Before considering surgical options, there are a number of non-surgical, first line therapies that are often recommended to individuals with hip problems, including:
- Activity modification – Reducing or eliminating strenuous activities that may place undue stress on the hip joint
- Over-the-counter medications, beginning with Tylenol and switching to anti-inflammatories, such as Ibuprofen
- Low-level narcotic medications to control pain
- Steroid injections directly into the hip joint to reduce inflammation
- Walking aids, such as a walking stick, to take pressure off of the hip joint when the individual is mobile
- Physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles around the hip joint to better support the joint; in the event the patient does require surgery, the hip joint will be stronger because of PT, which is important.
- Weight loss – obesity and being overweight can cause stress on joints. Achieving an ideal body weight can help eliminate extra stress on the hip joint
Non-surgical treatments can be very successful for some patients. For other individuals, especially those who suffer from osteoarthritis, severe deterioration of the hip joint and/or injury to the hip, surgical intervention may be the best option.
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