Symptoms of Hip Arthritis: What Do They Feel Like?

Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain in the human body. It is a progressive disorder, which commonly affects the hands, lower back, neck, and weight-bearing joints like the hip, knees, and feet.

Arthritis of the hip can result from structural problems with the hip joint (hip dysplasia, acetabular impingement). It can also be the result of advancing age, obesity, or previous injury. Whatever the case, hip arthritis presents with severe symptoms that worsen over time without proper management.

Where Is Hip Arthritis Pain Felt?

Hip-related pain is often diffuse, and may not be felt directly at the hip. This can make diagnosis difficult. Generally, symptoms of arthritis in the hip joint feel like pain down the leg, the lower back, buttock, groin, thigh, and inner knee. The pain is known to worsen with weight-bearing activities like walking, standing, or twisting.

Beyond pain, symptoms of worsening hip arthritis include joint stiffness, joint deformities, and leg-length differences. These symptoms are similar with different kinds of arthritis in the hips, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What Kind of Pain Do You Experience With Arthritis in the Hip?

The severity of hip pain depends on the severity of joint degeneration, the patient’s physical condition, and perception of pain. People who present with hip pain often report either a dull aching pain or a sharp pain that comes and goes at the initial stage. In the more advanced stage, pain is more persistent.

How to Tell if your Hip Pain Is Serious

You can try to manage hip arthritis with a combination of rest, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and ice/heat. If this does not cause pain relief, then you need to see a doctor. Once assessed, management can include anything from getting custom orthotics to carrying out hip rotation exercises. In advanced cases of joint degeneration, hip replacement surgery may even be indicated.