As we age, different body parts can present new issues. While we have often discussed the implications of arthritis, it is also important to understand it can be focused on an area, such as hip arthritis. When the cartilage in the hip is damaged, it can lead to this condition. It can worsen over time, affecting your physical movement and your way of life.
Our patients are on various paths in life, encountering different environmental and genetic differences contributing to their condition. Hip arthritis is fairly common across the board. For you to be able to seek treatment at an effective rate, we are sharing the signs of hip arthritis to look out for in your life!
Recognizing The Signs of Hip Arthritis
Five main types of arthritis can present in the hips: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. While the different types come with different definitions of cause, the signs and symptoms of each in the hips are typically universal.
Pain In The Hip Joint
When a patient is dealing with hip arthritis, they will experience pain in the hip joint. This typically also includes pain in the groin, outer thigh, and buttocks. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are typically present in both hips, while osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis can sometimes occur in one hip but not the other.
Worse Pain In The Morning
Those who experience hip arthritis typically feel the worst pain in the morning. This is because your joints aren’t moving. The inflammatory materials can cause joint fluid to collect around the joint, increasing swelling even more so by the morning. While sleep is good for your body overall, it can be difficult to offset the results of the body not being in motion. When you start to notice this pain in the hip joints in the morning, it may be time to contact your doctor about the possibility of hip arthritis.
Difficulty When Walking
Due to the pain and stiffness in your hip joints, you may notice difficulty when walking. This may even present as walking with a limp. Both of these are results of the hip not being able to display its full range of motion as normal. With the proper treatment, this difficulty does not have to last, as we can provide you with stretching methods and medication for your medical situation.
Pain That Gets Worse With Activity
While you are already experiencing the difficulty of walking, often this feeling can be accelerated by increased activity. Whether this is your typical exercise regimen or daily walks, you may feel much worse hip pain after you are done. As your hips weaken and feel more pain, the accelerating condition can make these activities more difficult over time. If your usual activities begin to feel increasingly painful in the hips, it may be time to reach out to a medical professional.
Stiff Joints
On top of the pain and difficulty walking, you may also feel the stiffness of your hip joints with movement. You can have trouble rotating or moving your leg. This contributes further to the pain that can get worse with activity.
Crepitus
While this does not necessarily contribute to the feeling you get from hip arthritis, it is an unpleasant sign. Crepitus is an audible cracking, crunching, clicking, or snapping sound that you hear when you move the affected hip.
Don’t let your hips keep you down! Pay attention to the signs and symptoms of hip arthritis to get the treatment you need to feel better in your daily life. Have some of these signs stuck out to you as something you have started to encounter? Contact our South Shore Orthopedics team today to get a consultation and see if you are experiencing hip arthritis. Find out more on our website, or give us a call to continue the conversation.