Hip Arthritis Treatment
Hip arthritis is a common cause of pain, stiffness and restricted movement in the hip.
The hips support the weight of your body and allow you to move around. Hip arthritis is painful and can limit your mobility and your ability to live a full and active life. The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers a range of treatments from leading hip experts, to ease pain, improve hip movement and restore your quality of life.
There is no cure for arthritis, but specialist physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories and steroid injections can provide relief for many people. If these treatments have not helped, the expert orthopaedic surgeons can operate to replace your hip with a high-tech prosthesis in the London Orthopaedic Clinic’s state-of-the-art operating theatres and help you regain fitness, mobility and confidence.
What is hip arthritis?
Increasing age, trauma and inflammatory conditions can all cause arthritis. Most hip arthritis is caused by osteoarthritis, which is a consequence of progressive wear and tear. However, inflammatory conditions like psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause pain and stiffness in the hip.
In a healthy hip, cartilage coats the surfaces of the ball and socket. It acts as a shock-absorber and lets the bones move smoothly over each other. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage gradually degenerates, becoming thin, uneven and ragged. The fluid-filled joint space becomes narrower, so that the thigh bone starts to grind against the pelvis. Movement becomes uncomfortable, bony lumps or spurs form, and the joint can be permanently damaged.
Symptoms of hip arthritis
The most common symptom of hip arthritis is pain. Discomfort can be felt in the groin, down the outer thigh, or into the buttocks. It’s often worse in the morning, and may ease with movement, however vigorous or lengthy periods of exercise typically make things worse.
As hip arthritis develops there can be more hip stiffness and a reduced range of movement. It can be increasing difficult to walk and you may develop a limp. The pain often progresses over time, until the hip is painful at rest, interrupting social activities, work and sleep.
Investigation of hip arthritis at the London Orthopaedic Clinic
The hip specialists at the London Orthopaedic Clinic provide expert diagnosis and the very latest treatments for hip arthritis. They will make a comprehensive assessment of your hip, the effect your symptoms have on your life and your general health and wellbeing.
Your consultant will organise investigations to find out more information about your hip. This could include:
- Hip X-ray to look for abnormalities in the joint
- MRI scanning to look at the health of the bone and soft tissues.
- Blood tests to check for inflammatory arthritis
Hip arthritis treatment at the London Orthopaedic Clinic
The consultant will use the results of the examination and the detailed information from the investigations to create a bespoke treatment programme for your needs. This can include:
Self-help measures: If you’re overweight, weight loss can reduce the pressure on your hip and make movement easier. Modifying activities, using walking aids, and taking regular anti-inflammatories can also reduce pain and improve mobility.
Physiotherapy: The specialist physiotherapists at the London Orthopaedic Clinic can tailor a programme of exercises to improve hip movement and function.
Steroid injections: Your specialist can inject steroids into the hip to reduce inflammation and ease pain. The effects are temporary and no more than three injections can be used in each hip to avoid potential joint damage. A synthetic lubricant can be added in to prolong the duration of the injection.
If conservative treatments have not provided relief, the consultant orthopaedic surgeons at the London Orthopaedic Clinic can operate to relieve pain, reduce stiffness, and restore hip movement. Surgical options include:
Hip replacement: Hip replacement involves removing the arthritic joint surfaces and replacing them with a one of the latest prosthetic devices. Hip replacement provides immediate relief of pain. After the operation, the great majority of patients have excellent movement and are very satisfied with the results.
Why choose the Hip Specialists at The London Orthopaedic Clinic?
The London Orthopaedic Clinic provides high-quality, expert orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care, tailored to the individual needs of our patients. The Clinic is based at Mayo Clinic Healthcare, at the heart of London’s internationally renowned Harley Street medical district. The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers cutting-edge diagnostics, treatment, management and personalised care.
The expert multi-disciplinary team includes more than 25 leading orthopaedic surgeons, pain management specialists and radiologists. They work together to reduce pain, improve movement and make a real difference to patients’ lives.
The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers patients something truly unique: access to world-leading experts, high-tech imaging and the latest innovative treatments, together with the feeling of trust and safety of a small family practice.
How much does hip arthritis treatment cost?
Your health insurance policy may cover the investigation and treatment of hip arthritis at the London Orthopaedic Clinic. Competitive packages are also available for patients who are self-paying. Contact a member of our friendly team on 020 7186 1000 or at info@londonorthopaedic.com to find out more.