Where Does It Hurt? Hip

» Diagnosing Your Hip Condition
» Planning Your Treatment
» Recovery and Wellness
» Meet Our Hip Specialists

Diagnosing Your Hip Condition

At your first appointment, your Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine physician will ask you to describe the history of your hip condition, the nature and severity of your pain, and any activities that make the hip feel worse (or better). The next step is a thorough examination of the hip joint, followed by an X-ray.

Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can usually be seen on a simple X-ray. In the case of a fall or other injury, if the X-ray doesn't show an obvious fracture, your physician may schedule a CT scan or MRI to check for a small hairline fracture.

The physicians at Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine treat all conditions and injuries of the hip, including:

» Artificial Hip Dislocation Precautions
» Artificial Joint Replacement of the Hip
» Avascular Necrosis of the Hip
» Compression Fixation for a Fractured Hip
» Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
» Hemiarthroplasty of the Hip
» Hip Anatomy
» Hip Arthroscopy
» Hip Fractures

»Hip Pinning Surgery for a Fractured Hip
» Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty
» Labral Tears of the Hip
» Osteoarthritis of the Hip
» Rehabilitation Following Hip Fracture Surgery
» Revision Arthroplasty of the Hip
» Stress Fracture of the Hip
» Trochanteric Bursitis of the Hip
» Trochanteric Bursitis Surgery

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Planning Your Treatment

Depending on the diagnosis, your physician will likely first recommend some combination of nonsurgical treatments, which may include:

Anti-inflammatory and/or antirheumatic medications
Use of assistive devices such as a cane or walker
Physical therapy to increase range of motion and improve muscle tone

If nonsurgical approaches don't relieve your hip pain, your physician may recommend some form of hip surgery.

Hip joint replacement (hip arthroplasty): A surgeon replaces your damaged hip joint with an artificial joint (prosthesis). This is the most common joint replacement surgery and allows many patients to return to normal activities without hip pain.
If you're young and active, your physician may recommend hip resurfacing, in which the surgeon attaches a metal cap to the ball of the hip and a concave metal surface to the hip socket. This highly technical procedure requires specialized training, and Methodist is one of only two centers in Houston where it is performed.
Hip arthroscopy: Your surgeon makes a few small incisions and inserts a tiny camera (arthroscope) into the hip joint. The camera transmits images to a television screen and allows the surgeon to guide miniature surgical instruments. Hip arthroscopy may be recommended for treating labral (cartilage) tears, hip impingement, snapping hip syndrome, and several other conditions.

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Recovery and Wellness

Your recovery from hip surgery will depend on the procedure. After hip replacement or resurfacing, you'll remain in the hospital for a couple of days, during which you'll meet with physical therapists who will help you to resume walking (with a walker) and performing other daily activities.

After hip arthroscopy, you can return home the same day and can expect to use crutches or a walker until the joint can bear your weight without causing pain.

Returning to work will depend on the nature of your job. If you spend most of your workday seated at a desk with limited walking, you'll probably be able to return within 4 weeks of surgery; if your job requires more physical activity, it may take longer. Your physical therapist will work with you on any specific activities that your job requires.

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