Hip Hip Hooray? Facts about Hip Pain and Arthritis

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  says that hip pain and arthritis greatly affect Americans. Statistics from 2006 said that 30% of adults from a survey reported joint pain. Around 23% of adults   in the US have arthritis.  What can we learn about hip pain and arthritis? Most importantly, we can become more aware or prevent being affected in some measure.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS)  provides that there are over 100 different types of arthritis. Of those, the 5 main types that can affect the hip are:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

 

Here are some facts and points of information about hip pain and arthritis. We hope to never know of it.

 

Facts about Hip Pain

• The hip is a beautifully designed complex joint. The bones form a ball-and-socket joint. Each bone is capped by a smooth surface made out of cartilage. Additionally, there is some synovial fluid which make the movement even smoother. Muscles, with tendons and ligaments attached, cause the pull and push in this corporeal mechanical system.
• Feelings of grinding, stiffness and pain can come if and when the cartilage wears out. That pain is located in the crotch and the front portions of the thigh.
• Pain can spread to the knees. This is called ‘referred pain’  . If a person chooses to have a hip replacement, that knee pain would improve.

 

 

Arthritis Generally

• People wake up with morning pain and stiffness, but the pain eases with activity during the day.
• Pain can, however, get worse after extreme efforts such as an intense workout.
• The stiffness and pain can cause limited range of movement. Physical therapy can help people regain some of the range of movement as part of the complete all-round treatment.
• Diagnosis of arthritis can be done through looking at a person’s medical history and seeing if they limp. Additionally there would be a physical examination, x-rays and blood tests.

 

Treatment

 

• Medical treatment includes surgical options
• Non-surgical options are many. Every person and their case will be slightly different. General options include: Using NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), steroids and injections. Since exercise often relieves the symptoms, physical therapy, exercising for muscle building and especially swimming, will probably be advised.
• Lifestyle changes are an effective way of relieving symptoms and perhaps even avoiding surgery. A person would be advised to manage their weight, reduce stress on the hip.
• Similarly, reducing stress in your life would probably help. Yoga and tai chi are today, two of the most popular ways of relaxing and meditating.

 

Arthritis Expenses in the US

 

• Arthritis is the greatest cause of work disability in the US. For instance, disability costs of $140 million annually are caused by arthritis.
• Of all Americans affected by arthritis, 60% of them are of working age. Millions of working adults suffer pain getting to and from work.

 

Sensible Prevention Options

 

• The CDC is one proponent of preventative interventions to reduce the pain of arthritis. This includes the provision and support of a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• Protect your joints. Avoid activities and poor fitting shoes  that can damage your joints.
• Smoking, alcohol and caffeine are the things to avoid for the sake of good health. At the least, perhaps a person can minimize consumption to a controlled level.
• Eat right for best joint protection!

 

Hip pain and arthritis does not have to part of senior living. If it is, do your best to improve symptoms and to find ways around problems. In that way, you can enjoy good quality of life in your senior years. Let us adapt Benjamin Franklin’s famous advice, “An ounce of information could be worth a pound of prevention”!

 

 

Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash