Michael always thought he would have a youthful body forever, having had a successful career as a runner. But here he was at age 62, with stiffness around his right hip. It was such that he found it difficult to move as much as before. Along with the stiffness came pain. The pain worsened when he made an effort to walk. He recently started sleeping downstairs as it was hard to climb the stairs like before. Thanks to his wife’s pleas, he finally visited the clinic where he was diagnosed with hip arthritis .
What is hip arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation or irritation of a joint. It usually occurs when the cartilage, a thick structure that lines and cushions joint surfaces, and separates bones, wears off, causing the bones to rub against each other. This leads to increased friction in the joint and ultimately pain which worsens with movement.
Types of hip arthritis
The types of hip arthritis include but aren’t limited to:
- Osteoarthritis: This type commonly affects older people. As humans age, parts of their bodies get worn out, including the cartilage. That is why this type is referred to as wear-and-tear or degenerative arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a long-term inflammatory disease where the body’s immune system starts attacking itself. Joints are affected in the process hence causing symptoms of arthritis, such as hip pain and painful walking.
- Psoriatic arthritis: This type of hip arthritis affects people with a skin condition called Psoriasis. It is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in that the body’s immune system attacks its joints, thus causing them to be inflamed, stiff and achy.
- Post-traumatic arthritis: Evident from the name, it occurs following an injury such as automobile accident.
Symptoms of hip arthritis
Common symptoms of hip arthritis include:
- Pain, which worsens with movement.
- Stiffness and decreased range of motion.
- Swelling around the hip joint.
Risk factors
There are some factors that make you more likely to have hip arthritis; these include:
- Age: The risk of having hip arthritis increases with age.
- Weight: People with obesity are more prone to hip arthritis as there is more weight the hip joint has to carry.
- Lifestyle: Lack of exercise causes weakening of your muscles such that your joints are placed under more stress. Also, athletes are prone to hip arthritis as there’s a likelihood of them sustaining joint injuries.
- Smoking has been linked to the development and progression of some forms of arthritis.
Treatment
Treatment of hip arthritis includes the following, and these methods are employed for all types of hip arthritis.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids helps lessen the inflammation.
- Physical therapy and increased exercise to increase flexibility and strength of the hip joints.
- Surgical intervention may involve complete hip replacement when the hip joint is severely damaged. In less severe cases, there’s the removal and repositioning of the joint surface so that the healthy part of the hip joint bears most of the body’s weight.
In summary, hip arthritis is a chronic problem that may last several years or a lifetime. It refers to irritation or inflammation of the hip joint due to immune problems, injuries, or years of wear-and-tear. While lifestyle habits play a key role in slowing down hip arthritis, surgical repair or replacement of the joint is the definitive treatment for some people.
