4362
3.5

16-07-2024 Team Medicover orthopedics

Written by Medicover Team and Medically Reviewed by Dr Jinagam M Praveen Kumar, Orthopedics

Stages of Hip Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Among its various forms, hip osteoarthritis is a significant contributor to pain and discomfort in the hip joint.

In this article, we'll explore what hip osteoarthritis is, its symptoms, risk factors, stages, diagnosis and available treatments.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is known as wear-and-tear arthritis and is a progressive joint condition that occurs as the protective cushioning cartilage on the ends of bones gradually breaks down over the years. This leads to pain, stiffness and reduced joint mobility.

How Does Osteoarthritis Affect the Hip?

Osteoarthritis is a common joint problem that can have a significant impact on the hip joint.

This condition involves the gradual breakdown of important joint components, which can lead to various changes in the hip that affect mobility, comfort and overall quality of life. Let's explore how osteoarthritis specifically affects.

Worn-out Padding: The hip joint has a special padding called cartilage, which makes things move smoothly. With osteoarthritis, this padding starts to wear away, and the bones might rub against each other.
Soreness: When the padding wears away, it can make your hip hurt, especially when you move. This pain can be felt in the front or back of your hip.
Stiffness: Sometimes, your hip might feel stiff, like it's hard to move. This stiffness is common, especially after sitting or lying down for a while.
Hard to Move: As your hip gets worse, you might find it tough to do things like bending, rotating or lifting your leg.
Weaker Muscles: Osteoarthritis can make the muscles around your hip weaker because you might not want to move it due to the pain. This can make it even harder to move around.
Changes in Shape: If your hip osteoarthritis gets really bad, your hip joint might start to look different and not work like it used to.
Extra Bone Growth: Sometimes, the body tries to fix the problem by growing extra bits of bone. These can also make your hip hurt and make it harder to move.

Get a second opinion from trusted experts and makeconfident, informed decisions.

Get Second Opinion

What Are the 4 Stages of Osteoarthritis of the Hip?

Hip osteoarthritis is when the hip joint gets worn out and starts hurting. This happens in four stages.

Each stage shows how bad the hip is getting. Let's examine these stages to understand how the hip changes due to osteoarthritis.

Here's the progression of hip osteoarthritis:

Stage 1 ( Minor)

At first, the hip has a little wear and tear. The padding inside the joint gets slightly damaged but it's not a big problem. People might feel a bit of discomfort after doing a lot of activities but it's not too bad.

Stage 2 (Mild)

As time goes on, the padding inside the hip joint starts to thin out more. This can cause some pain, especially when moving around. People might also feel stiff after resting, but they can still move their hips fairly well.

Stage 3 (Moderate)

In this stage, the padding keeps getting worn down and the space between the bones gets smaller. This can make the hip hurt more and it becomes harder to move around. Sometimes, there can be bony growths that make things even more uncomfortable.

Stage 4 (Severe)

When the hip osteoarthritis is really bad, the padding is almost gone, and the bones rub against each other. This causes a lot of pain, stiffness and trouble moving. Even simple things like walking can be very hard and painful.

What are the Symptoms of Hip Arthritis?

Hip arthritis can develop gradually and may worsen over time. The most common symptoms include:

Hip Pain: A dull or aching pain in the hip joint, groin, buttocks or outer thigh, especially during or after movement.
Stiffness: Difficulty moving the hip joint after sitting or resting for long periods, especially in the morning.
Reduced Range of Motion: Trouble bending or rotating the hip, making it hard to walk, climb stairs or put on shoes.
Grinding Sensation: A feeling of bone rubbing against bone or hearing clicking or popping sounds during hip movement.
Swelling and Inflammation: The hip may appear swollen or feel warm to the touch due to joint inflammation.
Limping: Many people develop a limp to compensate for pain or stiffness, resulting in changes in their walking posture.
Worsening Pain with Activity: Pain may flare up with physical activity and subside with rest.

What are the causes of Hip Osteoarthritis?

Several factors increase the risk of developing hip osteoarthritis like age, obesity, joint injuries, genetics and gender. Women are more prone to hip osteoarthritis compared to men. Here is a significant list of risk factors associated with Hip Osteoarthritis.

Age: The risk of hip osteoarthritis increases as you get older, especially after the age of 50.
Gender: Women are more likely than men to develop hip osteoarthritis.
Genetics: If someone in your family has had hip osteoarthritis, you might be at a higher risk.
Obesity: Carrying extra weight puts more stress on your hip joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis.
Joint Injuries: Past injuries or fractures to the hip can raise the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in the future.
Occupational Factors: Jobs that involve repetitive hip movements or heavy lifting can contribute to the development of hip osteoarthritis.
Bone Deformities: Conditions that affect the way your bones develop or are shaped can make you more susceptible to hip osteoarthritis.
Lack of Physical Activity: Inactivity can weaken the muscles around the hip, which may contribute to osteoarthritis.
Other Health Conditions: Some conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or metabolic disorders can increase the risk of hip osteoarthritis.
Hormonal Factors: Some studies suggest that hormonal levels may play a role, particularly in women.
Poor Joint Alignment: If your hip joint doesn't form correctly, it could lead to abnormal wear and tear, raising the risk of osteoarthritis.

How is Hip Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?

Hip osteoarthritis is diagnosed through a combination of clinical evaluation, medical history, and imaging tests. Here's how the process typically works:

The doctor will ask about:

Onset, location and type of hip pain.
Any stiffness, swelling or difficulty walking.
Previous injuries or family history of arthritis.

The doctor will assess:

Range of motion in your hip.
Gait (how you walk).
Joint tenderness, swelling or muscle weakness.
Grinding or clicking sounds during hip movement.

These help confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity:

X-ray: Shows joint space narrowing, bone spurs or bone damage.
MRI (if needed): Provides a detailed view of soft tissues like cartilage and ligaments.
CT scan (rare): May be used to get more detailed bone images in complex cases.

Blood tests are usually not needed for osteoarthritis but may be done to find out other types like rheumatoid arthritis or infection.

Your health is everything - prioritize your well-being today.

Schedule Your Appointment

How to Treat the Early Stage of Osteoarthritis

Hip Hurts a Lot: If your hip hurts a lot for a long time and you can't do things easily, see a doctor.
Hard to Move Hip: If your hip feels stiff and it's tough to move, talk to a doctor.
Swollen or Tender Hip: If your hip looks puffy, warm or hurts when you touch it, ask a doctor for advice.
Hip Hurts During Activities: If your hip hurts when you do things like walking or getting up, ask a doctor for help.
Feeling Sad About Pain: If hip pain makes you feel down or stops you from having fun, a doctor can help.
Pain Getting Worse: If hip pain is getting worse, see a doctor to stop it from getting even more painful.
Home Fixes Didn't Work: If things you tried at home don't help the pain, talk to a doctor.
Had Similar Problems Before: If you had joint problems or got hurt before, tell a doctor about your hip pain.

Conclusion

Hip osteoarthritis progresses through various stages, beginning with mild discomfort and potentially culminating in severe joint damage. As the condition worsens, it can limit mobility and quality of life. Knowing these stages is important, as it helps people recognise early signs, get a proper diagnosis and begin the right treatment to manage the disease and slow its progression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hip osteoarthritis is typically characterized by a sensation of stiffness, discomfort, and decreased mobility within the hip joint. The pain experienced can be mild and achy, intensifying when moving.

While there's no complete cure, proper management and treatments can significantly improve symptoms and slow down the progression of hip osteoarthritis.

Rest, applying ice or heat, taking alternate pain relievers, and gentle stretching can provide quick relief for hip pain.

Yes, gentle yoga can be beneficial for hip arthritis. It helps improve flexibility, strength, and joint function. Consult a doctor or instructor for guidance.

Low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, and cycling are generally better for hip arthritis. These activities help maintain joint health without excessive strain.

Avoid high-impact activities, excessive sitting, and poor posture. Also, don't ignore pain – seek medical advice for proper management.

A quick stretch or gently moving the hip joint in different directions can sometimes provide momentary relief. However, long-term management is essential for sustained relief.