General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
After a diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis, treatment aims to reduce pain and preserve activities. No treatment cures this chronic disease; its course and impact vary between people.
Before surgery, care includes adapted activity, exercises and, when needed, weight loss. A personalised physiotherapy programme helps preserve movement and muscles; during a very painful flare, activity is temporarily stopped with relative rest.
Pain medicines and, in some cases, an injection may complement these measures. A corticosteroid injection may relieve pain without repairing cartilage. Report all medicines, including non-prescription products, and seek advice before changing treatment.
Pain and limitation that persist despite medical measures may lead to discussion of surgery. Your doctor refers you to an orthopaedic surgeon, considering the impact on daily life; prepare examples of activities your hip still prevents and treatments already tried.
When an anatomical abnormality is responsible, some operations aim to correct the shape or alignment of the joint. In advanced hip osteoarthritis, a total replacement replaces damaged surfaces; the model takes health, age and anatomy into account. Ask which option suits your situation.
Before deciding with the surgeon, clarify the expected improvement and personal risks, including infection, dislocation or loosening of the replacement. Ask what remains possible without surgery and which assessments to prepare if it is chosen; the aim is to select a next step suited to your difficulties.
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