Hip arthritis

Hip arthritis is a common condition that can affect people of any age. Find out more below about symptoms, diagnosis and the treatment options available to you across our network.

Find a hip arthritis consultant

You can count on teams across HCA UK to deliver the expert care you need because we’re:

Ranked number one in London for private orthopaedic care
Rated very good or excellent by 97% of our orthopaedic patients
Able to offer appointments with a hip and pelvis consultant in one working day

What is hip arthritis?

Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage that normally cushions the bones in your hip joint becomes damaged. This prevents your joint from moving smoothly and can cause pain and stiffness. There are several different types of hip arthritis, including:

Osteoarthritis: The most common form, caused by gradual wear and tear to the hip joint
Rheumatoid arthritis: Caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue in the joint and damaging the cartilage in the hip
Psoriatic arthritis: Affects those with psoriasis, a skin condition that can cause inflammation in the joints
Post-traumatic arthritis: This typically occurs after suffering an injury to the hip - for example, as a result of a fall or a car accident
Arthritis due to avascular necrosis: Caused by the bone collapsing due to a lack of blood supply.

Managing hip arthritis is possible and sometimes it can settle down on its own, but other treatments are available if the symptoms are severe. When you book an appointment with HCA UK, your consultant will provide a diagnosis and talk you through your options to help you decide which hip arthritis treatment will be most effective for you.

What are the symptoms of hip arthritis?

The symptoms of arthritis in the hip vary but can include:

Groin pain, which can radiate down the thigh or to the buttock
Reduced tolerance to exercise
Limping
Tenderness when pressure is applied to the joint
A grating or popping sound when moving the hip
Stiffness, particularly after periods of inactivity
Difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as putting on shoes and socks
Pain at night
Swelling
Bone spurs, which feel like hard lumps around the joint
Lack of flexibility

What are the causes of hip arthritis?

Arthritis in the hip is caused by the cartilage in the joint being damaged or worn away. The following can increase your risk of developing the condition:

Ageing: While hip arthritis symptoms can show up at almost any age, they are more likely to do so as you get older
Being overweight: Carrying extra weight can put additional strain on your joints
Injuries: If you've hurt your hip in an accident or playing sport, you may be more likely to develop arthritis in the joint
Repetitive strain: Similarly, if you regularly place the hip joint under stress, the cartilage is likely to deteriorate at a faster rate
Genetic factors: Some people are born with bone and cartilage issues, meaning they are at a greater risk of developing arthritis.

How is hip arthritis diagnosed?

If you think you might be suffering from arthritis in the hips and your symptoms are causing you pain and discomfort, you can make an appointment to see one of our hip consultants. At your appointment, your consultant will take your full medical history and perform a physical examination to determine whether you have hip arthritis. Your consultant may gently manipulate your hip joints to see how you respond and ask you to describe the sensations you're experiencing.

We may arrange blood tests to check for certain markers, such as rheumatoid arthritis antibodies. And X-rays can identify bone spurs and cysts, which can be a sign of osteoarthritis. They can also help to show us the spaces between the bones in your joint. If they are getting narrower, this could mean some of your cartilage has been lost.

If you're diagnosed with hip arthritis, your treatment options will be laid out for you by your consultant. They'll offer recommendations as to which treatment they think will be most effective for you, so you can decide how you wish to move forward.

What are the treatment options for arthritis in the hip?

Your symptoms could be conservatively managed to minimise your discomfort. For example, hip arthritis treatment options include:

Physiotherapy and regular physical exercise to keep your muscles strong and reduce pressure on your joints
Reducing high-impact activities that may cause painful flare-ups, such as running and jumping
Modifications to your lifestyle, such as losing weight
A walking stick to reduce the weight and strain on your hip
Anti-inflammatory medications and injections, such as corticosteroids, will depend on which type of hip arthritis you have.

And if non-surgical options don’t provide the desired relief, hip replacement surgery should allow you to eventually return to normal activities without pain. Also known as hip arthroplasty, it’s a procedure to replace one or both ends of a damaged hip joint with artificial implants. A hip fusion used to be the standard surgical procedure for hip arthritis before replacements became available, but it can impact your mobility.

Rest assured, if you're diagnosed with hip arthritis, the treatment we recommend will be based on your individual condition.

FAQs about hip arthritis treatment

Will I need surgery to treat my hip arthritis?

Surgery is not always a required treatment for arthritis in the hip. If you're experiencing symptoms, your GP may be able to prescribe a course of pain management. This could be in the form of anti-inflammatory medication, through making changes to your lifestyle, with physiotherapy, or with a combination of treatments.

This will typically be the first course of action, but if you see minimal improvement in your condition then you may be referred to see one of our orthopaedic specialists.

What will happen during my initial consultation?

During your first appointment, your consultant will usually request same-day diagnostic imagery to find out exactly what is happening in your hip joint. This imaging may include:

An expert musculoskeletal radiologist reports on every scan, ensuring your consultant has all the information required. They'll then be in a better position to recommend the most effective course of hip arthritis treatment.

Can you provide physiotherapy to treat my hip arthritis?

Yes, throughout our network we have teams of specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists who can help you. They'll assess your condition and come up with a treatment plan to help you manage your hip arthritis. Together, you'll set goals that are tailored to your circumstances and needs.

Find out more about musculoskeletal physiotherapy

What are the benefits and risks of treating arthritis with a hip replacement?

If your symptoms are severe, your arthritis could be treated with a hip replacement. It is one of the most common replacement surgeries. At HCA UK, we perform more than 1,000 hip replacements each year. The benefits of this procedure include:

Reducing or eliminating pain and stiffness in the joint
Improving your range of movement
Enhancing your quality of life
Improving your ability to exercise and perform other everyday tasks.

Although treating hip arthritis with a replacement is common, there are still some possible risks which your consultant will discuss with you. These include:

Initial pain and stiffness post-surgery, improving with time
Infection near the incision or in deeper tissue nearer the implant. Most infections can be treated with antibiotics, but severe infections near the implant may require further surgery
Blood clots in the veins of your leg. You may be prescribed blood thinning medication to reduce this risk

Your hip consultant will discuss all the possible benefits and risks with you, helping you make an informed decision about your treatment. Your medical team will also take steps to eliminate or manage these risks.
Find out more about hip replacement surgery, including how to prepare, what happens during the procedure and what you can do to aid your recovery.

How much will my hip arthritis treatment cost?

That will depend on the nature of the treatment recommended by your consultant. For example, prices for hip replacement surgery start from £14,000. This includes your pre-assessment, private accommodation at one of our hospitals for an expected stay of three nights, meals and your take-home medication. If you are a self-pay patient, your consultant will provide details on our fixed-price hip replacement packages.

Find out more about how to pay for your treatment
Find out more about our private medical treatment costs

Why choose HCA UK?

Here are a few reasons why you can count on us to deliver the hip arthritis treatment you need:

Fast access to care: Your appointment with one of our hip specialists will be confirmed within 24 hours
Imaging facilities: We can use MRI scans, X-rays and CT scans across 20 sites and can arrange for imaging on the same day as your initial consultant appointment
Advanced surgical techniques: Should you need an operation, we can use the latest technology to ensure you're getting the very best treatment available
Leaders in the field: We're ranked number one in London for private hip replacement surgery, based on reports from the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN)
Trusted by our patients: According to our 2023 patient satisfaction survey, 97% of orthopaedic patients rate us as very good or excellent and 99% would recommend us to their family and friends.

Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis

73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.

If you're experiencing symptoms of hip arthritis, we're happy to help you make an appointment with one of our leading hip consultants. We can also make imaging and outpatient physiotherapy appointments for you.

Find a hip arthritis consultant

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