Hip arthritis treatment significantly improves patients’ quality of life, as its symptoms can severely impact daily activities. Turkey has made great strides in developing advanced treatments for arthritis, particularly in the hip joint.
Hip arthritis is a leading cause of hip pain. It starts mildly and progressively worsens with movement, especially walking. It results from cartilage degeneration in the hip joint due to prolonged stress and wear.
Turkey offers various hip arthritis treatment options to alleviate pain and restore mobility. But what are its symptoms? Is hip replacement surgery the right choice? Learn more in this article.
What is hip arthritis?
Hip arthritis treatment is essential for preserving mobility, as the hip is the body’s second most weight-bearing joint after the knee. Due to its functional importance, hip arthritis, and degenerative diseases present a challenge for physicians.
Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage between the thigh bone and pelvis deteriorates. Initially mild, it gradually worsens as cartilage thins, reducing joint space and increasing stiffness and pain. In advanced stages, bone-on-bone friction causes severe pain and joint destruction.
Effective hip arthritis treatment can relieve symptoms and restore function, preventing further joint damage.
Before exploring hip arthritis treatment, we will first discuss its causes and symptoms. Understanding these factors helps patients recognize hip arthritis early and seek timely treatment.
Causes and risk factors of hip arthritis
- Osteoarthritis:
- Hip arthritis treatment is crucial as osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain and inflammation, particularly in the knees, hips, and ankles. It is primarily caused by wear and tear and excessive joint load over time, especially after the age of 60.
- Excess weight and the anatomical position of the joint
- In addition, a history of congenital hip dislocation or hip dysplasia is an important cause of hip arthritis.
- A lazy lifestyle and lack of exercise.
- Autoimmune syndromes and diseases:
- Such as rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism), systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis.
- Infections or open wounds in the hip area.
Systemic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, and joint calcification often play a role in hip arthritis, and treating them can help reduce pain and swelling in patients.
Symptoms of hip arthritis
The symptoms of hip arthritis are often characteristic of it, and as we mentioned, they start mild and then gradually intensify. The most important symptoms include:
- Pain near the hip joint that spreads to the buttocks or knee and to the leg as well
- Stiffness in the hip joint
- Hearing a crackling sound and feeling strange friction in the hip joint that differs from the normal form of joint movement
- Feeling pain while sitting and after resting, especially in the morning
- Weakness in the hip joint and inability to perform movements in a normal way
Can hip arthritis be cured?
Hip arthritis treatment offers various options to relieve pain and improve joint function. The most suitable treatment depends on the type and severity of arthritis, as well as your overall health. Continue reading this article to learn about the key medications and treatment methods available.
Hip arthritis treatment in Turkey
Types and methods of treatment vary in Turkey, and it can be challenging for patients to know the best pain reliever for hip pain or the most appropriate treatment method. Contact us for a free consultation so that we can help you choose the best treatment or treatment option for your hip arthritis.
Most cases require surgery because, as we mentioned, hip arthritis is a degenerative disease and will get worse over time. Hip arthritis treatment options include non-surgical or drug treatment.
Read also about: Elbow joint replacement surgery in Turkey
Hip arthritis medications
Medications for hip arthritis treatment in its early stages help and can be used to relieve pain and provide analgesic treatment.
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are commonly used to treat hip arthritis. They relieve pain and reduce swelling in the hip joint. These medications include ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen), naproxen, and Cox-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib.
Some fats or gels, such as Voltaren, are also used to treat arthritis (especially the hip) and relieve pain. If the pain from inflammation is more severe, the doctor may also prescribe oral steroids.
Finally, if there is no response, steroid injections, hyaluronic acid, or even platelet-rich plasma injections into the hip joint can be used to relieve severe pain until the patient is ready for surgical treatment.
Warning: Although steroid injections provide pain relief, steroid injections should only be used when absolutely necessary, as they can have serious complications when used long-term.
Exercises for treating pelvic inflammatory disease
Exercises play an important role in alleviating many symptoms of hip arthritis. They also help strengthen the spine (the axis of the body), which in turn strengthens the rest of the body. Exercises also reduce weight and the load on the joints that bear the weight of the body, especially the knee and hip joints.
The doctor advises avoiding exercises that put high pressure on the joints, particularly the hip joint, such as running and jumping.
You should also resort to physical therapy, yoga, and some light exercises such as walking and cycling to maintain joint activity and eliminate any pain in the hip joint.
If the hip joint is severely damaged, the physical therapist may advise the patient to use a crutch or walking aids.
Hip arthritis treatment with herbs
Hip arthritis treatment with herbs may not always provide the desired results, but it remains an option for patients. When combined with exercise, lifestyle changes, and weight loss, these natural remedies can yield positive outcomes unless hip arthritis has progressed to the point of joint destruction, which would require surgical intervention.
These herbal remedies can also help relieve inflammation and pain in the tendons and surrounding joints. Some of these recipes include:
- Turmeric
- Green tea (as a study indicates its function in relieving the symptoms of inflammation because it contains polyphenols)
- Epsom salt baths
- Hot compresses over the hip
Treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease in women
Treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease depends on the cause of the inflammation, and the treatments available vary among women. Here are some common treatments:
Medications:
- Antibiotics: These are used to treat bacterial infections, which are the most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Pain relievers: Such as acetaminophen, to relieve pain.
Stem cell injections for hip arthritis
Hip arthritis treatment using stem cell therapy is a recent and promising alternative to surgery and hip joint replacement. Studies have shown significant improvement in patients receiving stem cell injections, especially in the early stages of arthritis. These patients experience reduced pain, less stiffness, and improved joint mobility.
Although this method is still relatively new, it shows great potential and further studies are needed to fully assess its effectiveness.
Learn about: Causes of joint cracking in young people
Surgical treatment for hip arthritis treatment
When other hip arthritis treatments fail, and pain persists, doctors in Turkey may recommend surgery. At the Beymaristan Center, we help you choose the best treatment option in the top hospitals across Turkey.
Surgical treatment for hip arthritis includes various methods. Depending on the degree of degeneration, severity, and the patient’s overall condition, the most suitable approach is selected. Surgical options for hip arthritis treatment in Turkey include:
Hip osteotomy
Hip arthritis treatment includes various surgical options, one of the most notable being hip osteotomy, commonly used to treat congenital hip dislocation. The type and approach of hip osteotomy depend on the extent of joint degeneration and its location.
The procedure involves cutting the pelvic or femoral bone at specific points and repositioning it to reduce cartilage wear in the hip joint. The surgeon can shift the worn femoral head surface away from the damaged joint cartilage.
While effective, this operation carries risks and may not be suitable for all hip arthritis patients. It is not recommended for those with severe, destructive arthritis, the elderly, or individuals with systemic diseases or poor general health.
Read about: Causes of knee swelling
Hip arthroscopy
It is a minimally invasive procedure in which a hip arthroscope is inserted, and any excess bodies (bone spurs) or cutting of some worn surfaces of the joints are removed. However, this procedure is only suitable for cases of simple hip arthritis.
Read also: Treatment of pelvic fracture in Turkey.
Hip resurfacing (Femoral surface reconditioning)
It is a useful procedure for those who do not want a complete hip joint replacement. In this procedure, the surface of the femoral head is resurfaced and covered with a cap or metal round cover that fits the shape of the femoral head.
Because it does not involve the complete removal of any part, the dislocation rate is higher than in total hip joint replacement.
Total hip joint replacement
It is one of the best and most common operations in Turkey. It provides permanent relief from hip joint pain and is a final solution to most hip problems.
While this operation may be costly for some, the cost is much lower in Turkey than in other European countries.
Read about performing this operation robotically in detail in the article on Robot-Assisted Total Hip Replacement.
Hip fusion
It is a treatment option for those who have given up on other treatments and was used before the emergence of hip replacement. In this procedure, fusion is performed between the femur and the hip bone, making the hip joint stable and immobile.
This method significantly impacts movement, as it inhibits all-natural hip movements, which can be burdensome for the patient.
In conclusion, hip arthritis treatment significantly improves many patients’ daily lives. Hip joint inflammation can lead to joint destruction and complications, making it crucial to address degeneration and inflammation early. Hip joint replacement is one of the most important treatment options for advanced cases in this field.
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