Hip cartilage problems can be caused by injury or degenerative diseases like arthritis. Symptoms can be managed, but complete healing may not be possible. Treatment options should be discussed with a doctor, including surgery for serious cases. Prevention includes taking supplements and avoiding contact sports. In advanced cases, hip replacement may be necessary. Emerging treatments to stimulate cartilage growth are being studied.
There are several problems that can affect the cartilage in the hip, most of which involve injury or degenerative disease such as arthritis. In many cases, the symptoms can be managed, although complete healing of the cartilage may not be possible depending on the severity of the condition or injury. For any hip cartilage problems, patients should consult a doctor for available treatment options.
Problems that can affect hip cartilage include sports injuries. Cartilage can tear or stretch beyond its capacity. The injuries will most likely heal on their own if given enough time to rest. This means not engaging in any extreme movement or sporting event for several weeks, longer if possible. In some very serious cases, surgery may be needed to repair the torn cartilage.
The most common problems affecting the cartilage in the hip include conditions such as arthritis, which slowly wear down the cartilage completely. This is a chronic condition and there is currently no cure. Once the cartilage in the hip has been used up, there is no way to regrow it. Treatments are available that can help relieve or reduce the pain and stiffness associated with arthritis, including over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as exercise.
To prevent problems involving the cartilage of the hip, those with a history of arthritis in their families or women over the age of 35 are advised to start taking calcium and vitamin D to prevent bone loss and other supplements such as glucosamine, which can help prevent or slow down the progression of cartilage loss. There may also be medications available for those who are at high risk. Injuries can usually be avoided by refraining from most contact sports and stretching before any strenuous workout.
Those who are at high risk of developing arthritis should see their doctor at the first sign of symptoms to discuss potential treatment options. The less cartilage loss, the less pain the patient will experience. In very advanced stages of the condition, as well as severe forms of injury, a complete hip replacement may be required. This is an operation in which an artificial hip is inserted to help prevent pain and stiffness associated with chronic conditions. In most cases, this is only used in those whose quality of life has been severely affected.
Most hip replacements are used as a last resort when medications have failed to relieve symptoms. Studies are underway to find a way to help stimulate hip cartilage growth, and some promising results have been discovered. These emerging treatments are not yet available to the public and have not been sufficiently proven to rebuild damaged or worn cartilage.
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