The Modern Hip Center of NJ

Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage covering of your hip joint wears down.  The cartilage is there to protect the bone and allow for smooth and pain free motion.  When the cartilage is no longer present, the rough surfaces of the exposed bones rub against one another causing pain.

Patients with hip arthritis typically have pain that starts in the groin. This pain can radiate into your thigh, knee or buttocks.  You may have pain or difficulty with walking and bending and find it difficult to do the activities you once enjoyed without pain.  Sometimes you can develop a feeling of stiffness or “locking” of the hip joint as well.

Arthritis can be caused by many different things including older age, family history, prior injury to the hip joint, obesity and congenital problems related to the hip.  Often times there is no underlying cause that can be identified.

• Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss if you are overweight and switching to lower impact activities can lower stress across your hip joint
• Physical therapy to work on range of motion, stretching and strengthening
• Using a cane in the opposite arm to offload some of the force that is being transmitted through your hip (e.g. if your right hip hurts, use the cane in your left hand and vice versa)
• Tylenol or anti-inflammatory medications such as Motrin or Advil for pain relief (always speak with your primary care doctor before starting any medications)
• A cortisone injection into the hip joint can be done to relieve pain. This is done by a radiologist under ultrasound or xray guidance.