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, damaging 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 and cause pain.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling or inflammation
- Stiffness
- Difficulty walking
What treatment options are available for hip pain?
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 and reducing hip pain.
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 hip 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 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.
In addition to a surgery experience that is customized to your needs, we also provide some of the latest technological advances in orthopedic procedures, like our ground-breaking Mako Smart Robotics Surgery System for knee and hip joint replacement. With less pain, a quicker recovery and a shorter hospital stay than other procedures, Mako has helped countless Arkansans find long-awaited relief from hip and knee pain. Learn more about the Mako procedure offered at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock and Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock.