Hip Pain Relief – Treating Hip Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is one of the most common conditions in the United States and affects at least 40 million Americans. Osteoarthritis is one of the more common types and often affects load-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips. In fact, hip arthritis is so common that 1 in 4 Americans will develop hip osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology. Living with hip pain does not have to be a fact of life, however. There are many hip pain relief treatments available, from natural remedies to traditional drugs. Consult your doctor to determine which hip pain relief method is best.
Doctors usually prescribe one of several different drugs for hip pain relief. Your hip pain relief treatment might start with a mild analgesic, such as Tylenol, and progress to narcotic analgesics if necessary. An analgesic is a painkiller that provides hip pain relief but does not treat or cure arthritis. As an alternative, your doctor might recommend an NSAID, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs are usually taken long-term to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Let your doctor know if you experience serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding or vomiting. The risk of these harmful side effects will increase the longer you take NSAIDs.
You might be able to find hip pain relief through exercise. Gentle range-of-motion exercises can help you retain your mobility, strengthen muscles, and provide hip pain relief. Swimming, yoga, and tai chi are all very good exercises for those who need hip pain relief. Yoga relaxes muscles, reduces stress, and strengthens the core muscles of your abdomen. Swimming takes the weight off your joints so that you can move more freely. If necessary, consider working with a physical therapist to retain mobility. Massage will also relax muscles and provide hip pain relief.
As a last resort, there are several surgical procedures that will provide lasting hip pain relief. The first procedure, arthroscopy, simply measures the condition of joint cartilage. Osteotomy realigns your hip joint to avoid extra stress. Finally, a total hip replacement will remove part or all of your hip joint. The old joint will be replaced with a prosthesis, or artificial joint. While this will provide long-term hip pain relief, the procedure is invasive and expensive. Make sure you have exhausted all other options before considering any type of surgical procedure. If you start arthritis treatments early, finding hip pain relief will be easy.
