Hip arthritis is often mistaken for a back problem, because patients point to the groin and clinicians look at the spine. At Remix Medical in Houston, our pain management physicians locate the true source of hip and groin pain and treat it with image-guided intervention.
What is Hip Osteoarthritis?
Hip osteoarthritis is the degeneration of cartilage in the ball-and-socket joint formed by the femoral head and the acetabulum. As the cartilage thins, the joint space narrows, the bone thickens beneath it, and motion becomes painful and restricted.
The hip is a deep joint. Its pain does not stay put — it refers to the groin, the buttock, the lateral thigh, and frequently to the knee. A patient whose only complaint is knee pain sometimes has a hip that is the actual problem.
Common Causes of Hip Arthritis
1. Age and Cumulative Load
The most common contributor, and the least avoidable.
2. Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
Subtle abnormalities in the shape of the femoral head or socket cause repeated abnormal contact, damaging cartilage and labrum over years.
3. Hip Dysplasia
A shallow socket concentrates force over a smaller cartilage surface.
4. Prior Fracture or Avascular Necrosis
Disruption of the blood supply to the femoral head causes bone collapse and secondary arthritis.
5. Inflammatory Arthritis
Rheumatoid and related conditions damage the joint directly.
Symptoms of Hip Osteoarthritis
- Deep groin pain, often described as a C-shape gripped around the hip
- Buttock or lateral thigh pain
- Referred pain to the knee, sometimes as the only symptom
- Stiffness getting out of a car, putting on socks, or crossing the legs
- Reduced internal rotation — often the earliest objective sign
- Limping, and a shortened stride on the affected side
- Groin pain with pivoting or turning
How Remix Medical Can Help
Distinguishing hip pain from lumbar spine pain is the first job, and it is not always simple — the two commonly coexist. A careful examination of hip range of motion, combined with weight-bearing X-rays, usually settles it. Where it does not, a diagnostic intra-articular hip injection does: if local anesthetic in the joint substantially relieves the pain, the joint is the source.
Our treatment options include:
- Hip joint injections under fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance, both diagnostic and therapeutic
- Radiofrequency ablation of the articular sensory branches for selected patients
- Medication management calibrated to your kidney and cardiovascular status
- Physical therapy referral for hip abductor strengthening and mobility
- Coordination with our chiropractic and internal medicine teams where gait, weight, and spine are contributing
- Referral for hip arthroplasty consultation when replacement is indicated
| Approach | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Weight management + physical therapy | Reduces load on the joint and preserves function |
| Medications | Anti-inflammatories and topical agents |
| Image-guided injections | Corticosteroid or PRP to calm the joint and aid therapy |
| When to consider surgery | Hip replacement for advanced arthritis that limits daily life |
Relief from Hip Arthritis at Remix Medical
If you have been treated for months for a back problem while the pain sits stubbornly in your groin, it is worth examining the hip.