Hip pain getting you down and affecting your daily life? Your mind may go to the worst-case scenario, and you could be wondering, ‘Is my hip pain arthritis?’.
The good news is that hip pain is usually caused by something far less sinister. However, it is worth noting the importance of early diagnosis of all forms of arthritis.
With this in mind, it’s always best to seek the advice of a hip doctor to rule out anything serious for peace of mind.
Common symptoms of hip arthritis
Although everyone’s experience of arthritis is different, depending on the joint affected, the type of arthritis, and the individual, there are some common symptoms reported by those with the condition to be aware of.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Pain in the affected and surrounding area: The source of your pain may not always be clear-cut. Although many individuals with hip arthritis may feel pain in their hip, it is also quite common to experience what is called referred pain, which means it can be felt in the groin, at the front of the thigh, in the lower back, and even in the buttocks.
- Stiffness in the joint: Some types of arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), are strongly associated with stiffness in the joint. With RA, you may notice stiffness in the affected joint first thing in the morning, and after inactivity, for example, sitting for a stretch of time. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, may feel worse after activity.
- Reduced range of motion in the joint: Difficulty moving comfortably with the affected joint, for example, getting in and out of the car, walking, getting up and down the stairs, in and out of a chair, reaching down to tie your shoes and get your socks on.
- A grinding feeling: Osteoarthritis in particular is associated with a crepitus-type sensation in the joint. This may feel like grinding when the joint moves. You may even be able to hear it!
- Redness around the joint: Some forms of inflammatory arthritis are often accompanied by redness and swelling around the affected joint.
Why is it important to rule out certain forms of arthritis?
Ruling out arthritis is key when it comes to any form of joint pain (not just in the hips). Why? Many forms of arthritis need careful management to avoid worsening of the condition.
Osteoarthritis, one of the most common types of arthritis, is a form of wear and tear. Lifestyle interventions are required to help slow down progression, manage the symptoms, and limit the effect on your quality of life.
There are also many forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect the hips. RA, in particular, is caused by the immune system attacking the body. This can lead to permanent damage and deformity of the affected joints.
Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are really vital in order to prevent the condition from worsening, avoiding disability, and the need for invasive surgery.
Concerned about your hip pain? Seeking the advice of a hip specialist in London is a great place to start.
Other potential causes of hip pain
The good news is that hip pain isn’t always caused by something as significant as arthritis. In fact, many hip problems are very treatable with the right guidance and treatment plan.
- Soft tissue irritation: This occurs when the muscles or tendons, and tissues are irritated, causing swelling, inflammation, and pain. The pain from soft tissue irritation is usually felt on the front or outer hip and might feel worse after sitting or lying on the affected side.
- Sprains and strains: These are some of the most commonly experienced causes of hip pain and often occur after periods of overuse or heavy or intense exercise, or as a result of a sports-related injury. It is caused by damage to the muscle fibres or tendons around the hip joint, which leads to pain. The good news is that with careful physiotherapy, hip sprains and strains usually recover reasonably quickly.
- Referred pain: In a surprisingly large number of cases, people may feel pain in the hip when it could actually be referred pain from the spine or even the abdomen. In order to get the most appropriate treatment, it is really important that you don’t self-diagnose and that you seek advice from a medical professional.
- Fibromyalgia: Causing widespread pain in the muscles and tissues, fibromyalgia has been known to affect the hip area. This chronic condition can also put individuals at higher risk of other joint-related injuries, such as bursitis and strains.
- Hip dysplasia: This condition is caused by a problem with the development of the joint where the ball of the hip doesn’t fit quite as it should into the socket of the pelvis. This can cause pain, dislocation, and contribute to early-onset arthritis.
- Hip fracture: If you’ve had a fall and experienced hip pain after, you should seek immediate medical attention, as this could be a result of a break or fracture of the pelvis. This is particularly important for older individuals because they are more susceptible to bone breaks and fractures due to the loss of bone density that occurs with age.
- Avascular necrosis: This is a less common (but equally distressing) condition that is responsible for hip pain. This condition happens when bone tissue dies as a result of an interrupted blood supply. This can happen as a consequence of long-term steroid use, excessive alcohol consumption, certain blood disorders, smoking, or even a traumatic injury that damages the hip. Treatment often – but not always – includes surgical intervention.
When to see a doctor about your hip pain
You don’t have to put up with hip pain affecting your ability to move around and even sleep.
Early diagnosis of hip pain is important to rule out serious chronic conditions such as arthritis in order to prevent disability, slow progression of disease, and improve your quality of life.
Generally speaking, if you have hip pain and have tried at-home interventions but have not seen an improvement after 2 weeks, you should seek medical attention.
However, in some cases, you should seek immediate help:
- If the pain is severe
- The pain is accompanied by fever
- You can’t bear weight on the affected side
- The area is swollen, deformed or bleeding
- If you’ve recently had a fall
Don’t put your health on the back burner. Get help for hip pain so you can restore your quality of life, continue doing the activities you love, and move without pain for as long as possible.
