Hip Arthritis
Hip Arthritis Care at UVM Health
Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage (the protective cushioning between your bones) in your hip gradually wears away. Over time, this deterioration can cause significant pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion, seriously impacting your quality of life.
At University of Vermont Health, our hip specialists have completed fellowships in hip and knee replacements. This specialized training gives them the expertise to perform the full array of hip arthritis treatments, including both nonsurgical and surgical options. We start with a noninvasive approach, only turning to surgery when we believe it’s the most effective option for you. If you do need surgery, we offer the most advanced approaches available, including anterior and robot-assisted hip replacements.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:
- Comprehensive treatment options: Many patients with hip arthritis benefit from noninvasive treatments, including physical therapy, medications and cortisone injections. Our team provides a full range of treatment options to help you find relief.
- Holistic hip arthritis care: We help you optimize your health before surgery to lead to better outcomes. You may work with other subspecialists, like cardiologists or endocrinologists, to manage chronic conditions and improve your health before surgery. Physical therapy helps you improve your strength, mobility and function, both before and after surgery.
- Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers involved in teaching and training to bring you the latest therapies.
Hip Arthritis Symptoms
Most people with hip arthritis experience hip pain. You may notice that your pain gradually intensifies over time, worsens in the morning or flares up during rainy weather. You may also have:
- Clicking or grinding (crepitus) in your hip joint
- Groin, deep buttock or thigh pain
- Reduced range of motion (stiffness)
- Limping or difficulty walking
Hip Arthritis Causes
There’s no single factor that causes hip arthritis. Although it can affect anyone, it’s more likely to occur in people who are 50 or older. Your risk also increases if you have:
- A family history of arthritis
- Hip dysplasia, or an improperly developed hip joint
- History of previous hip injuries
- Obesity
Diagnosing Hip Arthritis
If you have hip pain that interferes with your daily activities and function, it’s time to see a specialist. Our orthopedic specialists offer full evaluations to get to the root of your pain and help you feel and move better. Diagnosis of hip arthritis may include:
- Health history: Your provider will ask you about your symptoms, including when they started, what worsens them and what (if anything) relieves them. We’ll also ask you about your family history, past injuries and other health conditions.
- Physical exam: We assess your hip thoroughly, looking for tenderness, pain or gait problems. Your provider may also use hands-on tests that measure your range of motion.
- Imaging: Tests such as X-rays and MRIs can show us a clear picture of your bones and soft tissues. They also show us whether you have bone spurs, small bony growths that can form when your bones rub against each other.
Hip Arthritis Treatment
There’s no cure for hip arthritis, but treatment can relieve your pain and help you get back to the activities you enjoy. Our treatment plans are tailored to your goals and preferences, aiming to improve mobility and increase your quality of life. Treatment may include:
You may need to avoid activities that worsen your symptoms, such as jogging or climbing stairs. Instead, we’ll recommend low-impact exercises like walking or swimming. If needed, we may also recommend losing weight to reduce the stress on your joints and slow wear and tear.
A physical therapist can help you reduce pain and move more easily. They prescribe specific exercises designed to increase your strength, mobility and flexibility.
Many patients with hip arthritis can manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers. Options like acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relieve pain and decrease inflammation.
Your provider may recommend corticosteroid (cortisone) injections to your hip joint. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
We may be able to treat mild, early-stage arthritis with hip arthroscopy. During this procedure, we use small incisions and special tools to clean loose bone fragments, spurs and damaged cartilage out of your hip joint or repair the labrum. This doesn’t cure arthritis, but it can help slow its progression and relieve pain.
When nonsurgical options don’t bring relief, you may be a candidate for a hip replacement. In this procedure, your surgeon removes your hip joint and replaces it with artificial components. Our surgeons use leading-edge techniques designed to help you recover faster with less pain.
Locations Near You
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101 Adirondack Drive
Suite 1
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
187 Park Street
Suite 2
Malone, NY 12953-1233
6 San Remo Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-6378
192 Tilley Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-4440
1311 Barre Montpelier Road
Suite 400
Berlin, VT 05602
1436 Exchange Street
Middlebury, VT 05753-1185
76 McNeil Road
Suite 2
Waterbury Center, VT 05677-7162
206 Cornelia Street
Suite 201
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2779
