hip arthritis in san antonio

Hip Arthritis

arthritis of the Hip

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, where the rounded head of the femur (thigh bone) fits into the cup-shaped acetabulum in the pelvis. In this joint, cartilage acts as a cushion, making movement smooth, comfortable, and pain-free. When cartilage becomes damaged, arthritic hips result in various symptoms, including:

  • Pain

  • Stiffness

  • Reduced range of motion

  • Grating or popping sensations

  • Muscle weakness

Causes of Hip Arthritis

Arthritis can affect all ages but is most commonly seen in people aged over 40 years. The most common cause is wear-and-tear. Apart from that, traumatic injuries, fractures, and dislocations make you more susceptible to arthritis.

Types of Arthritis

There are several types of arthritis, the most common being:

  • Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the most common type of arthritis that affects older people. It causes the cartilage, the tissue that cushions and protects the ends of bones in a joint, to wear off causing painful rubbing of bones.

  • Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy joints, tissues, and organs. It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, deformity, and loss of function in joints.

  • Post-traumatic arthritis develops after an injury to the elbow. The condition may develop years after the trauma such as a fracture, severe sprain, or ligament tears.

  • Psoriatic arthritis occurs in some, as a result of psoriasis, a scaling skin disorder.

DIAGNOSIS OF Hip ARTHRITIS

Arthritis in the hip is diagnosed through a thorough physical examination and X-ray.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR Hip ARTHRITIS

Treatment can include conservative options such as medications, steroid injections, and activity modification to relieve pain. Surgery is usually considered if non-surgical treatment fails to give relief. A total hip replacement is a surgical procedure used to restore function and relieve the pain in the hip affected by arthritis. In total hip replacement surgery, the damaged regions of the hip joint are replaced with artificial components.

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