Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Hip Pain

 

Like other weight bearing joints, your hips may be a risk fro “wear and tear” arthritis, or osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease.  Arthritis is among the most frequent causes of hip pain.  Your first sign may be discomfort and stiffness in your groin, buttock or thigh when you wake up in the morning.  The pain may get worse when you are active and get better when you rest. 

 

The effects of osteoarthritis cannot be reversed, however, early non-surgical treatment may help you avoid a lot of pain and disability and slow the progression of the disease.

Resting you hip from overuse is often the first treatment for hip pain.  Resting thr hip joint allows the acute inflammation to subside. 

 

Physical therapy is an important part of almost all orthopedic conditions.  Regular exercise such as swimming, water aerobics or cycling may keep you joint functioning and improve its strength and range of motion.

 

Simple weight loss can reduce the stress on weight bearing joints.  Losing weight can result in reduced pain and increased function.

 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are commonly prescribed to help relieve hip pain and reduce swelling.  NSAIDs are available in over-the-counter and prescription forms.

 

Before attempting any treatment on your own, talk to your physician.  Together you can develop a program that will help ease your pain and improve the functioning of your joints.