From eu.lansingstatejournal.com
The hip joint can withstand repeated motion and a fair amount of wear and tear. However, despite its durability, with age and use, cartilage in the hip can wear down and over time cause arthritis that leads to hip pain.
The most common type of hip arthritis, called osteoarthritis, occurs when the joint surface cartilage becomes worn away, leaving raw bone exposed.
“As it progresses, osteoarthritis can cause a lot of pain and stiffness, making it difficult for some people to do certain activities, such as walking, standing up straight, and using the stairs that they could once easily do before,” said Dr. Ethan Ruhland, orthopaedic surgeon at Michigan Orthopaedic Centre. “Unfortunately, osteoarthritis isn’t reversible, but it can be treated with different interventions that reduce pain and increase movement.”
I’m not ready for surgery, but I do have pain that is affecting my life. What are my options?
Certain treatments may include activity modifications through physical and occupational therapy, medications, and/or injections.
“For most patients who have mild osteoarthritis, we can look at managing pain and stiffness through activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications — such as ibuprofen or meloxicam — and also explore corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain in the joint,” said Dr. Ruhland. “However, these medicated injections can be short-lasting and should only be used no more than two or three times.”
Should I wait to have surgery?
Dr. Ruhland and other orthopaedic surgeons often hear the same thing from their patients: that they can’t do the things they used to. And they want to again.
“When hip pain begins to impact daily activities and limit the enjoyment of those activities, and pain medications and other treatment options are no longer helping, it may be time to discuss hip replacement surgery options,” said Dr. Ruhland.
Am I too old or too young for surgery?
“If you are having worsening pain that is affecting your quality of life, no matter your age, it’s important to not wait to seek treatment,” said Dr. Ruhland.
Dr. Ruhland, who performs minimally invasive hip procedures at McLaren Greater Lansing, explained that the state-of-the art techniques used today allow patients to recover and regain mobility more quickly, meaning gone are the days when a joint replacement meant weeks laid up in bed followed by a slow, drawn-out recovery.
“Our surgical techniques are much less invasive than in the past,” said Dr. Ruhland. “And while results vary for each patient, a majority of our patients can expect to be moving and walking around shortly after surgery, and in most cases, back to daily activities gradually within a few weeks.”
With these upgrades in surgical technology, a return to desired activity is the expectation, as are lasting results, with implants expected to last 20 to 30 years for most patients.
To learn more about McLaren Greater Lansing’s Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Institute, including the latest advances in orthopaedic surgical technology, click here.
To view more topics on health and wellness, click here.
Members of the editorial and news staff of USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
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