Hip surgery, such as a joint replacement due to arthritis, can be a daunting prospect. The risks of anesthesia, the cost, the pain and the recovery can all be overwhelming. Many people wish to put off and avoid surgery at any cost. Several noninvasive strategies can be tried, including activity modification, physical therapy and medication.
Activity Modification
Avoiding activities that cause pain is certainly a good strategy. Contact sports like football and hockey may be particularly hard on the hip joint. Similarly, sports with lots of stop-and-go activity or pivoting may lead to hip injuries or damage. Activities like soccer, basketball and tennis fall under this category.
Non-weight bearing exercise like cycling and swimming promote hip range of motion while strengthening the surrounding musculature, and can be good alternatives. Assistive devices can help to reduce the load placed on the hip joint. A cane, held in the hand that's opposite the symptomatic hip, can help redistribute weight, and reduce wear and tear on the joint. Crutches, walkers or even wheelchairs may be necessary in more severe cases.
Physical Therapy
A well-trained professional physical therapist has many strategies at his disposal for treating hip disorders. Exercises designed to stretch, strengthen and improve the range of motion of the joint may be employed. Modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound or electrical stimulation may prove useful. Low-impact, guided hydrotherapy in a therapeutic swimming pool can be quite effective in improving hip pain. A physical therapist may also be able to provide education about proper body mechanics and joint care to prevent or minimize further hip problems.
Medication
Several options exist for treatment of hip pain, especially that related to arthritis. Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen may be helpful. Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs like celecoxib, diclofenac or meloxicam could become necessary. For more severe symptoms, medications like tramadol, or opiate analgesics such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, may be prescribed. Oral steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone or methylprednisolone may be prescribed for short-term treatment. Injections of similar steroid medications directly into the hip may be helpful by reducing inflammation in the joint space and are worth trying prior to consideration of surgery. Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin may alleviate joint pain in some patients, notes Orthopedic Specialty Clinic.
