Hip Specialists

Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic hip pain.  Thousands of Americans suffer from an arthritic hip.  This disease can keep one from performing their routine daily activities.

There are four types of arthritis that generally affect the hip:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteonecrosis
• Osteoarthritis

This is the most common form of arthritis in which the cartilage that protect the hip joint wears out. Cartilage cannot be repaired or replaced, but physical therapy can improve the range of motion and reduce pain.

Common symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip:

• Groin pain
• Severe hip pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness, especially in the morning
• Limited movement
• Rheumatoid arthritis

When osteoarthritis is present, the cartilage is not being provided with enough lubrication and nourishment. This leads to loss of motion, stiffness, and pain.

Osteonecrosis is a disease that causes severe aches and pains and results from lack of blood supply to the bone. Most commonly affecting the femoral head, the bone receives inadequate blood supply and eventually dies. This disease is most commonly caused by a dislocation or fracture but has also been associated with traumatic injury, excessive consumption of alcohol, and steroid use.

Common types of hip injuries, which can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain:

• Tendinitis (tendonitis) – inflammation of tendon or surrounding area
• Bursitis – painful inflammation in the hip that causes tenderness and pain when touched or moved
• Contusions – bruises that appear after trauma to the hip area
• Sprains – the stretching of hip ligaments

A hip labral tear is an tear in the cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. This can be caused by sports injury or structural abnormalities of the hip. Symptoms include pain, locking of the hip joint, or limited range of motion.

Greater trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sac) beside the hip joint. Common causes of greater trochanteric bursitis include overuse, tendon tears, and other injuries. Pain on the outside of the hip that spreads down the leg and stiffness in the hip joint are frequent symptoms of this type of bursitis.

Femoroacetabular Impingement is a condition where there is excess bone growth along one or both of the bones that make up the hip joint. This growth causes the hip to become an irregular shape, causing damage, pain, and limited range of motion. There are three types of Femoroacetabular Impingement:

• Pincer
• Cam
• Combined