Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis makes routine activities like walking the dog and climbing stairs painful and taxing. At Joint Preservation Institute, with offices in Sacramento, Walnut Creek, and the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood in San Francisco, California, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Amir Jamali, MD, provides complete care for hip arthritis, including physical therapy, joint injections, and minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. Call the nearest office today to schedule hip arthritis treatment, or book your appointment online. 

Does hip arthritis cause chronic hip pain?

Yes. The most common symptoms of hip arthritis are persistent hip pain and stiffness. You might also experience:

• Pain that worsens after physical activity
• Decreased range of motion in the affected hip joint
• Pain that extends into your groin or buttocks
• Locking or clicking of the joint during movement

As the arthritis worsens, you might have difficulty lying down or sleeping through the night.

Who is at risk of hip arthritis?

Anyone can experience hip arthritis, but several factors increase your risk, including being middle-aged or older, overweight, and having a history of hip injuries. Genetics also plays a role. For example, you’re more likely to develop hip arthritis if the condition runs in your family. 

How does an orthopedic surgeon diagnose hip arthritis?

Dr. Jamali asks about your symptoms, including where the pain occurs, what it feels like, and if it extends into other areas, like your groin or buttocks. He examines your hip, checking your skin for bruising, redness, and swelling. Dr. Jamli assesses your joint’s range of motion and gently presses on it and the surrounding areas to identify sensitive places.

Dr. Jamali has you walk around the room to observe your gait (how you walk) and complete several easy exercises to check for signs of injury to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments surrounding your hip. He also orders X-rays or an MRI to check for damage to your hip bones, hip joints, and the surrounding tissues. 

How does an orthopedic surgeon treat hip arthritis?

Dr. Jamali treats hip arthritis using a conservative, minimally invasive approach. He might suggest:

• Avoiding activities that exacerbate your symptoms (like climbing stairs)
• Replacing high-impact activities, like running, with low-impact ones, like cycling
• Losing weight to take excess pressure off your hip joint
• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation

If your symptoms continue or worsen even after these treatments, you might be a candidate for hip replacement surgery. At Joint Preservation Institute, Dr. Jamali specializes in a minimally invasive procedure called anterior total hip replacement. This surgery uses smaller incisions, allowing for a reduced risk of complications and a quicker recovery. 

Call Joint Preservation Institute today to schedule hip arthritis treatment, or book your appointment online.