Exploring Alternatives: Hip Arthritis Treatment Without Surgery for Lasting Relief

Breakdown of hip joints can result in pain and crunching sensations when walking or moving around, with symptoms typically becoming worse over time. They typically develop gradually.

Medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), which can reduce both pain and inflammation, are an excellent choice. Acetaminophen does not, however.

Treatment For Hip Arthritis Without Surgery

Hip arthritis leads to hip joint pain and stiffness due to cartilage wear and tear. Surgery is effective, but non-surgical treatments exist to manage pain and enhance life quality. These include:

• Medication: Oral NSAIDs reduce swelling and pain, while analgesics alleviate pain without reducing inflammation. Topical NSAID creams and patches target the hip joint area.
• Physical therapy: Strengthen hip muscles, boost flexibility, and decrease pain through tailored exercises from a physical therapist.
• Weight loss: Shedding weight eases hip joint pressure, lessening pain.
• Walking aids: Canes or crutches alleviate hip joint pressure, easing pain.
• Heat therapy: Applying heat via a heating pad, warm towel, or bath relieves pain and stiffness.
• Injections: Corticosteroids injected into the hip joint curb inflammation and pain. Joint injections, K-Laser therapy, prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and stem cell therapy are alternatives.
• RICE method: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation diminish pain and swelling.

Note, not all hip pain mandates surgery; non-surgical paths can effectively manage hip arthritis pain. Consult a healthcare professional for tailored guidance.

Non-Surgical or Conservative Treatment Options

Before turning to surgery as an answer for their hip arthritis pain relief needs, many will explore non-invasive treatment options first as this offers the greatest opportunity to avoid potential complications and decreased quality of life from surgery.

Hip arthritis pain often stems from bone on bone contact. Cartilage – which provides cushion and lubrication to our joints – lacks nerve endings, meaning healthy hips with this material move easily and pain-free.

If cartilage breaks down due to instability or an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, however, its constituent bones may rub together causing agony for all involved.

Injections into an arthritic hip can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation. Cortisone injections under fluoroscopy and prolotherapy based on hyaluronic acid or platelet rich plasma may provide relief, while anti-inflammatory drugs (such as NSAID’s) can also be effective at decreasing both inflammation and pain.

Physical Therapy

Exercise such as walking on a treadmill without an incline, swimming, freestyle or stationary biking, yoga and tai chi are great ways to increase strength and flexibility and are beneficial for people living with hip arthritis.

However, people should avoid activities which place too much strain on the hip joint such as tennis, running, jumping or jogging which put too much strain on hip bones such as tennis, running, jumping or jogging.

Hip ball and socket joints allow for forward, backward, side-to-side and rotating movement of the hip joint, but as arthritis worsens it limits these movements and may result in pain.

Your doctor can assess your hip movement through various physical therapy tests. Your therapist can then perform therapeutic exercises – stretching, strengthening and balance-enhancing activities to reduce pain and stiffness in your hip.

They may also offer heat or ice treatments to decrease inflammation. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) can also reduce inflammation; for optimal results it’s best taken with food or liquid to reduce stomach upset.

Medications

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen are OTC options for hip pain relief.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also lower inflammation linked to hip discomfort. If OTC meds don’t work, we might offer stronger solutions like corticosteroids or immunity-suppressing drugs.

These meds ease pain and slow arthritis progress. For direct relief, injections into the hip may be hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma.

Lidocaine injections pinpoint joint-related pain. They’re done under fluoroscopy for accuracy.

At times, ultrasound-guided psoas tendon injections mitigate abnormal rubbing outside the joint. It rules out bursitis or muscular tears as hip pain sources.

Lifestyle Changes

At times, hip arthritis pain can be eased through changing daily activities to relieve strain on the joint. An occupational therapist can assist you in making modifications at home, work and car to ease strain on your hip.

They can provide equipment like “sock donners” or shoehorns with extended handles to make putting on socks and shoes easier without deep bending at your hip joint.

Regular physical activity is important in maintaining joint flexibility and strengthening, balancing, and overall health benefits. To avoid hip stress, such as in tennis, racketball, jumping, long distance running and heavy lifting activities.

Over-the-counter oral medications like Tylenol(r) (acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen can be used to manage pain and inflammation effectively, however if these are ineffective we may prescribe higher doses.

Nutraceuticals such as glucosamine and chondroitin supplements may also help decrease inflammation and promote healing of hip joints.

What Are Some Exercises That Can Help With Hip Arthritis

1. Walking: Boosts cartilage blood flow, start with 20-30 min, 3-5 times/week, increase gradually.
2. Range-of-motion and stretching: Enhances hip flexibility, e.g., push hips up while lying, bend knees down.
3. Strengthening: Support hip stability with exercises like hip abductions, extensions, and bridges.
4. Aerobic exercises: Swim or bike for heart health, weight control, reduced hip pressure, increased fitness.
5. Water aerobics: Buoyancy aids hip arthritis, water resistance builds muscles. Try classes or swimming.

Begin gently, raise exercise intensity gradually. Consult healthcare or a physical therapist before starting.

What Are Some Dietary Changes That Can Help With Hip Arthritis

Dietary Changes for Hip Arthritis Relief

1. Balanced diet: Include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants to lessen drug side effects and heart concerns.
2. More fruits, veggies: Aim for 9+ servings daily, favor vibrant colors for antioxidants.
3. Boost fish intake: Omega-3-rich fish (salmon, tuna) ease inflammation; fish oil supplements also work.
4. Less red meat, processed foods: Focus on poultry, fish, whole grains, fruits, veggies for less inflammation.
5. Nuts, seeds: Walnuts, almonds offer healthy fats; 1.5 oz daily is a good measure.
6. Green tea benefits: Packed with nutrients, antioxidants that can reduce inflammation.
7. Include anti-inflammatory veggies: Cauliflower, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, broccoli provide extra relief.

Remember, no single food cures arthritis. Dietary changes may ease symptoms, but consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes.

Risks of Medications for Hip Arthritis

Medication risks vary based on type. Consider these potential risks:

1. Analgesics: Acetaminophen, opioids ease pain but risk liver issues with long-term use.
2. NSAIDs: Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen reduce inflammation, yet bring ulcers, bleeding, heart risks.
3. Corticosteroids: Orally or hip-injected, corticosteroids curb inflammation, but bring weight gain, pressure rise, infection risk. Injections may lead to issues like flare, septic arthritis, and skin changes.
4. Biologics: Systemic biologics ease hip pain but heighten infection, allergic reaction risks.

Discuss risks, benefits with your healthcare provider for proper choice, dosage, monitoring.