Could arthritis be causing my hip pain?
- Alec Denes, MD
- Nov 20, 2017
- 1 min read
The hip is a deep joint, and since you can't usually press on the sensitive areas from the outside, it can occasionally be a challenge to determine the source of a patient's pain. Every day I evaluate people who are seeking relief from pain around the hip area, worried that they are getting arthritis in their hips, but many are found to have bursitis, herniated lumbar discs, sciatica, tendinitis, hernias, along with many other conditions.
Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs when the cartilage that lines our joints begins to break down, and over time it wears thin, leaving exposed bones to rub against each other with no cushioning. Although OA does occur more commonly in those above age 50, it does not occur universally as we age. Developing OA depends on multiple factors, including age, genetics, obesity, prior injuries or infections in the joint, and repetitive stress to the joints through work or athletics.
People usually feel the pain from hip OA in the front part of their body, where the front pocket would be in a pair of trousers. Stiffness, pain that increases with activity, and grinding or cracking sounds are additional symptoms commonly reported.
OA of the hip can usually be easily diagnosed with good quality x-rays, which are a routine part of my evaluation of every patient with hip pain.
