resurfacing allowed him to recover much faster than a total hip replacement, while still leaving replacement open as a later option if needed. Hear his story.
