THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE HIP IS TREATABLE

Age-related physical deterioration is an unavoidable fact of life and, unfortunately, when that degeneration affects bones and joints, it can become extremely painful, often having a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life. People suffering from hip joint problems is common and people suffering from it often have questions they need answering. Therefore, I wrote this article to provide some insights into how best to manage and treat osteoarthritis of the hip.

What are the most common symptoms associated with hip osteoarthritis?

The first sign of the condition is aching pain around the hip area. Although this pain may not extend to the legs or feet initially, it can often be radiating to the knee joint, eventually leading to prolonged bouts of serious pain that is most severe in the groin area. In addition to the initial pain, the biggest indicator that the condition has developed is pain associated with activity, meaning that it begins when exercising or when placing weight through the hip joint. Such pain may subside once the patient sits or lays down to rest, which shows that the pain is mechanical and the cause that is related to activity.

How to tell if symptoms are caused by hip osteoarthritis

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip experience hip pain, especially in the groin region, which tends to increase when the hip is being exerted, such as when walking. Pain can radiate to the knee but generally does not involve numbness in the legs or does not extend to the feet. Other symptoms are stiffness and decreased range of motion. The pain becomes more apparent over time, meaning that walking and general use of the joint can become more difficult as the joint gradually ceases up.

How safe are hip arthroplasty procedures?

Although the result of hip replacement is now extremely effective, there are always risks associated with surgery. Therefore, patients should carefully consider which surgical team to select based on surgeon’s experience and expertise before undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty. High quality prosthetics should be chosen, because trying to cut costs on such materials could lead to reduced survivorship of the prosthesis. Additionally, if innovation are available for use in surgery, it can increase accuracy and reduce overall risk. An experienced team and proper facilities are important to reduce post-surgery complication rates. All of this means that patients should only rely on medical institutions with an excellent reputation for their procedures.

How to prevent hip osteoarthritis

While we cannot avoid the physical deterioration that comes with age, there are certain things we can do for ourselves to help delay this process

• Avoid consumption of alcohol because this increases the risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head developing, which is by far the biggest cause of hip osteoarthritis. • Practice sports that does not involve heavy impacts, such as cycling, walking, aqua aerobics, and regular swimming. • Manage your body weight, because being overweight increases the risk of both, hip osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis. • Despite following this advice, many people will still be unable to avoid the onset of hip osteoarthritis. Fortunately, the condition can be managed with treatment, which is capable of restoring a certain quality of life to the patient.

The Sports Medicine and Joint Center at Bumrungrad International Hospital offers premium care and treatment for hip osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis. Our team of expert doctors, who have more than 15 years’ of experience in performing joint arthroplasty procedures, treated and replaced the joints of over 2,000 patients to date. The prosthetics used are of the highest quality and the technologies we have at our disposal represent the latest innovations in the field of medicine. Moreover, our team of doctors and medical staff ensure that each patient is carefully prepared for surgery and that they receive the appropriate rehabilitative care once the procedure is complete.

This article was written by Charlee Sumettavanich M.D., specialist in orthopedics, arthroplasty, and sports orthopedics at Bumrungrad International Hospital.

Surgeons at the Sports Medicine and Joint Center are highly regarded specialists in their field of medicine, recognized throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia. The team is working in a comprehensive multidisciplinary team available to provide specialist care and advice. These team members cooperate effectively and efficiently to ensure our patients receive the best care possible, from the moment they enter the hospital for their procedure through to post-surgery care and rehabilitation.

For more information please contact: Sports Medicine and Joint Center, Bumrungrad International Hospital 33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana Nua), Vadhana Bangkok, Thailand 10110 Tel: 02-066-8888 or 1378