The treatment recommendations for hip arthritis depends upon your overall health, the severity of the disease, symptoms, range of motion of the affected joint and numerous other individual centric factors
However an important point to bear in mind is that, hip osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative disease, and the condition only worsens with time. In some patients undergoing a full hip replacement may be the only option.
Some well-proven treatment options for hip osteoarthritis include
Patients with a very high BMI (Body mass index) have a higher risk of osteoarthritis and the added weight puts a strain on the joints. Higher body weight combined with obesity is associated with a greater degree of inflammation-causing faster disease progression.
Thus the first-line recommendation for patients who are obese is weight loss.
There are numerous pain medications that can be given effectively to treat arthritis. Some of these pain medications also have anti-inflammatory properties. Patients with severe arthritis however may require medications like tramadol apart from the routinely prescribed ibuprofen or naproxen. Opioid medications although effective are not recommended.
Exercise is absolutely essential for preventing the progression of arthritis, exercise not only helps with weight management but also helps with slowing disease progression and improving range of motion and joint stability. Low impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and walking are strongly recommended for patients.
Hip replacement procedures can drastically improve the quality of life by
Improving overall levels of pain
Improving overall mobility and lastly
Lowering the risk of hip dislocation
I hope you enjoyed this article on treatment options for hip replacement. Please watch this space for more interesting reads
