Osteoarthritis in the hip. What do I need to know?

[Highmoon]

I took up running and also did a lot of walking involving inclines and after a few months ended up with intermittent pain in my groin/hip area. I assumed it would be something temporary and fixable so was surprised to be told by the physio it's osteoarthritis.

I not long ago turned 50. I'm trying to get my head around what this means for exercise and sport going forward. I'm happy to ditch the running forever but love walking/hiking and racquet sports. Just as DC are flying the nest, doing more of those was how I saw my life going in the future years.

Has it restricted your activities? Did your hip deteriorate over a long time or short time? I don't know anyone with this. I asked some questions at the physio but have thought of many more since leaving the office. I don't know if I am allowed to do anything now or if I have to wait until I do the physio exercises and strengthen muscles around the hip joint.

Also, are there any supplements that will help?

Get an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis, although the range of movement test is usually quite accurate.

I have had hip arthritis but I’ve also had a quad tear that caused horrific groin pain.

if it’s osteo, you need to do all you can to build muscles and tendons to support the joint. Don’t stop moving - do as much as you can. Not only will it help with strength, it is important to the production of synovial fluid that eases hip movement.

If you are having a bad day with weight-bearing exercise, do something in water: swimming, aqua aerobics, or aqua yoga, my gym runs a specific aqua class for lower body strength, or even just walking (forward and backwards) in deepish water helps.

I strongly recommend this if you have a Nuffield gym near you https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/about-us/our-impact/healthy-life/joint-pain-programme . It’s incredibly over-subscribed but worth going on the waiting list.

You may find supplements help; I never did, but friends swear by turmeric. Consider, if you haven’t already, HRT.

If it is osteo, it will get worse, sadly, and eventually, when it gets to be bone-on-bone, you’ll need a hip replacement. You will want to put that day off as long as possible though, which is where keeping moving comes in.

I am one year post new hip, and despite some complications, there’s very little I can’t do now. I don’t run - although I’m told I could - but I do still do lots of hill-walking, go to the gym, chase grandkids, cycle, garden, whatever.

www.escape-pain.org is a handy nhs recommended website and programme for oa . Am currently on a 6 week 12 session course run by physios. Was put on this by my nhs physio. Free, effective, what’s not to like?

Keep moving. Muscle is your ally when your bones are letting you down. Water based exercise is superb for this, so perhaps replace running with swimming or aqua aerobics. That will help you keep your other activities like hiking.

It’s degenerative, so will worsen over time but the stronger you are the less it will affect you day to day.

Thank you. I'm very motivated to do exercise to help. I'm scared of doing the wrong thing and making it worse at the moment. Is the pain I have now what I will always have or is it due to inflammation as well and could get a bit better before it gets worse?

I have osteoarthritis in my hip and lower back. It bloody hurts.
BUT it's worse if I don't move. I play squash 3 times a week and while afterwards the pain can be quite bad, it's keeping my joints moving and strengthening muscles.
I suspect I'll need a new hip (or two) eventually but for now I'll just keep moving!

Thank you. That is reassuring to hear.

I have osteoarthritis in my hands, feet and back and rheumatoid arthritis which affects random joints, currently my hip.
These things only get worse, never better, over time except that you do find they flare up and calm down. Some people say weather affects it though I don't think so.
As others have said exercise and movement is key. You are unlikely to cause harm unless your body is shouting stop. It gets worse with inactivity so often after sleeping or sitting for long spells.

There's a lot of snake oil recommended for arthritis, desperate people will try anything but I don't find anything helps - I suspect you have to believe in it.
Heat pads can help.

Someone mentioned HRT and I second that. I didn't take it and wish I had. If nothing else it protects against osteoporosis.

So - I went swimming this week and my hip started to hurt after two short lengths. Is that an indicator to stop? Or is it okay to push through. Actually, I couldn't push through but tried to swim without using the leg on the sore hip side. I iced it when I got home but it's hurting this morning. 😔

2nd question. Did you have an xray or scan to diagnose arthritis? NICE guidelines seem to say no need for an xray...

I wouldn't push through if hurts that much. Find a way to keep the hip moving as much as possible.
Diagnosis? I don't think it needs xrays, clinical examination is enough. Inflammatory arthritis should be ruled out.
I think I first visited GP about painful fingers when I was 50. They ran some blood tests and said it was osteo arthritis. Several years later and repeat visits and tests and I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as well.
I am now on RA drugs and see the rheumatologist regularly. He always examines my fingers, knees and hips. The fingers are badly affected by osteoarthritis.

Instead of swimming, try walking up and down in the pool, Do your physio exercises religiously, and try a Pilates class.

Duplicate post

I had osteo, which led to a hip replacement when I was 46. It was confirmed by X-ray. I first tried physio, then an X-ray guided steroid injection and also a hyaluronic fluid injection (synvisc). After all had been tried (and failed) I was put on the list for surgery.

I had a full replacement. My DH, who was a long distance runner, had his hip resurfaced - the same thing that Andy Murray had done. He is still running, although shorter distances now.

What stroke did you do? When breast stroke hurts my hips I change to front crawl/back stroke.

It was breast stroke. I'll do back stroke next time.

I already do pilates. I am trying to work out if there are pilates exercises I can't do.

I now have the pain and stiffness in the other hip 😭 I've a follow up physio appointment next month.

Diagnosed before turning 40 a few years ago. X Ray to confirm it was OA. I am on daily painkillers unfortunately as it's so bad most days. The painkillers helps me get through each day raising a family. Dihydrocodeine and paracetamol. Occasionally ibuprofen but I find it pretty ineffective.

I have OA in my hips and lower back (and I suspect my knees too). HRT definitely helps. I take collagen which helps with my joint pain. I use the spa, sauna and steam room at least once a week as this has proven to be the best help of all!

I try and walk often and when I swim I never do the leg part of breast stroke.

Hi OP.
I don't have OA, but I do have lots of tendon pain, am hypermobile and also had a lot of surgery last year.

The best thing I did was find a very good osteopath and physio. They can show you the best exercises to do to strengthen.

My physio said to do them until the pain point then pull back. So I was doing wall sits at a sharp angle, then gradually over weeks and months my bum and thighs have got closer to the ground.

Do them every day. Nothing will change if you don't.

Sometimes when you get some improvement then things regress, a different approach works. Hence using more than one professional.

If you are in a lot of pain, osteo told me to alternate heat and ice. So bag of peas for a few mins, then hot water bottle. This is better than just one or the other.

But don't wait to see the physio, ask around for recommendations and find someone ASAP.

I have osteoarthritis in one hip and both knees. Some good suggestions from others and I definitely agree the recommendations of Aqua aerobics and back stroke rather than breast stroke.

My other suggestion is that when you walk you try to stay on level ground. I first had hip pain after a long walk which included walking over a ploughed field. I’m much better when my weight is more evenly distributed!

So good to have a few people to chat to about OA in hip! I thought I had sciatica last year due to pain right up in my hip, when that didn't go away, I eventually went to a chiropractor who through my lack of movement in left hip (lost about 50% of range of movement) said it was basically OA. The NHS physio I was referred to by y GP gave me 6 exercises to do and to come back if it doesn't improve. (said its basically wear and tear) . Felt quite disappointed with that appointment. I paid for my own Xray to know what the hell was going on and I have stage 3 OA in one hip with some bone on bone, and signs of OA in other hip. I used a small sum I have in a work health program to go to a hip consultant to go over options - basically i'm headed towards a hip replacement. He did say to keep as active as possible, and gave me some options on how to get referred onto NHS for hip replacement. At moment, although experiencing pain, not sure I am ready for that .... just yet. Not sure though how fast OA can deteriorate, so who knows.

For now, I use heat a lot (hot water bottles on the top part of my thigh where it hurts does bring relief) , do 2 seasons of Yin yoga where possible, I need to adapt a bit especially hip stretches, but this really brings some overall relief to my body, and swimming is the best pain relief I have, I do a version of the breastwork kick , and do as much crawl as possible.
The two things that are hard for me is walking far (I used to hike a lot but not sure I can do that). I can walk but have no idea if leg would hold up properly. Sleep is also a bugger as I keep waking up (I have those cushions you put between your thighs ) and I have just got used to knowing for now I probably wont sleep during night.

As others have said its good to keep as active as possible, I am going to pay for a few private sessions with a MSK Physio specialist so that I can make sure my joints/muscles around hip are as good as possible.

Im taking a Glucosamine with MSM and Turmeric as a supplement.
would be great to use this thread for further info and support from pre hip support to possible hip replacement support

I thought I had this, but after a very good NHS therapist saw my x-ray, my pelvis and top of femur had moved 1mm or so out of place, and this was the first official diagnosis for hypermobility, although I've know it for years.

As long as I keep up with my physio, it usually stays in place. I carry a folding walking stick with be for when it misbehaves. Making sure I always use insoles to keep everything aligned when walking helps enormously too.

Happy to keep the thread going for support and sharing of advice.

I'm poised to buy new sandals, as I haven't bought new ones for a few years and mostly wore trainers. Now I'm thinking I want to make sure they are right for support and alignment of the hips. Any idea what I need to look for?

I’m a similar age to you, 52 now, and I had a hip replacement fairly recently. It was such a shock, to be told I had OA and that it was that which was causing the pain. Especially as the pain came on suddenly. It wasn’t long before I was limping some days from the pain.

I am delighted with the results of the operation, am pain free and can exercise, walk, run for the bus, I’m back to normal.

Don’t be scared of the operation, should you come to need one. I recommend it! Methods and materials are so advanced now.

Before the operation I tried an osteopath, supplements, specialised exercise regimens, a steroid injection - none of it helped. You may well fare differently of course!

Good luck with whichever path you choose 😊

I also have OA in both hips and have just joined the Nuffield joint pain management programme. Hopefully it will provide some relief. Thanks for the pointer to it@ReignOfError

OP I had an MRI and an x-ray to diagnose the OA. Had 2 steroid injections on the worse side which helped loads, but not advised to continue them for long term pain management. So just pilates, walking (no more running for me) and OTC painkillers as needed.

@Echolalialia Did yours decline rapidly? Did you have an xray or MRI? Does anyone establish what stage you are when first diagnosed?

I'll see the physio again next month and see what she says now it is both hips. I'm amazed how quickly it has gone from a niggle I put down to sitting for too long, to a constant niggle I assumed was tendonitis or a running injury to OA and discomfort to pain most days.

I can be a bit of an over-sharer where health is concerned and once I processed the news I mentioned it to a few friends only for them to disclose their own ongoing hip pain, knee pain, investigations for stiff fingers. I think we attach stigma to anything arthritis related.

I purchased two wedge shaped cushions. One for my office chair and the other for the car. It does seem to have made a difference. My physio told me not to wear tight trousers or gym leggings. Anyone else hear that?