Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?

Many people maintain an active lifestyle despite the presence of degenerative changes to the hip joint. Sometimes people may not even know that they have osteoarthritis of the hip until an event or injury occurs to aggravate the underlying disease. Once these symptoms develop, initial management typically consists of conservative measures to treat the symptoms, rather than surgery to immediately address the underlying structural changes to the joint.

Conservative, or non-operative, treatment of hip osteoarthritis involves activity modification to avoid repetitive, high-impact activity and movements that cause pain. This includes taking time off from activities to recover and rest. Additionally, using ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and inflammation can also provide relief of symptoms. Physical therapy and home exercise to work on range of motion, flexibility, and conditioning of the hip can also be incorporated into treatment strategies. Typically, symptoms will resolve within several weeks of conservative, non-surgical treatment. Injection therapy with a steroid or hyaluronic acid (gel injection) can also help relieve hip pain. If the hip pain resolves with non-operative treatment allowing for a return to the desired level of activity, then no joint replacement surgery is needed.

It is essential to seek medical attention if you suspect you have hip osteoarthritis or are experiencing hip pain and reduced mobility. Early diagnosis and appropriate management can help improve your quality of life and prevent the condition from worsening.