Alternatives to Hip Replacement in Raleigh & Cary NC 

Hip arthritis is a common cause of persistent groin, hip, and upper-thigh pain, particularly in adults who want to remain active. Although severe hip arthritis may eventually require joint replacement, surgery is not the only treatment option for every patient.

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At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, we evaluate and treat hip osteoarthritis using a range of nonsurgical options, with a particular focus on image-guided regenerative treatments such as high-dose Super PRP and microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) for appropriately selected patients.

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Our physicians provide nonsurgical orthopedic care in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina, with the goal of reducing pain, improving function, and helping patients remain active while avoiding or delaying surgery when medically appropriate.

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What Is Hip Osteoarthritis?

Hip osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage and other structures within the hip joint undergo progressive degenerative changes. Because the hip is a major weight-bearing joint, arthritis can eventually interfere with walking, exercise, sports, sleep, and everyday activities.

Common symptoms include:

• Deep groin or anterior hip pain

• Pain extending into the thigh

• Hip stiffness

• Reduced range of motion

• Pain getting out of a chair or car

• Difficulty putting on shoes or socks

• Pain with prolonged walking or standing

• Reduced ability to exercise or play sports

Hip pain can have many causes, however. Problems involving the labrum, tendons, bursae, lumbar spine, and other structures can sometimes produce similar symptoms.

For a broader discussion, visit our Hip Pain Treatment page.

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Diagnosing Hip Arthritis

The first step is determining whether arthritis is actually responsible for your symptoms.

Evaluation may include a physical examination, review of X-rays or MRI imaging when appropriate, and diagnostic ultrasound for surrounding soft-tissue structures.

We also consider whether pain may be coming from conditions such as hip impingement, gluteal tendon disease, labral pathology, or another musculoskeletal problem.

This distinction matters because the best treatment depends on what structure is generating the pain and how advanced the underlying condition has become.

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Nonsurgical Treatment for Hip Arthritis

Not every patient with hip osteoarthritis needs a hip replacement.

Depending on the severity of arthritis, symptoms, activity goals, and previous treatments, nonsurgical management may include activity modification, exercise and physical therapy, weight management when appropriate, medications, and image-guided injections.

Our practice also offers regenerative orthopedic treatments for selected patients who are looking for alternatives beyond conventional injections.

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Super PRP for Hip Arthritis

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses a concentrated preparation produced from a patient's own blood.

At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, we use a high-dose PRP approach that we refer to as Super PRP. A larger-volume blood draw and specialized processing allow us to prepare a concentrated platelet product for treatment.

Rather than approaching every arthritic hip with the same injection, treatment is individualized according to the patient's diagnosis, imaging findings, arthritis severity, and clinical examination.

Because the hip joint is deep beneath the skin and surrounded by important structures, our hip injections are performed with ultrasound guidance to accurately visualize the joint and needle placement.

PRP may be considered for selected patients with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis who want to explore a biologic treatment before proceeding to more invasive options.

PRP does not regrow an entirely worn-out hip joint, and it cannot guarantee that a patient will avoid hip replacement. The goal is to improve symptoms and function in appropriately selected patients.

Learn more about our PRP injections in Raleigh and Cary.

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MFAT for Hip Osteoarthritis

For some patients with more significant hip osteoarthritis, we may also discuss microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT).

MFAT treatment uses a patient's own adipose tissue, which is collected and processed before being administered to the affected area.

MFAT contains a complex mixture of cells and extracellular components naturally found within adipose tissue. It is sometimes discussed in the broader field of regenerative or orthobiologic medicine.

We do not tell patients that MFAT will regenerate a new hip or reverse advanced arthritis. Instead, it may be considered as a nonsurgical treatment option for selected patients based on their individual condition and goals.

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Whether Super PRP, MFAT, another injection, or conventional treatment makes the most sense depends on the individual patient.

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Super PRP vs. MFAT for Hip Arthritis

One of the most common questions we receive is whether PRP or MFAT is the better treatment for hip osteoarthritis.

There isn't one answer for every patient.

Super PRP may be appropriate for many patients with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis who want to pursue a blood-derived orthobiologic treatment.

MFAT may be considered in selected patients when a physician believes an adipose-derived treatment is reasonable based on the degree of arthritis, prior treatment, overall health, and treatment goals.

Our approach is to evaluate the hip first and recommend a treatment based on the diagnosis—not simply sell every patient the same regenerative procedure.

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Why Ultrasound Guidance Matters for Hip Injections

The hip is considerably deeper than joints such as the knee.

Ultrasound allows the physician to visualize the hip joint and surrounding anatomy in real time while performing an injection. This helps guide accurate needle placement without relying on surface landmarks alone.

Ultrasound can also be useful when evaluating surrounding tendons and other soft tissues that may contribute to hip pain.

At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, image guidance is an important part of our approach to orthopedic procedures.

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What About Cortisone or Gel Injections?

Corticosteroid injections are commonly used for arthritis and can provide temporary symptom relief in some patients. However, repeated steroid injections may not be the preferred long-term strategy for every patient.

You can read more about cortisone injections and their role in orthopedic treatment.

Hyaluronic acid, commonly called a gel injection, is another treatment used primarily for osteoarthritis. Its use is much more established in the knee than in the hip.

Learn more about viscosupplementation and gel injections.

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Can Regenerative Treatment Prevent Hip Replacement?

No treatment should be presented as a guarantee that a patient will never require hip replacement.

Some patients with severe arthritis, major loss of function, or persistent pain despite appropriate nonsurgical treatment are better candidates for total hip replacement.

Our goal is not to keep someone from surgery when surgery is clearly the best option.

Instead, we help determine whether there is a reasonable nonsurgical treatment opportunity before proceeding to joint replacement. For the right patient, improving pain and function may allow continued activity and potentially delay the need for surgery.

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Who May Be a Candidate?

A consultation may be worthwhile if you:

• Have been diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis

• Have persistent groin or hip pain

• Want to remain active

• Have not improved sufficiently with conservative treatment

• Want to explore options beyond repeated steroid injections

• Are interested in PRP or MFAT

• Want to determine whether surgery can reasonably be delayed

Patients with very advanced arthritis may still be evaluated, but regenerative treatment is not appropriate for everyone.

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Why Choose Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics for Hip Arthritis?

Our practice focuses on nonsurgical orthopedic and sports medicine care, including image-guided procedures and regenerative orthopedics.

Patients considering treatment for hip arthritis have access to multiple options rather than a single predetermined procedure. Depending on the diagnosis, these may include conventional treatment, ultrasound-guided injections, Super PRP, MFAT, and other nonsurgical approaches.

You can also explore our complete approach to Nonsurgical Orthopedics in Raleigh and Cary.

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Hip Arthritis Treatment in Raleigh & Cary, NC

Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics evaluates patients with hip arthritis at our Raleigh and Cary, NC locations.

If hip arthritis is interfering with walking, exercise, sports, or everyday activities, we can evaluate the severity of the condition and discuss whether conventional treatment, Super PRP, MFAT, or another nonsurgical option may be appropriate.

Schedule an orthopedic evaluation.

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Related Orthopedic Resources: Learn more about our approach to hip pain treatment, explore our comprehensive nonsurgical orthopedic care, or review other orthopedic conditions we treat. For patients interested in regenerative treatment options, learn more about our Super PRP injections and MFAT treatment.