In the United States, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting over 30 million adults. Specifically, hip osteoarthritis cost the US economy over $42 billion last year. If you suffer from pain, stiffness, and swelling in one or both of your hips, call or make an appointment online today to benefit from the solution-oriented approach and personalized care of Orthopedic Surgeon & Knee and Hip Replacement Specialist, Dr. Vasilios Mathews in Houston, Texas.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition for which there is currently no cure. In healthy joints, cartilage covers the end of each bone, providing a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion. Your cartilage also acts as a cushion between your bones. If you’re affected by OA, your cartilage breaks down.
OA tends to worsen over time and causes several issues, including:
In the final stages of OA, your cartilage completely wears away, causing your bones to rub against each other.
The most common symptom associated with hip osteoarthritis is pain around your hip joint. This discomfort usually develops slowly and worsens over time. Pain and stiffness tend to be worse in the morning, or after sitting or resting for an extended period. Additional symptoms include:
Dr. Mathews uses several different approaches to treat hip osteoarthritis, including:
A physical therapist works with you and helps you create an individualized exercise program to strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion, and reduce pain.
Dr. Mathews can provide an order for the radiologist to place a needle into the space within your joint, and inject corticosteroid medications to help relieve your pain.
During this procedure, Dr. Mathews takes bone marrow cells from the back of your hip, processes them, and then injects them into your hip.
During arthroplasty or joint replacement surgery, Dr. Mathews uses a minimally invasive procedure to remove your damaged hip joint surfaces and replace them with alternative plastic, ceramic and/or metal parts.
Regardless of the treatment you receive, Dr. Mathews provides education and guidance to help you make the right decisions.
For quick, effective relief from your osteoarthritis hip pain, call or make an appointment online today with Orthopedic Surgeon & Knee and Hip Replacement Specialist, Dr. Vasilios Mathews in Houston, Texas.